JimXq
join:2008-08-13
3 edits |  [VA] What is this Project EON? It has slowed my connection!
For about three weeks now my connection is down from the normal 10 Mbps to running about 3 Mbps now. I noticed it got slow a few days before I got this "Project EON" upgrade letter. So I patiently waited for them to do the upgrades in my area. Supposedly that should all the done now. I'm still getting these very slow speeds though and there looks to be no end in sight.
I've have done all the normal local checks. Reset modem, check lines, etc. I'm using a Toshiba PCX1100X modem directly connected to the computer via ethernet. COX Preferred tier (10 Mbps). No splitters or anything, the main line to the house and straight to the modem (I don't have cable TV service).
This is not a temporary problem as it has been consistent the whole time and has been going on for weeks. Servers I used to download at 900+ KBps, now download at 300 KBps. I have tested this to many different known good servers and tried several different computers here. It's very consistent and obviously the connection is limited to this low bandwidth for some reason.
I'm fairly positive this has something to do with these "upgrades" to the network (ha!). Anyone else seeing this? I want a 2/3's refund for this past month! |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
1 edit | well first off the modem you have is no longer supported(for awhile now) and is only DOCSIS 1.0 certified. some times with network upgrades unsupported modems will be effected negatively and the signal levels to that modem may have changes as well.
so first check to see what you signal levels are at and i would also replace you modem with a supported one |
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Raiven
@cox.com
| reply to JimXq
I would also recommend getting a new modem. I also wouldn't be surprised if with a newer one you start pulling more then just 10mg down. If you still have slow DL speeds with a new modem then I would call to get a tech out to check things out. Even though nothing may be wrong on your property they still have to come out and possibly turn it over to their maintenance team.
BTW EON is the name of the project that is upgrading the plant to a 1gig network. |
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CoxTech1
VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA
| reply to JimXq
The PCX1100's were retired due to performance issues and not being able to keep up with speed upgrades over the years. The effective maximum download speeds for that model were about 3-4Mbps. If performance is your primary concern I would definitely suggest a modem upgrade for starters. |
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JimXq
join:2008-08-13
| Unless the modem is physically broken then it's not because of my modem. Everyone around here uses the exact same PCX1100 modem that I am and their speeds are still normal (although none of them live in my neighborhood so I'm thinking it's a local problem).
As I already mentioned, I regularly get in excess of 7 Mbps, just like everyone else using the same modem.
I have been considering a modem upgrade but I seriously doubt it will fix this particular problem. |
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CoxTech1
VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA | I don't understand how you're able to get over 7Mbps with a DOCSIS 1.0 modem but in either case the modem will need to be upgraded in order to achieve the speeds you want. |
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JimXq
join:2008-08-13
| The speed I want is the speed this exact same setup was doing just a couple weeks ago.
The official DOCSIS 1.0 specification is rated for over 40 Mbps downstream so I don't know why it would be limited to 3-4 Mbps as you suggest (Cox limitation?). I know for a fact everyone around here gets over 7 Mbps with this exact modem so I believe you are misinformed. |
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CoxTech1
VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA
| There's a lot of technical details involved but basically 40Mbps on DOCSIS 1.0 is simply not the case. 3-4Mbps for that modem is a reasonable expectation and I suppose 7Mbps is achievable but it's simply asking too much of that modem. With a DOCSIS 2.0 modem you should have no trouble reaching 15-20Mbps and even better with a DOCSIS 3.0 modem if you choose to go that route. |
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JimXq
join:2008-08-13
1 edit | Heh, as I already said, I was in fact pushing 7 Mbps so no matter what you think it's capable of, that's what it was doing and it has been doing it for the last 7-8 years.
There is no point in me upgrading because, again as I've already said, I'm on the Preferred plan and will be capped at 10 Mbps no matter what. The 7 Mbps I already was getting is fine.
Are you saying something changed recently that has killed my connection rate? (eg. Project EON, which is the whole reason for this thread) |
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CoxTech1
VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA | I can look if you could PM me the modem's MAC. As far as being capped at 10Mbps I don't understand why that would be the case. |
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JimXq
join:2008-08-13
| See here:
»ww2.cox.com/residential/hamptonr···rnet.cox
Preferred tier is limited to 10 Mbps. Do you think if I upgrade the modem I will actually get more than 10 Mbps? I remember when the speed caps were lower (5 Mbps or whatever it was) and I was definitely limited to that speed. I noticed the increased speed when they raised the cap to 10 Mbps and I imagine that would be the limit even with a new modem.
