TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Troubleshooting: Slow Speeds on a Wired Home Network
► Summary:
This article provides information on how to troubleshoot slow speeds on a wired home network.
► Symptoms
Customer is able to get on line, but has slow download speeds. Web pages open slowly, and the
customer has a slow transfer rate when downloading a file.
► Cause
The router, hub, and modem combination may not be optimized. A bottleneck may occur, slowing
Internet speeds.
► Solution
Router vs. Hub
Both a router and a hub allow multiple computers to "talk" to each other. The difference is the
electronics.
A hub acts more as an Ethernet splitter, the device rebroadcasts data sent to it. The hub uses
bandwidth inefficiently, however it was the primary choice for many households before home routers
became more popular and less expensive.
A router is similar to a computer. It manages data more efficiently, and most routers offer some
security protection by providing a barrier between home network and the public Internet for incoming
traffic.
Recommended Equipment
Suddenlink recommends the use of a router and any modem and router combination that allows for a
100 Base T Ethernet connection between the devices. This will help ensure this is not the slowest point
on your network which could bottleneck performance.
To choose the right router, make sure the router has full 100 Base T support. Check for labels on the
device or with the router manufacturer.
