Seriousness WiFi Question

Blossom · 10-12-2016, 03:19 PM

Paging PC gurus, Dennis, Kat...

How could I tell if someone was stealing my internet? My internet has been slower than molasses these past few weeks. It should be 100mbps when it's under 30mbps. Each time I reboot the modem and Router the speed comes back. Streaming live events has become near impossible. Although YouTube works fine.

I downloaded an app on tablet that shows connected devices. All I recognize. Could someone be on without being listed? My passcode is a joke. My ISP is the one set the passcode and told me not to change it. I am tempted to changed it just to see if my theory is correct. I suspect a neighbor piggybacking me.

Any help or advice is appreciated.

Cinisajoy · 10-12-2016, 04:39 PM

Look on the modem. There should be a set of numbers. Like 123.123.1.123 that is the modem's IP address.
Type in your browser http://then the IP numbers. There should be a device list.
I think you can block if you don't recognize a device.

Cinisajoy · 10-12-2016, 04:40 PM

Who is your ISP?
And WTF on not changing it?

Blossom · 10-12-2016, 05:00 PM

Update: I changed the passcode as it was ridiculous simple. My ISP can yell at me if they want. Still no change after rebooting. I think it's the ISP it maybe a bad bullet? That's Hubby's territory. He's the cable guy.
5mbps download.

I feel like I'm on dial up.

I still want to know if it's possible to have an unlisted device connected and if so how would one go find it?
It's a NG brand router. I don't own it, it's rented.

I have basic knowledge of the router and its settings. I don't see any misuse of bandwidth. The logs seem fairly clean. I'm writing down all the Mac addresses of my devices so I can keep track. I'm still suspicious to say the least.

Sent from my XT1528

dwig · 10-12-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

Paging PC gurus, Dennis, Kat...

How could I tell if someone was stealing my internet? ...

You might be able to detect an intruder by looking at the router's logs. Most routers will log the client connections by their unique MAC addresses. You could compare the logged MAC addresses with the addresses of your computers and devices. If there is a strange MAC address (one that doesn't belong to any of your equipment) then there may be some neighbor that is "borrowing" bandwidth.

The easiest was to block this type of issue is to enable a "white list" (opposite of a black list) in your router's software. Add all of the MAC addresses for your equipment to this list. Any unlisted MAC address will then be blocked by the router.

Blossom · 10-12-2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwig

The easiest was to block this type of issue is to enable a "white list" (opposite of a black list) in your router's software. Add all of the MAC addresses for your equipment to this list. Any unlisted MAC address will then be blocked by the router.

That is a great idea!

I'm going to see if my router has one.

Blossom · 10-12-2016, 06:17 PM

18 MAC addresses recorded and added. Whitelist is done and enabled! Thank you dwig!

K coming to you!

badgoodDeb · 10-13-2016, 01:07 PM

[ Not necessarily related: My wifi gets slower than molasses too, and a company tech who visited to check the wiring told me it might be related to having both older and newer devices on the net. 102.11G as well as older (something like that?).

He suggested that when it got slow, I log in to the router, find a screen which says "Apply" and, without making any changes, press that Apply button anyway. It clears the router's buffers, and seems to be a little faster than a reset. And at least - I can do it remotely from the sofa, by logging in to the router, rather than getting up to power cycle the beast.

This does seem to help, in my case. ]

Blossom · 10-13-2016, 01:42 PM

My modem and router are own by my ISP. They are not outdated like the router I actually own. I'm supposed to be getting 100mbps and usually do. AT&T was in the unit below for two days banging on stuff. I wonder if they messed with our box outside. This weekend I'm going to walk back there with hubby and look. One to make sure no one is stealing from the box and two make sure everything is fine. Because of Matthew I'll give it a week and if the speeds still suck I'll have to call for service. I'm paying $80 a month for my plan.

Sent from my XT1528

badgoodDeb · 10-13-2016, 01:56 PM

My modem and router are the levels that service tech said I should get (I already had them; compared them to his recommendations and they are fine). BUT my laptop is from 2011, and that older wifi. The one iPad is older too. The newer iPad shows the problem; the older devices feel fine. So old-vs-new may have something to it, in my case.

JKenP · 10-13-2016, 02:10 PM

I doubt the router is the cause. Try hooking one of the computers directly to the modem. It will eliminate the router for testing. Go to DSLreports.com and run their speed test and diagnostic.

Blossom · 10-13-2016, 02:42 PM

My desktop is Ethernet. I've already ran speed tests and they are the same.

I've changed DNS servers too. I was using Google's.

This has been going on and off before Matthew but not as bad as it was yesterday.

Sent from my XT1528

Blossom · 10-13-2016, 02:49 PM

Does anyone here work for cable internet? Can someone please tell me when the router and modem are less than 5 feet from the coax wall connector why on earth would they use a 4 way splitter after two feet and another cable? Is it because the signal is too strong and must be split? The guy who did it was so not nice and just kept telling me while he sat on his duff on my floor the whole time how much he hates his job. That was last year.

If the splitter isn't needed I have plenty of cable and can make a new one and remove the splitter.

Sent from my XT1528

badgoodDeb · 10-13-2016, 03:08 PM

I'm pretty sure "signal is too strong" is not even a thing.

Were they leaving a spare spigot for TV usage, or something?

