Which Modem do I need.

[Nickel11]

Earlier this year we changed our bundle package from 1 gb internet speed to 1.5 gb. When the tech came in for the install, he said they were out of the 1.5 gb modem and would be back to install it. They never came back and Rogers have not been much help. Will my present modem TG4482 be capable of 1.5 gb internet speed?

My other problem is the Rogers tech changed over from direct connect to wifi as he needed some of my existing cat and coaxial connections to connect landline since my stand alone Rogers phone modem was now being deleted as it's now part of the TG4482 modem. Over all going from direct connect to wifi has greatly slowed internet speed and was told, the tech didn't have enough time to run new cables. In other words, I was better of not upgrading. I'm hoping the new modem might help with both situations. 

Thanks Frank  

**Labels Added**

[Datalink]

@Nickel11 from your description, you have the Gen 2 modem as seen on the following Rogers modem page:

Internet Self-Install - Help and Support - Rogers

That modem has a single port that is capable of running up to 2.5 Gb/s.  Port 4 is the lower right hand port and its usually marked by a pair of orange/red stipes along the side of that port.  

To run higher ethernet data rates to any device, it would have to be connected directly to port 4, or connected thru a 2.5 Gb/s unmanaged or managed switch, which in turn is connected to port 4.  If you connected a multi-gig device, pc or switch (then pc) to that port, you should see 1.5 Gb/s, probably more on a speedtest. 

From the sounds of it, you probably had the Hitron 4582 modem prior to this, with a separate Arris phone modem?  If so, your internet modem was probably upstairs and the Arris phone modem was probably downstairs.  The arrival of the TG4882 probably resulted in using one ethernet cable to run downstairs to the telephone block?  Am I correct so far?

Am I correct that you have ethenet cabling throughout your home, and now, with the one cable that runs downstairs to the phone block, you're forced to run wifi instead of ethernet?  

At the location of the wallplate with the ethernet cable, is the basement below that wallplate finished or unfinished?  Just wondering if you can't run another ethernet cable or two downstairs from that wallplate?

Edit:  can you provide a short description of the cabling that you have in your home.  I'm referring to the in-wall cabling which would include RG6 for internet/tv/satellite, Cat 5 or 5e for ethernet or telephone and possibly Cat 3 for telephone (sometimes replaced with Cat 5 or 5e).

[Nickel11]

Datelink: Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I have the Gen 2 Modem and live in a 2400 sq ft home, not including basement.

The most recent (non Rogers) tech I hired, has the main Cat 6 cable plugged into the lower right-hand port marked by a pair of orange/red stripes along the side of the port.

I had the Hitron 4582 modem prior to this, with a separate Arris phone modem.  My internet modem was upstairs and the Arris phone modem was in the basement, beside the main fuse panel as that’s where the Rogers coaxial and cat 3 phone cable entered the house. The arrival of the TG4882 (Rogers Tech) resulted in using one cat 3 and coaxial cable run from the telephone block terminal beside the fuse panel. I asked that it be moved closer to the center of the house and was told, it’s not possible. I did however pay someone else (as mentioned above…non Rogers Tech) two months later (after not receiving support from Rogers)  to move it to the center of the house as I knew it was possible and service got better, but not the same results as my original Hiltron 4582 set up. The tech I hired has the main Cat 6 cable plugged into the lower right-hand port marked by a pair of orange/red stripes along the side of the port and moved my original 8 Port Gigabit Unmanaged Ethernet Network Switch, Ethernet Splitter to the main floor which connected to 7 devices (tv, Rogers set top box, receiver, my q gateway, garage door monitor, Lutron caseta, playstation for kids.

Yes I have cat 6 cable run through the house but not hooked up to the modem other than on the main floor as my present modem only has 4 ports and cable is not long enough.

The basement ceiling is a drop ceiling which has individual removal panels.

At present my Wi-Fi is approximately 210 mb in the basement. 425 mb on the man floor and 285, upstairs. Hardwired cat6 (plugged into the orange/red stripped port) gives me 740 mb.

I believe your asking if my present set up will allow for more connections to the modem? If so I would need to either add splitters or change the length of the cat 6 cable.

All cabling is Cat 6 cable…..I have 4 upstairs, 8 on the main floor, 3 in the basement. Previously I used the 8 Port Gigabit Unmanaged Ethernet Network Switch, Ethernet Splitter, and only had hardwired on the upper floor. That has since been moved to the main floor via the second tech I hired.

I apologize if this reply is a bit difficult to understand.

[Pauly]

Hello Nickel11, when you said: "the tech didn't have enough time to run new cables"  since the tech ran out of time, why can't you do it? Just  run a ethernet cable and avoid using Wi-Fi, 

[Nickel11]

Thanks for the reply Pauly. 

The tech I hired, made up new cables, both Cat and Coaxial, drilled holes in walls, and tested when complete. I guess, I could have purchased what I didn't have as well as drilled my own holes, but he knew exactly where to drill and had the tools to pull the cables. 

