Not getting full 1Gbps speeds? READ THIS.

[SS31]

Hi all,

Just wanted to share some experiences after recently upgrading to 1Gbps Virgin Media package. After getting the upgrade, I wanted to verify I was getting what I paid for and as such I went on a mission to try and observe download speeds near the 1Gbps package quoted speed of 1130Mbps.

It seemed however, that the maximum I could get initially was around the 800Mbps mark on any speedtest site or large downloads.

I checked  samknows/realspeed which shows you your input speed your hub is receiving. It's the number on the left. That number has to be above 1000Mbps to prove that you even have a chance of receiving those speeds on a PC. The number on the right however, cannot be trusted one bit. More on that later...

Anyway, so after verifying my hub receiving the 1Gbps (you can also do this by logging into your hub), but I wasn't getting the speeds... So I made a a few upgrades.

1. I upgraded my CAT5e cabling, which maxed out at 1000Mbps. From my understanding, to be able to use the full speed, you will need at least a CAT 6 cable, which is capable of up to 10Gbps (10000Mbps). CAT7 or 8 will also work.
2. I connected directly to my VM hub. I originally had a switch in between which was limiting my speeds.
3. I upgraded my network card.  You need a network card which can handle the increased speed, such as 2.5Gbps. Search "2.5Gbps ethernet card" on Amazon. After installing, check the status of the network adapter and make sure you can see a speed of 2.5Gbps.
   

After sorting the hardware, I then went back to check my speeds on various speed tests; speedtest.net, fast.com, samknows, which, thinkbroadband, etc, etc.

Not a single speed test showed me anything near the speeds I should be getting, despite the hardware supporting up to 2.5Gbps. Speedtest.net however, was the highest by far of around 850Mbps.

Samknows was especially confusing because of the number on the left, but the number on the right (the actual speed test) has been consistently the lowest one out of the bunch. It cannot be trusted.

So, was I actually getting the speeds I paid for? In fact... YES I WAS. I took to Steam to download some games and found that I was in fact almost maxing out the speed being sent to my hub:

A little conversions shows me I was in fact receiving 1144Mbps, as I peaked at downloading at 143MB/s:

So, moral of the story? You can't trust speed sites when you have a fast 1Gbps connection. Perhaps it's due to their capacity, load, methodology or some other dodgy stuff... The best way to test your speed that I have found is to go and actually download something from a big service with lots of capacity, such as Steam.

Hope this helps.

[bally12345]

Try downloading a highly seeded torrent like Ubuntu iso or something else large with a download manager like IDM

Shouldn't have no issue maxing out with 2.5gb nic.

[gingeeeee05]

what wizardry are you using to get max download from steam? im on 1gb, origin, blizzard anything else i get max, steam it tops out about 15mbs

[SS31]

Haha I really don't know. It's the same for me with people getting 1000Mbps speedtests - I've never ever seen one myself. 

Part of me is starting to think that having these kind of speeds is largely pointless because most services can't deliver those kind of downloads anyway. Perhaps the 500Mbps package would be a nice middle ground.

That being said, when you do max out the 1Gbps it is brilliant!! 

[Andrew-G]

SS31, have you considered the possibility that your DOCSIS connection is not operating reliably?  That could produce highly variable speeds, caused by excessive latency or packet loss issues.  You'd need to check and post the hub's status data for power noise and error levels (for the error data to be useful needs to be after several days continuous running without restart).  A BQM may be useful as well to see if that's indicating anything else - for example congestion on the local loop, or momentary loss of connection.

[Tudor]

How to get stats from a VM hub (no need to logon to the hub)

Open a web browser and go to 192.168.0.1 router mode or 192.168.100.1 modem mode

• Click on the “> Check router status” button
• Click on the “Downstream” tab, copy the text and paste into your reply, do not take a screen shot
• Click on the “Upstream” tab, copy the text and paste into your reply
• Click on the “Networking” tab, copy the text and paste into your reply.
• Do NOT post photos or screen shots they will be rejected as they contain MAC addresses. The board software will automatically change MAC addresses to **:** if done as above.

[SS31]

Downstream bonded channels

Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) SNR (dB) Modulation Channel ID

1	339000000	10.5	41	QAM 256	26
2	139000000	9.8	40	QAM 256	1
3	147000000	9.8	40	QAM 256	2
4	155000000	9.9	40	QAM 256	3
5	163000000	9.5	40	QAM 256	4
6	171000000	9.5	41	QAM 256	5
7	179000000	9.4	41	QAM 256	6
8	187000000	9.5	41	QAM 256	7
9	195000000	10	41	QAM 256	8
10	203000000	9.6	41	QAM 256	9
11	211000000	9.8	41	QAM 256	10
12	219000000	9.3	41	QAM 256	11
13	227000000	8.8	40	QAM 256	12
14	235000000	8.4	40	QAM 256	13
15	243000000	8.3	40	QAM 256	14
16	251000000	8.5	41	QAM 256	15
17	259000000	8.8	41	QAM 256	16
18	267000000	9.2	41	QAM 256	17
19	275000000	9.7	41	QAM 256	18
20	283000000	9.9	41	QAM 256	19
21	291000000	9.9	41	QAM 256	20
22	299000000	9.9	41	QAM 256	21
23	307000000	10.2	41	QAM 256	22
24	315000000	10.5	41	QAM 256	23
25	323000000	10.6	41	QAM 256	24
26	331000000	10.6	41	QAM 256	25
27	347000000	10.2	41	QAM 256	27
28	355000000	10.2	41	QAM 256	28
29	363000000	10.2	41	QAM 256	29
30	371000000	10.2	41	QAM 256	30
31	379000000	9.9	41	QAM 256	31

