If you have a problem with the internet unifi speed test provided by the cable, the first step is to determine if the problem is with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) network or is specific to your area. The best tools for locating problems on the Internet are IP packet loss and delay testing tools. At the end of this article, I’ve included information on how to find and use one of these tools.
Suppose you are using the IP Packet Loss Tool and you detect a significant delay or packet loss at your site. In other words, the problem is specific to your location. What should I do next? Check the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR or S / N) of your cable modem.
Signal-to-noise ratio
According to Wikipedia.org, “Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a measure used in science and engineering to quantify the amount of noise-damaged a signal. It is the ratio of signal power to noise power. It is defined. It destroys the signal. A ratio greater than 1: 1 indicates that there is more signal than noise.
A daily example of SNR is listening to music in the car with road noise and other people’s conversations. The louder the radio is compared to the rest of the noise from the car, the clearer the music will be heard. The same is true for cable modems that “listen” to the signals that Internet traffic carries over the cable system. If the signal is high compared to noise, internet communication will be faster and less packet loss. If the signal is not high enough compared to the noise, it will slow down and cause a delay. Packets can be lost, causing problems with data packet retransmissions and real-time applications such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
Good SNR value
The SNR value is measured separately for the downstream and upstream signals. Downstream is the signal sent by the cable provider or ISP to the cable modem. Upstream is the signal from the modem to the provider.
Each cable modem is a little different, but the general good values are:
Downward SNR-30: 1 or more
Power down: -8 to 8 dB (decibel)
Upward SNR-29: 1 or more
Upstream power: less than 55 dB
Improved SNR value
Cable connections and connectors are the most common causes of low signal-to-noise ratios. Inspect all cables and connectors along the cable modem. There should be no wire splice and the modem must be connected to the main splitter entering the facility. Also, the coaxial cable should not bend suddenly. Fix the obvious problem and double check the SNR value.
If there are no obvious problems, or repairs do not improve the SNR value, try moving your cable modem to the most direct entry point in your facility. If possible, attach it to the main feed. If the SNR value is good, the problem is with the installation wiring. If the SNR value is still unacceptable, there is a problem with your cable modem, external cable, or cable provider equipment. If you’re used to that task, try changing your cable modem. If not, it’s time to involve your ISP / cable provider. You can report the result of the SNR value.
