XPS 8930SE, Internet Speed

Question

Am using CenturyLink WiFi modem that shows standard internet speed of 10 Mpbs which is consistent with the DSL speed I'm supposed to have. However a few internet speed tests show 1.5 Mpbs average. I've cleaned my internet cache; the cable from the outlet to the modem is new. I don't have an extra cable to run to the PC.

Are there any basic troubleshooting steps I'm missing? I'd much rather reach out here before contacting CenturyLink.

Am using Win10, IE 11, Comodo Firewall, Avast Antivirus. Appreciate your time.

RoHe · Accepted Answer

Will try to respond to the comments.&#xa0; I do not have SmartByte software. GOODI found a Killer Control Center with the notice 'No Killer Network Interface Connected' (am using WiFi so the ethernet controller is not operational).&#xa0; Checked Dell website and have the latest drivers.&#xa0;GOODAre there any firmware updates for your router?According to the modem configuration site, the WiFi router is 802.11b-g, 802.11n mode. It states Channel 11 is the best available channel and that is the channel being used.&#xa0;'n' is a single-band router on 2.4GHz. Since you have a Qualcomm 'ac' WiFi card in PC, you could upgrade to an 'ac' router for some improvement.Am not sure your question regarding 'link speed'. The DSL Connection Status on the modem is Downstream 11.776 Mbps, Upstream 0.893 Mbps (supposed to get 10 Mpbs).Now I'm confused. If your status shows 11.776 Mbps download why is there a problem? Download speed to your PC and upload to the ISP's server are never equal.&#xa0; And upload is always slower. Yes, your upload speed is quite slow, but unless you're sending out big files, why is this an issue? What speed are you paying for?When you ran your speed tests, how far away was the server? The further away, the slower the speed will be, and it also depends on network traffic. When I test speeds using a server ~10 miles from here it's twice as fast as with a server that's ~2800 miles from here.&#xa0; Megapath lets you choose which server you want to use to test speed, so choose the one closest and then one far away.The Windows 10 network panel has me totally confused. Under the WiFi it shows a Qualcomm QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Adapter (???), link speed 300/150 Mbps. (Edit: Found this under Device Manager so must be a driver.)That means Dell installed a Qualcomm 'ac' WiFi card rather than a Killer WiFi card in your PC.&#xa0; Link speed is the speed the router talks to the PC, the faster better. Link speed is not the speed your router talks to the internet. Do this:Start>Settings>Network+/internet>WiFi>Change adapter options>double-click WiFiThe screen that opens should look like this:The 'speed' shown (300.0 Mbps) is the link speed. So my WiFi card and router are connecting at the max rated speed for this card/router combination on 2.4 GHz with 5 bars of signal strength.&#xa0; If I take the laptop upstairs, away from the router, the link speed drops and signal quality goes down (fewer bars).Thanks for the questions. (I have a headache). Could a 4-year-old modem just need replacing? The input I'm receiving is very useful.And as was suggested, ask your ISP if you need DSL filters on analog devices directly connected to this phone line.&#xa0;

GloryB · Accepted Answer

@RoHe wrote: Are there any firmware updates for your router? Router firmware is up to date. Am not sure your question regarding 'link speed'. The DSL Connection Status on the modem is Downstream 11.776 Mbps, Upstream 0.893 Mbps (supposed to get 10 Mpbs).Now I'm confused. If your status shows 11.776 Mbps download why is there a problem? I am wondering the same thing. The 'speed tests' that everyone loves shows 1.5-1.6 Mbps speed on several sites I've tried including all  the ones recommended here. I figured I'm paying for 10 Mbps, my router shows 10 Mbps, yet the speed test websites show 1.6 irregardless which server is used. So I am presuming there is a problem. The 'speed' shown (300.0 Mbps) is the link speed. So my WiFi card and router are connecting at the max rated speed for this card/router combination on 2.4 GHz with 5 bars of signal strength.  My speed showed 150.0 Mbps with 5 bars of signal strength. And as was suggested, ask your ISP if you need DSL filters on analog devices directly connected to this phone line. I was told in the past to remove them, but will ask again. Thanks for all the comments, information, guidance. I am going to mark this as a Solution though every single comment contributed to a wider, more accurate understanding of this speed situation. I am now able to contact CenturyLink secure in the knowledge that I have the tools and information they will need to provide some answers.

Mary G · Answer

Try this one https://www.speedtest.net/

The download speed should fast while the upload is much slower. The correct way to measure is by Ethernet cable not wireless. If you are going to complain to your provider, try it both ways temporarily.

You should use a diff browser. IE is old school and is there for backwards compatibility. Chrome and Firefox are much faster and better for Windows 10. I'm not an Edge fan. You can have several browsers. Just pick one as your default. That might make a diff in your speed. DSL is so slow but if that is all you have available you have to make do. My cable connection is 113. down and 11.3 up on an Ethernet connection. It is slower on wireless but not by much. Wireless was 56.05 and upload was 11.6.

GloryB · Answer

Thanks Mary. My download is 1.52, upload .69. At one time I did have 10 mbps; not sure if software or new cable affected the speed.