In other for me to connect all the other devices I believe I may need a switch, hub, bridge etc?

Back to the original question, does my existing Rogers modem support 1.5gb since the original tech stated they were out of stock on the 1.5 gb

[Datalink]

@Nickel11 I don't know why the tech said that he would return to change the modem.  Your modem supports the 1.5 Gb/s internet plan.  It also would support a 2.5 Gb/s plan if that was available.  

The problem that you're looking at now is that your ethernet switch only supports 1 Gb/s, given your description.  So, given that the 2.5 Gb/s port is connected to the gigabit switch, that switch is the bottleneck in the system.  If you are looking to run 1.5 Gb/s to an ethernet connected device, you would have to replace that switch with a multi-gig unmanaged ethernet switch.  The usual data rate these days for those switches is 2.5 Gb/s.  However, like any other electronic equipment, spending more money results in equipment that can run 5 Gb/s or 10 Gb/s.  Just depends on how much you want to spend.  The ports will negotiate the data rate with the connected device so, with a more capable switch, the ports will run 1 Gb/s, 2.5, 5, or 10 Gb/s, depending on the connected device port.  

If you replace the switch with a multi-gig switch, the data rate between the modem and switch will max out at 1.5 Gb/s.  The modem and switch will connect at 2.5 Gb/s, but, due to the current internet plans for that modem, you can only run 1.5 Gb/s from the modem's port 4.  If all of your devices only run 1 Gb/s, then the switch will run those device ports at 1 Gb/s while the port that connects to the modem will max out at 1.5 Gb/s.

If you have a look at the following Amazon.ca page, you will see a variety of switches, some with a limited number of 2.5 Gb/s ports, some with higher data rate ports, 1,2.5, 5,10 Gb/s, and any number of variations in between.  So, if you're looking to upgrade your current switch, you need to pay attention to the specs for the replacement switch to determine if all of the ports support multi-gig ops, or if only one or two support multi-gig ops.  The difference of course is seen in the price of the switch. 

Amazon.ca : unmanaged switch Multi-Gig

Keep in mind that ports 1 to 3 on the modem will run at 1 Gb/s while port 4 runs at 1.5 Gb/s.  So, you might not need additional ports on the switch if you can connect the modem to any of your devices.  The key question when it comes to using the modem's port 4 is whether or not you want to run a higher aggregated data rate from the modem to the switch, and if you want to run 1.5 Gb/s, or possibly higher in the future to any of your ethernet devices. 

Ok, hope this makes sense.  If not, get back to me and I'll attempt to explain this in other terms.  

I'll have other comments to make regarding the cabling situation later on.  Duty calls .......

[RogersCorey]

Greetings and good morning @Nickel11!

The TG4482A is the XB7 which does support 1.5GB download speeds. If you're in an area with fibre to the home with symmetrical upload/download speeds, then you would need the XB8.

Regards,

RogersCorey

[Pauly]

The best way for someone to run Ethernet in their house is to run ethernet wires to all the rooms of your preference, and then find a central room in the house to terminate them and connect them to an appropriate ethernet switch compatible with your internet speed

Also you do NOT have to connect your modem to the location where your switch is unless you want to,  Your modem just needs access to only one ethernet jack in your house to provide internet to ALL the jacks.  so this could even mean having your ignite modem in the upstairs bedroom, or even in the main floor if you want to.

if you have landline telephone then it complicates it, you would need a nearby telephone jack to backfeed the dial tone into all your jacks too.

[dt24]

@DatalinkI understand about getting a 2.5 switch to work around this problem but i really think that Rogers messed up in their gateway hardware selection in that they provide only one 2.5G which has to be consumed anyway by the 10G feed from the ONT.

Isnt it expected that when we pay for a 1.5G service that we get at least one 2.5G port available to connect to a 2.5G computer? i do not recollect signing anywhere that the service is aggregated data rate at one 2.5G input at gateway device.

[Datalink]

@dt24 that's a Comcast design decision.  Rogers, Shaw, and any other ISP that is captive to Comcast equipment don't have any choice in the matter.  

Comcast has a new modem out, so I would expect to see that migrate to Rogers /  Shaw at some point.  Its the XB8, which is the Technicolor CGM4981COM.  That modem has Wi-Fi 6E.  I had a quick look but I can't figure out how many 2.5 Gb/s ports it has.  The Comcast specs only show gigabit ports, but the marketing hype indicates that its capable of running 2.5 Gb/s over ethernet.  The question is, how many ethernet ports support 2.5 Gb/s?

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/broadband-gateways-userguides

If you're interested in what Comcast is doing, keep an eye on the Comcast Xfinity sub-forum within the U.S. Cable forums:   https://www.dslreports.com/forums/4

Here's a link to the XB8 thread:  

https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r33227126-Next-Gateway-XB8-Technicolor-CGM4981COM-Wi-Fi-6E

The U.S. Consumer Electronics Show should be coming up soon, so there might be some announcements from Comcast.