motisaz
join:2001-11-15
Cottonwood, CA | [Speed Issues] Is Charter Throttling Netflix? Old DOCSIS 1.1 mod I complained to Charter last year about slow speeds when running Netflix, and obtained a 'free' speed upgrade. The problem persisted, but life went on and I did not pursue it until this month. Speed tests showed downloads in excess of the required 5mb for Netflix HD, but I continued to have speed issues. I finally 'caught' the speed slow-down by interrupting my Netflix session and immediately running SpeedTest. I found the connection throttled back to 600 to 700 KB (that’s right, KB or slower than 3G). Within a few minutes, the speed came back up to 6MB, but dropped back off when I repeated the test two more times.
This time tech support blamed it on my old Surfboard DOCSIS 1.1 modem – something they told me last year was not a problem. I picked up the Charter Tech suggested Motorola SB6121 and the maximum speed is still about half the 30 MB I’m paying for, and it still throttles back when watching Netflix, but it stays above the 5 MB threshold for HD streaming.
The modem diagnostics show all signal & data within specs, and I ran the tests between midnight and 4:AM using multiple sites so line traffic should not be an issue. The tests were consistent alternating between three machines, two Windows Vista and one Windows 7, and with the modem direct connected to a Gigabit network card - router bypassed.
I suspect Charter may prefer customers retain the old DOCSIS 1.1 modems to save corporate system bandwidth. Tech support denied Charter throttles Netflix users – so - there just may be a bandwidth stealing ghost in those coax cables. It is a strange conflict – the cable company wants to up-sell their video content while customers use the same cable to source less expensive options. |
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DrDrew
join:2009-01-28
Apple Valley, CA
kudos:6 | Re: [Speed Issues] Is Charter Throttling Netflix? Old DOCSIS 1.1 My family and I watch Netflix all the time, with my Moto 5100 modem and 100 mbps home network, with no problems. Get 20/4 up with no problem.
It's not Charter throttling Netflix. |
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 BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | reply to motisaz
A) Charter doesn't throttle that is what got Comcast in trouble 4 years ago and why they instituted caps.
B) you're problem is your docsis 1.1 modem. And no they would NOT prefer you to keep using on old modem. You won't get 30 Mbps with a docsis 2.0 modem let alone a docsis 1.1 modem. Instead of blaming Charter, upgrade your old ass modem. |
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 msmisfit
join:2004-09-13
Lawrenceville, GA
kudos:1 | said by BF69:B) you're problem is your docsis 1.1 modem. And no they would NOT prefer you to keep using on old modem. He has a Moto SB6121 now and says he gets half his 30M speed. I suspect the problem he's seeing is congestion on the Netflix server routes for his area.
Since he says it stays above the threshold for streaming, I'm not sure what he is unhappy about now. Is the video still affected or interrupted often? |
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uniden9
join:2009-08-04
Birmingham, AL | You have to wonder what else is 5+ years old in the setup. Router, switch, or even hub. The modem replacement was definitely a needed starting point. |
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BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | said by uniden9:You have to wonder what else is 5+ years old in the setup. Router, switch, or even hub. The modem replacement was definitely a needed starting point.
Exactly, new modem but using an old router and wireless adapter isn't going to help much. I had issues getting 18 meg on a WRT54GS as soon as I switched to a wireless N router and adapter I got my speeds. Right now I don't get 30 Mbps but I'm still using a Docsis 2.0 modem and I get that. I still get around 20-22 Mbps with wi-fi and 24-27 Mbps wired. |
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 DoggPremium
join:2003-06-11
Belleville, IL
 ·Charter
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Damn...you guys need to READ the entire post.
The modem was upgraded. His testing was done with the router and WITHOUT the router.
Everyone is so quick to point fingers and/or make half-assed comments without even reading the topic.
I would start by verifying you speeds are consistent with the package/tier that you are using. From what you state above, they are not.
In which case, open a topic in Charter Direct and ask for help.
In any case, Charter doesn't throttle. I'd say you have an issue with your individual service, or you are on a congested node.
--
Google is your Friend |
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| reply to motisaz
Cracks me up everyone read docsis 1.1 and decided that was the problem before reading the full post. Motisaz, does the speed adjust depending on time of day? Sounds like a over saturated node. I would post in the Charter Direct forum on the site and they'll get it checked out.
Charter doesn't throttle netflix because I'm on the same 30/4 plan and can do two HD netflix streams at once without issue |
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motisaz
join:2001-11-15
Cottonwood, CA | reply to Dogg
Thanks, and thanks again for reading the entire post.
I am still trying to work it out with Charter. I didn't think node problems would show up at 2:AM PST, but who knows? Perhaps someone is running a net server on my node. I do know the service slows after I hit it with big downloads not just Netflix - from 14mb to 6mb (was 6mb to 600kb before the modem upgrade).
