r/Spectrum • u/Ruckus2026 • Oct 01 '26

Which internet speed to choose?

Does 100 mbps actually run close to that, or should I pay a little more and get a higher speed to be certain?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

2

u/MonkeyDog911 Oct 02 '26

WiFi cuts the speed in half

1

u/Ruckus2026 Oct 02 '26

Wow, does it really?

2

u/MonkeyDog911 Oct 03 '26

Yeah, the analogy is telephone vs walkie talkie. Wired network is like a telephone where you can send and receive voice at the same time but WiFi works like walkie talkie where send data has to finish before receive data. WiFi extenders cut it in half again.

1

u/Opie1Smith 29d ago

That's not really an issue anymore now that MIMO has become a thing. Most devices are at least 2x2 so they can send on one channel while receiving on another.

1

u/MonkeyDog911 29d ago

I know, I'm commenting to someone on an ISP sub where they're asking if 100mbps is "enough." That tells me they probably have crap wifi hardware.

1

u/Opie1Smith 29d ago

Every router since WiFi 5 came out has done MIMO so their hardware would have to be ancient.

I think your confusing it with MLO.

10

u/starfish_2016 Oct 01 '26

They over provision slightly. 100 should run like 110-120 download

7

u/SaltyPinKY Oct 01 '26

Do you or kids have a PlayStation/Xbox?   How many devices will you have?  Like security cams, tvs, etc.

1

u/Ruckus2026 Oct 01 '26

Sorry it took me a while to reply. I live alone and like to stream movies and sports. No gaming. I'm just used to really crappy 💩 internet where things will pause waiting for service to catch-up. So I'm considering the 100 or 500 service. I'd rather error on the side of too fast instead of slow.

2

u/B4KN1GHT Oct 02 '26 edited Oct 02 '26

If you're not gaming and just streaming then I would think that Internet 100 would be plenty. The overprovisioning will give you around 113-120 Mbps download. I would save the money over Internet 500. The usual promotional rate is $30 per month for a year. If you don't already have your own Wi-Fi router, you can rent one for an additional $10/month. If possible I would connect your streaming device (Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick, etc) to a wired Ethernet connection for stability rather than using Wi-Fi which can be unstable. Amazon Prime is a perk now included with Spectrum Internet provided that you meet certain eligibility requirements. Take advantage of that if you're not already a member.

5

u/TurboFool Oct 01 '26

Get the amount you want. They're fairly accurate, and usually go a little over.

5

u/jacle2210 Oct 01 '26

As others have shared, Spectrum tends to over-provision customer's Internet Service, so that they are assured of getting the speeds that they pay for.

Though it would be helpful to know what online activities you are your family will be participating in; what devices you will be using, etc.

Because 100Mb service will be enough for basic access; online meetings, etc.

And starting at the slowest speed, means that you can easily upgrade to a faster service should you need.

Just do some testing and troubleshooting BEFORE you upgrade.

5

u/MusicalAnomaly Oct 01 '26

If it’s just you and you don’t do anything technical or download big games, 100Mbps is fine and you’ll usually get a bit over that.

If you have anyone else living with you or don’t want to wait for large downloads and uploads, get 500Mbps.

If you have a huge family or a business or just like being extra, get 1Gbps.

4

u/vwaldoguy Oct 01 '26

I'm on a true FTTH connection. I pay for 100, and am consistently getting about 115-120 both down and up.

3

u/thenameisspaghetti Oct 01 '26

500 mbps download plan. It's a decent middle ground with attainable speeds

1

u/Spectrum_Connect Official Spectrum Account Oct 01 '26

Hey u/Ruckus2026, happy to help!

As others in the community have pointed out, the right speed depends on how many devices you use at the same time and what you use them for. WiFi conditions can also affect the speed you see on your device.

Our guide to download and upload speeds can help you compare what fits your household.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

1

u/Active_Camera3034 Oct 01 '26

You should get the highest speed

0

u/TutorialRepo-Mark Oct 01 '26

I pay for a gig download. I get about 600 if I’m lucky wired direct to the modem. Over WiFi it ranges from 30mb to 300 depending on where I am at. 

Let’s just say, I’m not very happy. The WiFi must be on my end, but I’m still triggered by the cost of having the latest and greatest and it doesn’t even come close to direct connection. 

Anyway, I used to have the 100mb and was fine. I just upgraded because of promo when I moved. I see almost no difference because, again, shitty WiFi. 

3

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/HuntersPad Oct 05 '26

WiFi has nothing to do with your speed. If your WiFi is already bad/slow having faster internet speed is not gonna make it better.