Rumpelteazer · 10-13-2016, 03:10 PM

For TV, and I assume it's the same for cable internet, we always say in the store that every connector (wall socket, splitter, extension connector, etc) is a point where the signal weakens and an extra point where problems can occur.

So, yes, I would remove the splitter and connect the router/modem directly to the cable without a splitter.

We recently had cable internet installed and it wasn't working properly after a couple of weeks. We replaced the splitter the cable guy put in with a cheapo one we sell in our store and the problem was solved.

10-12-2016, 03:19 PM	#1
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	WiFi Question Paging PC gurus, Dennis, Kat... How could I tell if someone was stealing my internet? My internet has been slower than molasses these past few weeks. It should be 100mbps when it's under 30mbps. Each time I reboot the modem and Router the speed comes back. Streaming live events has become near impossible. Although YouTube works fine. I downloaded an app on tablet that shows connected devices. All I recognize. Could someone be on without being listed? My passcode is a joke. My ISP is the one set the passcode and told me not to change it. I am tempted to changed it just to see if my theory is correct. I suspect a neighbor piggybacking me. Any help or advice is appreciated.

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10-12-2016, 04:39 PM	#2
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Look on the modem. There should be a set of numbers. Like 123.123.1.123 that is the modem's IP address. Type in your browser http://then the IP numbers. There should be a device list. I think you can block if you don't recognize a device.

10-12-2016, 04:40 PM	#3
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Who is your ISP? And WTF on not changing it?

10-12-2016, 05:00 PM	#4
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	Update: I changed the passcode as it was ridiculous simple. My ISP can yell at me if they want. Still no change after rebooting. I think it's the ISP it maybe a bad bullet? That's Hubby's territory. He's the cable guy. 5mbps download. I feel like I'm on dial up. I still want to know if it's possible to have an unlisted device connected and if so how would one go find it? It's a NG brand router. I don't own it, it's rented. I have basic knowledge of the router and its settings. I don't see any misuse of bandwidth. The logs seem fairly clean. I'm writing down all the Mac addresses of my devices so I can keep track. I'm still suspicious to say the least. Sent from my XT1528

10-12-2016, 06:17 PM	#7
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	18 MAC addresses recorded and added. Whitelist is done and enabled! Thank you dwig! K coming to you!

10-13-2016, 01:07 PM	#8
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,507 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	[ Not necessarily related: My wifi gets slower than molasses too, and a company tech who visited to check the wiring told me it might be related to having both older and newer devices on the net. 102.11G as well as older (something like that?). He suggested that when it got slow, I log in to the router, find a screen which says "Apply" and, without making any changes, press that Apply button anyway. It clears the router's buffers, and seems to be a little faster than a reset. And at least - I can do it remotely from the sofa, by logging in to the router, rather than getting up to power cycle the beast. This does seem to help, in my case. ]

10-13-2016, 01:42 PM	#9
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	My modem and router are own by my ISP. They are not outdated like the router I actually own. I'm supposed to be getting 100mbps and usually do. AT&T was in the unit below for two days banging on stuff. I wonder if they messed with our box outside. This weekend I'm going to walk back there with hubby and look. One to make sure no one is stealing from the box and two make sure everything is fine. Because of Matthew I'll give it a week and if the speeds still suck I'll have to call for service. I'm paying $80 a month for my plan. Sent from my XT1528

10-13-2016, 01:56 PM	#10
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,507 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	My modem and router are the levels that service tech said I should get (I already had them; compared them to his recommendations and they are fine). BUT my laptop is from 2011, and that older wifi. The one iPad is older too. The newer iPad shows the problem; the older devices feel fine. So old-vs-new may have something to it, in my case.

10-13-2016, 02:10 PM	#11
JKenP Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 504384 Join Date: May 2011 Location: NW Indiana Device: Sony Kobo iPhone Kindle 8 HD	I doubt the router is the cause. Try hooking one of the computers directly to the modem. It will eliminate the router for testing. Go to DSLreports.com and run their speed test and diagnostic.

10-13-2016, 02:42 PM	#12
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	My desktop is Ethernet. I've already ran speed tests and they are the same. I've changed DNS servers too. I was using Google's. This has been going on and off before Matthew but not as bad as it was yesterday. Sent from my XT1528

10-13-2016, 02:49 PM	#13
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	Does anyone here work for cable internet? Can someone please tell me when the router and modem are less than 5 feet from the coax wall connector why on earth would they use a 4 way splitter after two feet and another cable? Is it because the signal is too strong and must be split? The guy who did it was so not nice and just kept telling me while he sat on his duff on my floor the whole time how much he hates his job. That was last year. If the splitter isn't needed I have plenty of cable and can make a new one and remove the splitter. Sent from my XT1528

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10-13-2016, 03:08 PM	#14
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,507 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	I'm pretty sure "signal is too strong" is not even a thing. Were they leaving a spare spigot for TV usage, or something?

10-13-2016, 03:10 PM	#15
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,150 Karma: 27117938 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	For TV, and I assume it's the same for cable internet, we always say in the store that every connector (wall socket, splitter, extension connector, etc) is a point where the signal weakens and an extra point where problems can occur. So, yes, I would remove the splitter and connect the router/modem directly to the cable without a splitter. We recently had cable internet installed and it wasn't working properly after a couple of weeks. We replaced the splitter the cable guy put in with a cheapo one we sell in our store and the problem was solved.