Downstream bonded channels

Channel Locked Status RxMER (dB) Pre RS Errors Post RS Errors

1	Locked	41	54	0
2	Locked	40	17277	0
3	Locked	40	9040	1
4	Locked	40	6000	14
5	Locked	40	6359	4
6	Locked	41	3946	0
7	Locked	41	2384	1
8	Locked	41	1424	0
9	Locked	41	939	0
10	Locked	41	640	0
11	Locked	41	433	0
12	Locked	41	333	0
13	Locked	40	267	0
14	Locked	40	206	0
15	Locked	40	207	0
16	Locked	41	188	0
17	Locked	41	148	0
18	Locked	41	124	0
19	Locked	41	139	0
20	Locked	41	108	0
21	Locked	41	98	0
22	Locked	41	69	0
23	Locked	41	79	0
24	Locked	41	88	0
25	Locked	41	75	0
26	Locked	41	69	0
27	Locked	41	64	0
28	Locked	41	64	0
29	Locked	41	68	0
30	Locked	41	63	0
31	Locked	41	52	0

Upstream bonded channels

Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) Symbol Rate (ksps) Modulation Channel ID

0	49600000	41	5120	QAM 64	1
1	43100000	41	5120	QAM 64	2
2	36600000	40.5	5120	QAM 64	3
3	30100000	41	5120	QAM 64	4
4	23600000	40.8	5120	QAM 64	5

Upstream bonded channels

Channel Channel Type T1 Timeouts T2 Timeouts T3 Timeouts T4 Timeouts

0	ATDMA	0	0	0	0
1	ATDMA	0	0	0	0
2	ATDMA	0	0	0	0
3	ATDMA	0	0	0	0
4	ATDMA	0	0	0	0

General Configuration

Network accessMaximum Number of CPEsBaseline PrivacyDOCSIS ModeConfig file

Allowed

1

Enabled

3.1

***

Primary Downstream Service Flow

SFIDMax Traffic RateMax Traffic BurstMin Traffic Rate

32037

1200000450 bps

42600bytes

0 bps

Primary Upstream Service Flow

SFIDMax Traffic RateMax Traffic BurstMin Traffic RateMax Concatenated BurstScheduling Type

32036

55000270 bps

42600bytes

0 bps

16320bytes

Best Effort

Network Log

Time Priority Description

27-11-2022 13:24:27	notice	US profile assignment change. US Chan ID: 6; Previous Profile: 12 13; New Profile: 13.;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 13:24:27	warning	DBC-REQ Mismatch Between Calculated Value for P1.6hi Compared to CCAP Provided Value;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 13:24:03	notice	US profile assignment change. US Chan ID: 6; Previous Profile: 11 13; New Profile: 12 13.;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 13:24:03	warning	DBC-REQ Mismatch Between Calculated Value for P1.6hi Compared to CCAP Provided Value;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 11:45:38	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 11:45:38	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 10:20:56	warning	DBC-REQ Mismatch Between Calculated Value for P1.6hi Compared to CCAP Provided Value;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 10:20:56	notice	US profile assignment change. US Chan ID: 6; Previous Profile: 13; New Profile: 11 13.;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 09:34:50	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 09:34:50	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 08:53:24	notice	US profile assignment change. US Chan ID: 6; Previous Profile: 12 13; New Profile: 13.;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 08:53:24	warning	DBC-REQ Mismatch Between Calculated Value for P1.6hi Compared to CCAP Provided Value;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 08:22:42	notice	US profile assignment change. US Chan ID: 6; Previous Profile: 11 13; New Profile: 12 13.;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 08:22:42	warning	DBC-REQ Mismatch Between Calculated Value for P1.6hi Compared to CCAP Provided Value;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 07:41:41	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 07:41:41	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 05:42:53	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 05:42:53	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 03:22:26	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 03:22:26	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 02:19:52	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 02:19:52	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 01:51:35	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 01:51:35	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 00:42:22	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 00:42:22	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
27-11-2022 00:21:04	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
27-11-2022 00:21:04	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
26-11-2022 23:37:08	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
26-11-2022 23:37:08	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
26-11-2022 22:47:13	warning	Dynamic Range Window violation
26-11-2022 22:47:13	warning	RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;

[Martin_N]

Hi SS31,

Thank you for your post. I'm very sorry to hear about the issue you've been having with your Broadband speed. 

I am more than happy to take a look into this for you. 

I will private message you now to confirm your details. 

^Martin

[yelrats]

hello Tudor

after reading your post I wanted to ask you Does your computer also have a 2.5 Network card

as mine does not it's integrated on Dell T3500 my highest Speed recorded on speedtest.net was 982.90 mbps

and that was not a consistently reproduced speed, so I have ordered a 2.5 card for my machine I hope that allows the throughput to get past the 945 and hit the speeds your seeing. 

[Tudor]

Easy answer @yelrats is no, but it’s a Mac mini with a 10G network card, through my 10G backbone switch.

[yelrats]

thanks for quick reply

I'm not that Techy so i'm Guessing your system is a lot faster 10 gig excuse my ignorance 

so by what you told me even by installing a 2.5 gig card it will still only show 940 + and not 1130 that virgin says is its max.