VPN and speeds, Also router with Xfinity gateway

[DaveZerf]

I have gigspeed internet through xfinity. I am using an Onn 4k Pro, it is about 3-4 feet away from the gateway, With VPN on I get speeds of 30 to 80 download on the Analiti app, much higher using Internet Speed Test app for some reason. VPN off speeds are 300 to 500, the box has a 10/100 port I bought a gig speed adapter through usb port, really has not helped much with speeds. Upload speeds are usually equal to or maybe twice as fast as download. I am using a cat 6 cable into the back of the gateway. On my old laptop 900 plus for speeds hardwired.

I watched Troypoint and cordcuttersli videos on installing the vpn on the router, I doubt i have the abilty to do this with the Xfinity gateway. Could I put a router after that with decent results, I would just buy my own equipment but I have spent a few hundred on Xfinity pods to better get wifi in other areas of the building.

Any suggestions on fixes, I have even thought about looking for a new box with the 10/100/1000 port.

Maybe in the big picture, internet speed is like many other things in life, we focus to much on it and the reality is there is nothing to see.

Appreciate any and all input, heck I can even appreciate Smart A__ed answers.

Thank you.

[Timwort]

So I have no solutions but always a comment or two.

First I have to admit I have not used “Xfinity” but I did use Comcast until about the time they started the rebranding to Xfinity. I am not a fan (understatement) and I am trying not to let that impact this, so to put it mildly, I lack trust in there equipment (gateway router).

Do speed test from multiple devices but 500 Mbps seems slow for a 1Gbps connection. I’d say to talk to them but that can be a rough road to hoe because they treat everyone like they have no technical expertise at all, in there defense that’s an easy hole to fall into for there phone support people because it’s mostly true.

Not all 1G USB dongles are the same, but that’s also not easy to test out unless you have true 1G ports to compare to. The Pro is suppose to be USB 3.0 and that should handle 1G without issue.

I have no idea what they used to your house, fiber or coaxial, the Comcast network is most fiber but the last mile is often coaxial depending on you location. If it’s coaxial check all connectors and particularly any splitters. Splitters can be a problem.

The with VPN speed doesn’t surprise me, I have a fiber 500Mbps that test around 300 to 400 but only 60 to high 80s with a VPN, this is because of the small processor of streaming devices. My numbers are also from my Onn 4k Pro. Also the VPN itself can vary.

You did mention being close to the router but not if you tested with Wi-Fi, I’d look at both, I’m using 5G Wi-Fi with my Pro, it supports 6 but my eero newer Wi-Fi 6 isn’t compatible with the version of Wi-Fi 6 on the Pro.

As a further comment on the VPN speed, I just walked into my bedroom and tested my Onn 4k Plus box, without the VPN it is equivalent speed to the 4k Pro with the VPN it’s well over 140Mbps with the VPN, I don’t use it much with the VPN so I can’t tell you if that’s normal or a anomaly but the Pro connected to the same server was 87Mbps.

So I know none of this is particularly enlightening but I would be disappointed paying for 1G and getting 500, I would say drop Xfinity but that isn’t always realistic.

I was in Aurora CO with Comcast and it WAS the best I could get there at that time. I am now in a rural Ohio Village and pretty much multiple Internet providers to choose from, most offers fibre to the house… go figure, maybe the offering in Aurora have improved (Aurora is in Denver Metro for those not familiar).

I wish I had more, hopefully someone here can offer something better.

[GraceWilson]

I know nothing but have you tried different VPN locations to see it it helps? I occasionally have to change VPN locations on Surfshark because it occasionally blocks PC sites and my IPTV app or Disney app.

I agree with your “there’s nothing to see” hypothesis. My 100 Mbps in Florida works the same as my 300 Mbps in NC in my perception. I never run super sized 4K movies though and perhaps that’s why I don’t notice any difference. The older I get, the less I care!

Sorry I couldn’t help.

[DaveZerf]

To be honest, the hardest part of comcast in the beginning was having service turned on, the company that was here before I bought it had the lines run, if it coax from what I can see coming in. I made several calls to get service and everyone said there was no service available to that address, and I would tell them to come pull there cable off my building or I would tear it down. They threatened me with jail if I touched their wires, and I said thought there was no service here.Finally I called and talked to some lady and she was quite nice and must ave actually put forth some effort and said that she could have someone there in 2 days to make sure everything is good and get is turned on. That was 17 years ago and I really have had very few complaints with the service, the cost is not great,about $150 a month for the gigspeed plan, land line phone.
I guess I will just work with it, there has to be some sort of tester out there to measure speeds at the ports instead of an app. I am going to be close to the xfinity store tomorrow I may stop and talk with them.

Appreciate your time and thoughts,thank you.

[DaveZerf]

I have tried different servers, I have IP Vanish and also put the free version of Proton on. I do occasionally have buffering issues but not that often.

I have used roku for years with paid subs, and just got in to using unofficial apps, so I am like a kid with a new toy, except I am an old man. Have even thought about a Vsee or similar loaded box.

Appreciate your time and thoughts, thank you.

[GraceWilson]

I use Kodi for VOD movies & series with TRAKT + Premiumize and it’s flawless. It’s EASY to set up and get the hang of. You need a debrid service though and Premiumize works well.

For live TV, it’s not great. I tried Stremio and gave up. Kodi works perfectly for me. I’m old(er) too and have a blast with streaming stuff. Best wishes.

