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Question

Absolutely unacceptable inconsistency with my internet

Jul 22, 2019 7:11AM PDT

For the past 5 years my internet for some reason has been absurdly inconsistent. My ISP is Spectrum.
Okay at first is started small, for whatever reason my internet would either slow drastically, or go completely out whenever the microwave was on. This was weird I thought, but didn't impact me that much.
Then sometimes the internet would be very slow every couple of weeks.
Now things are completely ridiculous. My internet is very laggy sometimes, and sometimes its good. Sometimes the internet will be literally perfect for like 3 weeks, then it'll start doing the same lagging for 3 minutes, then going back to normal for 40 or so seconds, then lagging for another 3 minutes etc. It never stops, and it prevents any sort of network streaming such as live stream viewing or gaming. Because it will have sudden lag spikes every second or so that'll literally cause everything else to go to hell. Im patient, I really am, but it's getting annoying at this point. What is causing this? And how can I fix it?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Is this DSL over copper lines?
Jul 22, 2019 7:35AM PDT

Or fiber optic cable? I'm guessing across copper lines.

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(NT) It's DSL
Jul 26, 2019 9:09AM PDT
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(NT) over copper lines
Jul 26, 2019 9:11AM PDT
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Answer
Re: slow internet
Jul 22, 2019 8:24AM PDT

It's well known that microwaves interfere with WiFi. https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/do-microwaves-interfere-with-wifi-signals.html tells about it and about the fix (switch the 5 GHz band, or use an Ethernet cable). It wasn't your internet that was impacted, just your WiFi.

I'd try the same now. Only call Spectrum if your Internet connection on a PC/laptop (preferably two different machines, to make it less likely it's malware on the PC) directly connected to the modem by Ethernet cable behaves as bad as you describe.

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Answer
Is it on WiFi?
Jul 26, 2019 9:13AM PDT

Kees noted it and the symptom matches WiFi issues that are WELL KNOWN. "go completely out whenever the microwave was on" is your big clue.

You need to turn off the WiFi and try it wired.

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Answer
Try Relocating Router
Jul 26, 2019 6:21PM PDT

You can try relocating your router. It is best to situate a Wifi router away from microwave ovens or anything that emits radio frequencies. This helps to eliminate as much interference as possible. Powerline adapters are another option if the router cannot be relocated, to consider.