Has anyone experienced "throttling" with Cox internet? (neighborhood, buy)

[Zippyman]

we've had 20meg/5meg Cox cable internet for years & hadnt run any speed tests in a while (we used to speed test @ pretty close to our plan maximum) - with the latest rate increase, I ordered Centurylink (40meg/5meg) & started running speed tests at random times & days over the past couple of weeks- just to see what we were actually getting for $62.99 per month. I never got a result over 5megs (on our 20meg line) in a couple weeks of testing. When they turned on the Centurylink, I was getting 37 megs on a 40 meg plan.. It seems kinda odd that we would consistently test so far below the rate plan we're on unless we're being throttled. If it was any other company, I'd call tech support & ask, but I really don't have the patience to deal with the whole "scripted tech support" thing with them..

[techaz]

I've had similar problems. I pay for the 20mb/s service and had frequent nights where the actual speed was 5 or less. I have called them and they never have an answer, and usually it's fine the next day. I don't know if it's the infrastructure or what, but it is a pain for me when watching streaming shows/movies and the quality goes from HD to 240p quality.

Bottom line, I don't think it's throttling, I think it's just poor consistency due to old or defective infrastructure.

[Ponderosa]

When I do is speedtest and it comes out at 3 or so, I just reboot the modem and it goes back into the 20s (Cox). It's pretty much a weekly event. The same drop off only happened a few times with my CL when I had it, but the fix worked the same. If you can look at your modem in Cox you typically see a lot of uncorrectable errors going on when the speed falls off. They stop occurring after a reboot. Why? I have no idea, but give it a try.

As for throttling, yes they do and you can find out about it on their website. You get only so many gb in each plan level before they throttle you. You can log on the website and see your usage and where you stand relative to your plan threshold. .

[LBTRS]

Unless you're exceeding your monthly data allowance you're not being throttled. More than likely it is a network capacity issue on your neighborhood hub during peak internet usage hours. It could also be an equipment problem on your end or Cox's end. If you're not exceeding your data allowance then call Cox and get them to come out and fix it.

[Pink Jazz]

Never been throttled with CenturyLink, and with a network that is immune to slowdowns during peak internet usage hours, I say this is a perfect reason to switch. Ignore all online reviews; most of them are by Cox employees writing bogus negative reviews for CenturyLink and positive reviews for Cox.

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by Pink Jazz

Never been throttled with CenturyLink, and with a network that is immune to slowdowns during peak internet usage hours, I say this is a perfect reason to switch. Ignore all online reviews; most of them are by Cox employees writing bogus negative reviews for CenturyLink and positive reviews for Cox.

How in the heck do you figure that? Also, CenturyLink's network isn't immune to slowdowns during peak internet usage hours. The choke point is simply further upstream with CL than it is with Cox so slowdowns would be spread over a wider group of customers and not seem as significant vice Cox where it might affect one neighborhood severely while the neighborhood next to it is doing great.

I've not had CL recently, however, I have had DSL in the past and it was garbage then. Listening to Ponderosa and others around here it appears DSL service is getting better than it used to be. One problem that remains with DSL is that the further you reside from the neighborhood node the slower the connection you will have where this isn't the case with cable internet.

[Voebe]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that Cox has been dreadful for me generally, and that the helpful thing to do would be to take a moment to write a complaint AND send a copy to whatever city department has oversight. They're the only ones that can potentially take action with a bad company, because the Corporation Commission won't help.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Unless you're exceeding your monthly data allowance you're not being throttled. More than likely it is a network capacity issue on your neighborhood hub during peak internet usage hours. It could also be an equipment problem on your end or Cox's end. If you're not exceeding your data allowance then call Cox and get them to come out and fix it.

thats the thing- i have exceed my "allowance" for a couple of months, when we first got netflix - i got emails from cox & they just said i might be "happier" on a more expensive plan, not that they would neuter my connection to 1/4 my rated speed, (but keep charging me for a faster plan). in any case, i had changed the settings on netflix to reduce our usage significantly, and i havent gotten any overage emails for a couple of months. theres no equipment problem on my end - thats the scripted dance I dont have the patience for anymore - hours on the phone just to have them blame *my* equipment.

[Desertspiritsteve]

I have a long history with Cox Internet. I was a subscriber when it was first put into service in central Phx. They used a proprietary cable modem that was like a brick on the floor, a Lancity modem. It was screamingly fast but then I was one of two subscribers in a square mile. Today you will get the best results with a good modem. Get a Motorola sb6141 (white in color). It has eight downstreams and four upstream channels. I believe it adds reliable speed and only costs around $80.
I have the $65/ month service. On any day at any time I can get 65 Mps down and 6 Mps up. If I want more speed than that, I can call them and have the speed turned up for how ever many days I want. I think that one is called "Extreme." that one is $95./month and has a download of 150 Mbs. peak. You can buy that Motorola Surfboard modem anywhere including Costco and Sam's Club and hook it up yourself.

[goolsbyjazz]

This is good information guys! Thanks!