Troubleshooting a Frustrating Internet Speed Dilemma: Seeking Insights from the Community

For the past six months, my family has been grappling with a perplexing internet speed issue that has left us feeling at our wits’ end. After returning home from a prolonged stay away to assist a sick relative, I was shocked to discover that our internet speed had plummeted to an unacceptable 1.8 Mbps. Initially, I thought the problem stemmed from my own computer, but the reality proved to be far more complicated.

Despite several visits from our Internet Service Provider (ISP) technicians, we have yet to find a solution to this ongoing problem. Here’s a summary of the journey we’ve taken so far:

• New Equipment Installation: The ISP installed a brand-new modem on-site, yet our internet speed remained unchanged.

• Testing Across Devices: We connected various laptops directly to the modem, only to see the same disappointing 1.8 Mbps download speed persist.

• Family Feedback: Our relatives were astounded by the frustratingly sluggish video download speeds during their visits, highlighting that the issue is affecting more than just our household.

• Technician Insights: During the latest technician visit, it was reported that new ports were installed at our neighborhood’s cable box, and outside cabling checked multiple times, yet no cause for the slowdown has been identified. The technician assured us that the ISP is not throttling our speeds, despite us paying for considerably higher bandwidth.

• Contrasting Experiences: As a means of verification, I took my laptop to the local library, where I enjoyed fast and seamless internet connectivity—an experience that starkly contrasted with our home situation.

At this point, we are left feeling truly perplexed. Despite having efficiently run our network in the past, we now feel as if we’ve been transported back to the dial-up speeds of the 90s, according to a senior technician’s assessment.

Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, the family member responsible for the internet service is reluctant to switch providers despite the frustration we’re experiencing. This leaves me with the challenge of either resolving the current issue or continuing to seek refuge in the library whenever I need to download files.

What adds to our confusion is that while internet speed tests may show acceptable results, real-world usage tells a different story. The moment we initiate any downloads, video streams, or uploads, our speeds drop drastically, affecting everything from general browsing to streaming services. Interestingly, our