I used to be pc savvy years ago but have forgotten a lot. To measure speed through an Ethernet, I believe I can run another cable from my modem to the back of my pc, then turn off the WPS on the modem or disable the WiFi on the pc? Would anyone be nice enough to clarify the best/easiest method? Thanks for the help!

Tesla1856 · Answer

@GloryB wrote:

CenturyLink WiFi modem

You don't mention the model, but it sounds like a Residential-Gateway (combo modem, router, and WiFi-Hot-Spot).

Do you have DSL-phone-wires or is it coax-cable bringing in the signal to the house?

If you can run an ethernet-cable from the computer to the "modem", then you should anyway (real-wires are always faster than WiFi). No reason to use WiFi if you don't have to.

GloryB · Answer

Tesla, you are correct regarding the combo. I'm using a CenturyLink PK5001Z with DSL phone wires (no cable access). WiFi is used by cell phones. printer, laptop, and desktop throughout the house. The desktop is close enough to the router to run a ethernet cable if necessary. I can try that before asking CenturyLink to verify the line speed. Thanks for your response.

68cutlass · Answer

Have you tried rebooting modem, router and machine? I like to shut it all down then plug in modem, wait a minutes or 2 then router, again wait a couple minutes and finally start the machine.

GloryB · Answer

Great suggestion. Actually I did a complete reboot yesterday when I was checking my ethernet cable. So that's another item off the troubleshooting bucket list.  Many thanks.

68cutlass · Answer

If you don't have another device to test the connection speed with I think you are about forced to call your ISP. I understand your reluctance. I have to manually reboot my phone modem every day to keep it working. Won't call Charter until it goes out completely because they'll probably break my internet while trying to fix the phone :-(

Many times on a speed issue they can reset your account remotely and get it back up to speed.

bell47g5a · Answer

I didn't see this mentioned but you should be able to do a speed test using a cell phone but it would depend on the cell phone. If it's a "smart phone" make sure cellular data is turned of and that WiFi is set to your WiFi. Start a browser in it and search "speed test" and test.

Being DSL, has anything been added or taken away from a phone plug in the building?

Tesla1856 · Answer

@GloryB wrote: CenturyLink PK5001Z with DSL phone-wires  WiFi is used by laptop.  What speed to you get with the laptop ?

GloryB · Answer

Very interesting items to consider! First of all, I did locate an extra ethernet cable to wire the pc directly to the router/modem--no change!

The speed (using Fast.com) is the same for my desktop, laptop, and cellphone (within .1 Mbps). I do have a 'SlingLink Turbo' from Dish attached by cable into the router/modem. Unplugging it from the router does not change the speed.

No other phone lines are being used except just one for the DSL connection.

All the suggestions have been very useful if just to eliminate potential problem areas. Thanks.

RoHe · Answer

Did Dell install SmartByte software on the XPS 8930? Disable it and see if that helps...

Do you have Killer Ethernet and Killer WiFi? Or Killer Ethernet and Qualcom WiFi? Do you have the latest drivers for whichever hardware you have? Dell has released updated ethernet and WiFi drivers for the XPS 8930 since Jan'19. And there are new chipset drivers too...

What type WiFi router is this, 802.11g, or n or ac? If it's dual band (= ac), which WiFi band are you using, 2.4 or 5 GHz?

What's the link speed of this WiFi router, eg, 300 Mbps? Open the Windows 10 network panel and see if the actual link speed comes close to the router's rated link speed, or not. That can help you figure out if there's an issue with the speed the router is talking to connected WiFi devices (link speed) or the speed it's talking to your ISP's server...

If the WiFi drivers allow you to change channels on whichever frequency (2.4 or 5 GHz) you're using, see if you can find a channel that's less crowded. That made a big difference for me because my router's " factory default" channel on 2.4 GHz was seeing about a dozen other WiFi networks on this street. I switched to a channel with only one other network detected and that really improved the WiFi link speed because there's less "noise" to filter out.

bell47g5a · Answer

If you have more phone outlets other than the one for the modem, do those have DSL filters in them? CenturyLink can test many things about your connection remotely.

GloryB · Answer

Will try to respond to the comments. I do not have SmartByte software.

I found a Killer Control Center with the notice "No Killer Network Interface Connected" (am using WiFi so the ethernet controller is not operational). Checked Dell website and have the latest drivers.

According to the modem configuration site, the WiFi router is 802.11b-g, 802.11n mode. It states Channel 11 is the best available channel and that is the channel being used.

Am not sure your question regarding 'link speed'. The DSL Connection Status on the modem is Downstream 11.776 Mbps, Upstream 0.893 Mbps (supposed to get 10 Mpbs).

The Windows 10 network panel has me totally confused. Under the WiFi it shows a Qualcomm QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Adapter (???), link speed 300/150 Mbps. (Edit: Found this under Device Manager so must be a driver.)

Thanks for the questions. (I have a headache). Could a 4-year-old modem just need replacing? The input I'm receiving is very useful.

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XPS 8930SE, Internet Speed

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