Troubleshooting an Internet Speed Mystery: One Family’s Frustrating Journey

For the past six months, my family has been grappling with an inexplicable issue regarding our internet speed, which has been stuck at a dismal 1.8 Mbps. After returning home in mid-2022 from tending to a sick family member, I was immediately struck by the sluggishness of our internet. Initially, I suspected it was a problem with my own computer. However, further investigation revealed a more complex issue stemming from our Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Despite our ISP’s advanced technology and numerous service calls, we still haven’t resolved the problem. Here’s a rundown of the situation:

• New Equipment, No Improvement: Upon realizing the problem was widespread, the ISP provided us with a brand-new modem. Sadly, this did not enhance our internet experience in any way.

• Testing Multiple Devices: We connected various laptops directly to the new modem, but the download speeds remained stubbornly low at just 1.8 Mbps.

• Visitor Complaints: Our family members, upon visiting, expressed their frustrations about the painfully slow video download speeds impacting their work.

• Tech Support Frustration: Most recently, a fifth technician visited our home. He claimed to have installed a new port at the neighborhood cable box and thoroughly checked our internal network setup. Despite his efforts, he could not identify any source for the ongoing slowdown, dismissing the possibility of ISP throttling.

The only bright side of this situation is the discovery that when I took my laptop to a local library, I experienced remarkably faster speeds, far exceeding what we’ve been enduring at home.

Currently, we’re at an impasse. While one of my family members is footing the ISP bill, they are hesitant to switch providers simply because they don’t feel the impact of the slow speeds. As a result, I find myself stuck in this frustrating limbo or frequently having to visit the library for critical downloads.

To complicate matters further, our home is completely secure from any unauthorized users. With minimal devices connected—primarily my computer, one rarely-used laptop, and our phones—we should not be experiencing such atrocious speeds. Even after disconnecting a T-Mobile booster recommended by a technician, there was no improvement.

Our internet used to be quite robust, but now, as a senior technician aptly put it, we’re experiencing dial-up speeds reminiscent of the 90s. The ISP has submitted a ticket to their network team