Channel #1 does show some TX errors, in fact, 10x the error rate of 2,3&4. I will take your advice and hit Charter Tech again. I wonder if multiple local users of DOCSIS 1.1 modems on my node could be overheating Channel #1? Thanks again! |
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| Running cat 5 or cat 6 cables? Cat 5 even? I read the topic but to be honest, you are hard to take seriously when talking about slow speeds and having docsis 1.1 modems....... |
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| »techblog.netflix.com/2011/10/net···rks.html |
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motisaz
join:2001-11-15
Cottonwood, CA | reply to Metatron2008
Geeee . . . I learned a lesson . . . sorry I even added the replaced 1.1 modem the Subject. Please . . . the DOCSIS 1.1 modem is history . . . replaced by the SB6121.
My only question is why Charter Tech Support told me there was no reason to upgrade the old modem last year when I asked. I realize things change - but I would have replaced it then when the speed drop-off was first an issue.
The only diagnostics that appear odd is a very high Uncorrectable Signal value on Bonding Channel 217 . . . working claim with Charter Direct.
Thanks again for those who read the post and tried to help. |
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DrDrew
join:2009-01-28
Apple Valley, CA
kudos:6 | Can you actually post a screenshot of a speed test? |
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Well are you running cat 5/cat5e/cat 6 ethernet cables? From what I am reading cat 4 cables can only run at 20 mbit speeds... Would definately cause an issue. |
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kruserPremium
join:2002-06-01
Chesterfield, MO | said by Metatron2008:Well are you running cat 5/cat5e/cat 6 ethernet cables? From what I am reading cat 4 cables can only run at 20 mbit speeds... Would definately cause an issue.
Did a Cat4 cable even exist in the real world?
I thought they jumped straight from Cat3 to Cat5 with Cat3 still the most common cable used for indoor phone wiring by at&t.
A lot of the cat3 stuff I see at&t install only has two pairs at that so it is useless for a gigabit connection as that needs all four pairs. |
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| said by kruser:said by Metatron2008:Well are you running cat 5/cat5e/cat 6 ethernet cables? From what I am reading cat 4 cables can only run at 20 mbit speeds... Would definately cause an issue.
Did a Cat4 cable even exist in the real world? I thought they jumped straight from Cat3 to Cat5 with Cat3 still the most common cable used for indoor phone wiring by at&t. A lot of the cat3 stuff I see at&t install only has two pairs at that so it is useless for a gigabit connection as that needs all four pairs. Category 4 is a description of a cable that consists of four unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) wires with a data rate of 16 Mbit/s and performance of up to 20 MHz. It was used in token ring networks, 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T4, and is no longer common or used in new installations. It is used in telephone networks which can transmit voice and data from 12 Mbit/s to 16 Mbit/s. It was quickly superseded by Category 5/5e cable, both of which have 100±15 ohm impedance.
Category 4 is not recognized by the TIA/EIA-568 data cabling standards. |
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motisaz
join:2001-11-15
Cottonwood, CA | reply to Metatron2008
Thanks for the thoughts . . . CAT-6, direct to a gig card.
I suspect Charter's use of Comcast's Powerboost may be the problem. I think the 30/4 mb they sell is when the boost/compression features are available.
Comcast claims their Powerboost works for the first 20mb of downloads; however, Charter's implementation claims no more than three seconds. I am afraid the speed sold as 30/4 is based on the three second burst, not a constant download (e.g. Netflix). I am trying to get a clarification from Charter, but their last published speed increase coincided with Powerboost implementation.
for more info: »www.myaccount.charter.com/custom···eID=2338
Running Charter's Speedtest with small files, I hit 30+/4 regardless of the location used, but when running the DSL Reports Speedtest I get from 6 to 19 mb, never higher. I suspect my node is overworked, and by definition Powerboost can drop out at the discretion of the provider and traffic on the node. I suspect constant downloads, e.g. Netflix, cause a fall-back to non-boost speeds.
My take: If you think you are getting 30/4 mb service, then by definition you will suffer a fall-back of downloads over three seconds duration (e.g. streaming media) - not exactly throttling, but not a constant speed either. |
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motisaz
join:2001-11-15
Cottonwood, CA | P.S. - Comcast's Powerboost implementation at 20 mb is quite usable, but Comcast's published 3 second burst is just enough to trick small file speed tests into publishing amazing numbers. |
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motisaz
join:2001-11-15
Cottonwood, CA | P.P.S: Sorry, make that Charter's 3 second burst . . . |
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No, Charter's rated speeds are the "normal," non-Powerboost speeds. You should have no problem with sustained downloads running at 30mb/s or a bit more. Unless there's congestion on your node. On my 15mb Express, it stays in the 15~16mb/s area after Powerboost, which can go well over 100mb for a second or two.
And AFAIK, there's no defined "limitations" on Charter's Powerboost either, whether a certain number of seconds, certain number of MB, nor a limit to the burst speed (highest I've seen is nearly 140mb  ). |
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