[DaveZerf]

I do have kodi with a few add ons, I have, Syncler and Stremio, Streamfire works well for live TV, also have a cheap iptv service as well as some others I use. I have a real debrid account also. There is a USA TV add onfor stremio that is pretty decent.

Thank you for your input.

[Timwort]

Did they swap equipment over the years? Comcast changed a lot over the years, I’d ask for updated equipment that allows you to use your own router if you can.

They most definitely can test speed and also all the coaxial, wether they will or not and want to charge you is another story.

Good luck!

[JPM69]

Have you tested your speed through your phone? Are you getting better than 500MPS?

There is an app called Network Analyzer. Use it on your phone to see if there is a lot of traffic on the channels on your wifi. You may just need to go to a less used channel range to avoid other traffic. But i am not sure if you can do that on their router. If they let you access the router on your computer you might be able change the channel range.

I have a personal router and was able to change my channels to get better speeds when it gets busy. I currently live in an apartment building and it can get busy especially when the kids arent in school.

Also, the speeds you are getting are pretty much the same i was getting when using the vpn as an app on the device.

You should get much better speeds if you set up the vpn on a router. But that can be a little more involved and cost some extra $.

[Sledgehammer]

I have a gaming router with surf shark using wire guard. I can choose which devices are using the VPN. For me anyway speeds are much better when using the VPN on a router. This is because the work is being done on the router rather than your streaming device. If you decide to go with a router DO NOT go cheap. The higher end gaming routers have better processors which help with speed.

[DaveZerf]

Thank you for your input, I put Network Analyzer on my phone,now I just need to figure out how to use it. I think I can get in to the gateway online, I may have done that one time just to see what was in there.
I think I have given up on the ethernet to usb adapter, I have tried 2 of them and they will work for a few minutes then stop, maybe something over heats or maybe a different issue.

[DaveZerf]

That is something I was looking at, not sure which ones are good or bad,I think I remember seeing a TP video about doing as you suggest and he had some suggestions I will have to look at.

I would need to figure out how to get better wifi to parts of my building. I live in a 50x60 foot concrete block garage with an apartment on the one side, I bought 2 Xpods for with the xfinity gateway and put one at the other end of the building and one about halfway in the back of the building to help with wifi signal when we are outside.

Thank you for your time and input, I do appreciate it.

[JPM69]

No problem. Ill post a few pics to explain a little.

Using the “Hamburger” button on the top left, select Wifi signal.

The symbol looking like 2 wifi signals opposite each other at the top right switches between 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz.

The Belt Buckle icon next to that lets you view in list or graph. I prefer Graph. Which is what i posted.

And at the bottom is the list of signals using different channels and widths. If you see a gap, in this Pic channels 52 to 100 are not being used, try to get the router to use this channel range.

Its worked for me.

It may take a few mins for the router to switch over and you will lose your signal during that time.

[Sledgehammer]

I have an Asus Rog (Republic of gamers) router. They don’t make my specific model anymore but any of those should serve you well

[Freestream1983]

Unfortunately I have had the same issue with my onn 4k pro box . I get that the Ethernet port is limited to 100 mbps but the WiFi thing was my issue, still only getting around the same speed as the ether net port and this was on gig speed. No other issues with any other devices

[Timwort]

How about more information? What kind of router and how old? What happens when you connect to Wi-Fi with a phone, both at the location of the 4k Pro and standing by the router? Are you connecting with 5, 6, or 2.4 Ghz to the Wi-Fi? With or without a VPN?If it’s Xfinity, call support, they can test some stuff remotely, try to be polite.

Why these questions:

You said 1G service, have you tested it or does you provider have an app to test it, it’s likely you’re not going to get a full 1G but closer than 100 Mbps for sure.

If you have an old router it can be a bottleneck, this happen to me, new router and I realized the speed I should have seen but didn’t with the old router.

Location of Wi-Fi radio (router) can be a big factor, obstructions (building material etc), distance, Radio placements, interference etc.

Connection to 2.4 Ghz tends to support more distance between the radio and device but slower speeds. 5 or 6 Ghz supports faster speeds but most routers will connect to the strongest signal, some will let you turn off each signal but it is router dependent.

VPNs will lower your tested speed from the 4k Pro if the VPN runs on the 4k Pro, depending on a lot of factors including the VPN, it’s due to the overhead of encryption on the CPU.

Some of the above is pretty well known so my asking is intended to insult you knowledge, I have no idea where you are as far as awareness of common issues are concerned.

While not impossible it seems unlikely that the 4k Pro is the problem, the most likely is the router, it can be cabling too.

[DaveZerf]

Thank you for this. I logged in to my xfinity gateway and see no where i can change channels.

I did some tests speed to the gateway was 1306 mbps, to my phone was 450-500 mbps.
Not sure how to actually test speed through the ethernet, other than with speed test apps on devices. With those the device it self will probably scrub some of it.

The 4K pro through the 10/100 port with analiti I get 90-115 internet speed test app 170-190 mbps. With VPN on, not sure why the difference between the 2 apps. Will just go with what I have for now, only way to make it better would be to buy a new tv box with a 10/100/1000 port.

This is what I have when I did what you posted.

[JPM69]

No problem. I cant really help too much on the technical side. I only know what i was able to do.

I found this on a search if you want to see it it works to change your channel.

[sheridan.bears]

Does the Xfinity Gateway need to be bridged?

[DaveZerf]

No idea, I am an old redneck guy, tech stuff is not my bag. But I can google and will, to see what that means. Appreciate your input, thank you.