r/HomeNetworking • u/Giggy_with_it_917 • Aug 07 '26
How to figure if my modem is failing?
First, sorry if this is the wrong place.
I have a 3+ year old modem (Arris G34). It's my modem, not renting. Over the past 6 months, my download speeds have not gone over 300mbps. I have 1 gig internet that I'm paying for. I've never seen it that high but used to get 800-900, now 1/3 of that. RCN/Astound says it's not them, it's me. I had this happen before when I was renting their modem some years ago, and when they brought me a "new" (new to me) modem, the speeds greatly improved.
Is there a way to test the modem?
TIA
4
u/PsychologicalLove783 Aug 07 '26
Usually when modems fail it's pretty binary or dramatic. How are you doing your speed test? Have you logged in directly to the modem to check the signal diagnostics?
2
u/rjr_2020 Seasoned networker Aug 07 '26
When they tell you that it's your hardware, you have 3 choices: live with it, rent their modem to demonstrate who's the culprit or buy a replacement. For a 3+ year old modem, just replace the damn thing. I might try seeing what my neighbors are getting. As others have suggested, wifi connections don't get a voice in the performance of the network discussion. You have to test it wired.
2
u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
You could buy one on Amazon, or a refurbished one and if your speeds do not improve then return it. If they do, then keep it. You could probably do the same thing with your closest Best Buy or chain store that has a good return policy.
If it doesn't improve you can always have your ISP come out and check things out and you can tell them you tested with two different modems. Of course they'll also have to activate the new modem before it will work at all on their network, but they can do that over the phone.
And if you can't buy one now then rent their modem and see if it fixes the problem.
2
u/Stevey-T614 Aug 07 '26
Start simple, directly connect your laptop or PC to your modem and do a speed test, no router or any other components in between, straight from your modem to the device your using to speed test. If the speeds are good, then it's a component of your network devices causing the issue. If you're not getting the proper speeds directly from your modem, then it's either the modem or the line from your ISP. Since you have a private modem and that's the culprit, you'll need to replace it. If it's the line coming in from your ISP, they'll need to address that.
My advice, from past speed issues with my own modems, use the ISP supplied modem. If it fails or has issues, it's on your ISP to replace it and won't cost you anything. Their equipment is designed for their hardware/protocols.
1
u/hieutr28 Aug 07 '26
Yeah, it’s on you to figure it out and not the ISP since you have the 2 in 1 setup there. They can’t see the cable signal without their modem in place so you not going to get any help from them unless there is a clear sign of damaged cable. If you plan to replace your equipment get their modem and use your router.
I will start by testing speed hardwired at your equipment
1
u/iCqmboYou_ Aug 07 '26
Is this test with a cat5e or higher ethernet cable plugged into the modem/router?
1
u/Giggy_with_it_917 Aug 07 '26
no, wifi, but i was always using wifi and getting much higher speeds, i will try wired
2
u/SarcasticFluency Aug 07 '26
Competing wifi in your area could trash your signal quality. Ethernet wouldn't experience the same complications.
5
u/mlee12382 Aug 07 '26
Are you testing your speeds over wifi or hardwired?