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G26ster wrote:

Liberty wrote:Get your own Modem.. Get a good WIFI router.. Turn in the old one and save a little on the monthly bills and get equipment that actually works.

What about this combo?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-doc ... Id=4562300

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-ac1 ... Id=8827854

OR a modem/router combo?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-ac1 ... Id=4562303

Personally, I would get the non-combo. Using your own modem is a good thing to do. You rent the one you have now from them for probably close to $10/mo, so in less than a year you're going to be in the black and saving money. If anything ever happens to the router or modem, you can replace one or the other, and not the combo unit.

I have an old computer (14 years old) running as my router (using pfSense) and two old linksys routers (13 years old) loaded with ddwrt on them acting solely as wireless access points running my home network, and it runs like a dream. Although, I'm not on cable -- I'm on fixed wireless, with an antenna pointing at a water tower.

No reason to line their pockets with cash renting their equipment when you can do it yourself

G26ster wrote:

Keith B wrote:
WPA2-PSK is not a model number. You don't need an extender for your WiFi, 20 feet is fine. What the issue more than likely is that the WiFi adapter in your wife's computer just won't do more than about 25 Mbps throughput. Once we know your modem model we can determine if it is an 802.11 ac router and then if so, all you would need is to get an 802.11 ac adapter for your wife's computer.

Keith: Arris Model DG860A

OK, the Arris is only an 802.11n unit. About the best throughput you will get reliably is <30 MBps. So, if you are gonna run wireless, then get an 802.11ac access point or router, an 802.11ac wireless card for your wife's computer. You set the Arris to only be a modem and then use the router and WiFi on it.

Here is a good article on realistic expectations of WiFi g, n, and ac https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkell ... 9cc48b3957

Keith B wrote:

G26ster wrote:

Keith B wrote:
WPA2-PSK is not a model number. You don't need an extender for your WiFi, 20 feet is fine. What the issue more than likely is that the WiFi adapter in your wife's computer just won't do more than about 25 Mbps throughput. Once we know your modem model we can determine if it is an 802.11 ac router and then if so, all you would need is to get an 802.11 ac adapter for your wife's computer.

Keith: Arris Model DG860A

OK, the Arris is only an 802.11n unit. About the best throughput you will get reliably is <30 MBps. So, if you are gonna run wireless, then get an 802.11ac access point or router, an 802.11ac wireless card for your wife's computer. You set the Arris to only be a modem and then use the router and WiFi on it.

Here is a good article on realistic expectations of WiFi g, n, and ac https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkell ... 9cc48b3957

"About the best throughput you will get reliably is <30 MBps."

Are you talking about my computer or my wife's? If mine, I get over 50mbps consistently using Ookla (speedtest.net). I don't know how they compute those speeds in the article though. But, good advice on what to get.

Is your's wired? You should get close to max speed with a wired one. WiFi is where the slowdown happens depending on the combination of WAP and WiFi card.

Keith is correct. Your wifi is a pinch point, it can only send /receive at a certain speed depending on the capabilities of the wireless router, and without regard to your data speed as supplied by your provider (50mbs?). Combine this with a potentially slower wifi card in the other computer, the bends and walls of the house, and if you have your cell phones, kindle, eyepad, refrigerator on your wifi, the wireless router is probably overwhelmed.

Keith B wrote:Is your's wired? You should get close to max speed with a wired one. WiFi is where the slowdown happens depending on the combination of WAP and WiFi card.

Yes, mine is wired, wife's is WiFi card.

Keith: what about this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/tp-link-802 ... Id=4523298

WiFi Card

Wife's computer HP Pavillion Slimline 400-314PC takes a PCI Express half length mini-card. The ones I see online have antennas included, but my wife's computer has no anttenas.

OR

Could this work

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-iee ... Id=2890435

rotor wrote:I use an app called speedtest to see how fast our wireless does at different locations.

The best (most reliable) speed test today does not need an app. Just open your browser and go to http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest

It works with pc's, smartphones, and nearly anything else as long as it has a modern browser.