I've got a call in for support right now so I'll let you know if that doesn't work out. |
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CoxTech1
VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA
| Yes, you would very likely see 15-20Mbps speeds on the 10Mbps Preferred service with a new modem. 10Mbps is your provisioned speed but PowerBoost speeds are on top of that provisioned rate. Just to point out an observation you made although the DOCSIS 1.0 specification states that 40Mbps is possible you've never seen speeds over 7Mbps with that modem even though your speeds were provisioned higher. This is a known limitation of DOCSIS 1.0 modems. |
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JimXq
join:2008-08-13
1 edit | Gah, OK so we reset and previsioned and all and now it's even slower, haha. 2.5 Mbps is what I'm getting at best.
Tech says my signal is excellent although the automated system said it had some problems with the signal from my modem. I did the reset thing with both the automated system and the tech on the phone, neither made any difference other than making it slower (really it's about the same slowness I have been getting for the last 3 weeks).
I don't know, I'll try a new modem since it sounds like I would get a boost over even my old speed. I'm really worried that I'll still be seeing these low speeds though and this is a bad time to be wasting money on unnecessary upgrades. It just doesn't make sense, my friend who is using the exact same PCX1100 modem is getting 7.2 Mbps right now. Something has definitely broken here.
As for the 40 Mbps limitation, I know that's just the backbone speed. The modem could never do more than 10 Mbps anyway because the connection from modem to computer is 10 Mbps ethernet. |
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CoxTech1
VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA
| Well let me put it this way. 3-4Mbps is the practical maximum speed for that modem. Anything over that is just plain lucky. As for it being a perfectly good modem that won't be the case for much longer. My understanding is that those modems cannot be provisioned on a DOCSIS 3.0 network and you will be required to switch sooner or later regardless (probably sooner). |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ
·Cox HSI
| reply to JimXq
you want to get a new modem anyways to ensure its supported and so that you wont have compatibility issue on the cox network.
the average life span of a modem is about 3 year before 1 of a few things will happen either stops working from use or is incompatible on the network do to upgrades like EON that allow greater speeds.
as for preferred HSi that the modem CoxTech1 is correct with a new modem you could possible hit 13-20mbs down depending on your neighborhood.
even if you were still getting around 7mbs i would still recommend getting a new modem to help insure your getting the performance you pay for plus if you ever have a tech out you dont want to get charged for the trip charge for a unsupported piece of equipment unless you have the assurance plan
but as it stands your modem is about 10years behind in technology and cox cant guarantee any performance with that modem.
you may also want to check with you local market and see if they are offering free replacement for Docsis 1.0 modems as i have seen in other post were people were getting letters for a replacement modem |
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JimXq
join:2008-08-13
| Yeah, we'll see. The CSR mentioned something about getting a letter but I never got one AFAIK. A free upgrade would be nice but maybe too late since I already ordered a new modem.
Really one of the main reasons I didn't want to upgrade is because I'm considering changing services when my contract is up unless Cox increases the ridiculously low bandwidth caps (not speed caps, but the usage caps, 40 GB per month, yeah right). Seems like a waste of money to upgrade since the old one was working well enough for now. |
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CoxTech1
VIP
join:2002-04-25
Chesapeake, VA
| Hmm... apparently you haven't been paying attention to the news articles on this site 
»ww2.cox.com/aboutus/policies/limitations.cox |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ | reply to JimXq
why you even worry about caps they a loosely enforced and i have never seen anyone have their service turned off for exceeding the cap.if anything i can only imagine they would target like the top 1% on the node if there was a problem |
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JimXq
join:2008-08-13
| reply to CoxTech1
No CoxTech1, I had not seen that. Very nice news! More competitive with FiOS which is good (although FiOS has no caps anyone is aware of).
Hmmm, that gives me more things to consider. Like an upgrade to Premier when my DSL contract runs out which would be cheaper overall. Currently I use the DSL for bulk transfers because it's not capped but it's a lot slower than the cable connection. The 15 Mbps uncapped FiOS is tempting though, I would probably already have it if it wasn't such a large install (they need to put that stupid box in your house; cut through your walls,etc). The Cox install is simple. Decisions...
m8trix, yeah I know but for me it's critical that I not lose my Internet connection for any reason whatsoever (I use VOIP and other things that I can not lose access to) and I would rather play by the rules than risk it. My normal monthly usage is in excess of 250 GB which is well above the old Cox limit (currently I use my slow DSL connection for most of that). |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ | reply to JimXq
250gbs is nothing i have seen people go well above that including myself and even then they will give several warning before hand if it becomes a problem |
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