I switched from 600MBPS to Gig speed. I had the XB6 with...

[winterpeg]

I switched from 600MBPS to Gig speed. I had the XB6 with the 600MBPS and now I have the XB7 with the Gig. I will call tech support this afternoon and talk to them to confirm that the XB7 is configured for Gig speed, and then have them put in a work order to run me a new line from the neighborhoods box to my house. All of the cable within my house was replaced when we redid the house 10 years ago. It's a major task to run a new line, no conduit, under a wide concrete driveway and through my neighbor's front lawn! I will let everyone know how I make out. Stay Safe everyone.

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Update from my 2 1/2 hour call with Tech Support. Called the 800 number and was told that there was a 15-25 minute wait, and would I like a call back. I responded with a yes and entered the callback number and hung up. Immediately I received an automated callback saying that I was number one in the queue. Well, after waiting another hour and 15 minutes, I finally got Tech Support.

So, "we" did the whole routine that they ask everyone to go through. He did some kind of reset of the XB7, but alas, after about an hour, the results were the same. I was still getting about 600MBPS on both ethernet and WiFi connections. It was pretty consistent, but NOT near what I am paying for.

So, we agreed that there was something wrong with the strength of the signal coming into the house.  I did get 850MBPS once, through ethernet, later on in the day, but only once.

So, another service call scheduled for this coming Wednesday. The only thing left to do as far as I am concerned  is to run me a new cable from the green neighborhood box to my house, which is NOT simple. It is possible as our driveways all have a very large conduit under them, it is called a culvert, which is about 20" in diameter. Stay Safe.

[mdk]

@winterpeg -- The only thing left to do as far as I am concerned  is to run ... a new cable

Maybe, the technician can open the Shaw "demarcation box", at the perimeter of your house, and replace the splitter that is inside their box.

Maybe, the technician can cut-off the end connector of the "inbound" cable to that box, and replace the connector.

Maybe, the technician can cut-off the end connector of the "outbound" cable from that "neighbourhood box", and replace it.

When viewing the "Performance" tab of the Windows "Task Manager" while running the Shaw Speed Test, does your process usage come close to 100% ? Does the graph of your network-adapter ever exceed your 600+ average?

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The Ethernet did hit close to  a Gig on one test.

The CPU hits 100%, the second part of the CPU graph. and then drops.

It still seems that the CPU wants to take more but the signal is dropping?

???

[Hyperlynx]

well there's some of your problem. older hardware cant handle the speed. ive seen this before. My step daughters pc does the same on speed test. up to 30 when started and then you can hear the cpu fan kick in and the network speed drops down in a hurry. Short of upgrading nothing can be done

[rstra]

@winterpeg I would see if the tech would run a temp line and then do a speed test.

[winterpeg]

Great suggestion. I was thinking the same. I will tell the person to run a line above ground, with some "new" cable, to my house and then we will run more speed tests. Shaw's infrastructure in most places is ancient cable The bottom line is don't blame my equipment when it is rated to give the results. The OLD cable does NOT have the capability to run Gig Internet. Let's see what the results are. Thanks for the suggestion. Stay Safe.

[winterpeg]

A little premature for you to make that suggestion. My equipment is rated to provide Gig speed. Shaw's 35+ year old cable is NOT! Let's see if some new cable from the box to my house is better. That still leaves the 1/2 KM from the neighborhood box to the actual Fiber network. Stay Safe and pay attention. 

[mdk]

@winterpeg --  The CPU hits 100%, the second part of the CPU graph. and then drops.

Given the 2.3 Ghz cores the Shaw SpeedTest is being "bottle-necked" by the "slowness" of each logical processor.

If you had a faster computer, such as a dual-core (without hyperthreading) 3.2 Ghz processor, the CPU graph would not hit 100%, and the NETWORK graph would show higher numbers.

Got another computer with a faster processor that you can run the Speed Test?

[mdk]

@Hyperlynx -- My step daughter's pc does the same on speed test. up to 30 when started and then you can hear the cpu fan kick in ...

How fast is the processor in her computer?  Certainly, the Speed Test is pushing the CPU to 100%, and the CPU is getting warmer, and the motherboard notices the increased temperature, and speeds-up the cooling fan.

Is she testing over an Ethernet cable, or over "Wireless G" WiFi ?

I agree: short of upgrading nothing can be done for her computer. Maybe, a "Wireless N" (or "Wireless AC") adapter that connects to a USB port will give higher  speeds.