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badlydrawnboy

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 20, 2003
1,531
418
About 5 days ago I noticed a significant slow down in loading web pages. In some cases, I see a blank white screen for up to a minute before the page loads. In others, the page never loads at all. And sometimes they do load very quickly as expected. This happens with my iMac that is connected to an Airport Extreme router via ethernet, as well as my Macbook Air connected via Wifi.

I have a high speed Comcast/Xfinity cable internet connection: Blast 250Mbps.

I tried connecting my iMac directly to the cable model (Arris Surfboard SB6183), and there is no problem. Download speed was 300Mbps and upload 30Mbps.

I then hooked up my Airport Extreme router again, and connected the iMac to the router via Ethernet. Download speed dropped to 100Mbps!

I then did a speed test with my Macbook Air which is connected via Wifi and the Airport Extreme router. Download speed dropped to 35 Mbps.

So it seems the issue may be with the Airport Express. It's not a wireless problem, because as you can see the download speed dropped from 300Mbps when connected directly to the model to 100Mbps when connected to the Airport Extreme, and then to 35Mbps when connected wirelessly.

How do I troubleshoot/fix this?
 

Altemose

macrumors G3
Mar 26, 2013
9,189
488
Elkton, Maryland
So it seems the issue may be with the Airport Express. It's not a wireless problem, because as you can see the download speed dropped from 300Mbps when connected directly to the model to 100Mbps when connected to the Airport Extreme, and then to 35Mbps when connected wirelessly.

How do I troubleshoot/fix this?

Do you have an Express or an Extreme? The Express only has a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port which would perfectly align itself with the results you're seeing. If it is an Extreme, try doing a full factory reset and reconfigure.
 

Madame Defarge

macrumors regular
Jul 6, 2007
129
7
Bay Area
About 5 days ago I noticed a significant slow down in loading web pages. In some cases, I see a blank white screen for up to a minute before the page loads. In others, the page never loads at all. And sometimes they do load very quickly as expected. This happens with my iMac that is connected to an Airport Extreme router via ethernet, as well as my Macbook Air connected via Wifi.

I have a high speed Comcast/Xfinity cable internet connection: Blast 250Mbps.

I tried connecting my iMac directly to the cable model (Arris Surfboard SB6183), and there is no problem. Download speed was 300Mbps and upload 30Mbps.

I then hooked up my Airport Extreme router again, and connected the iMac to the router via Ethernet. Download speed dropped to 100Mbps!

I then did a speed test with my Macbook Air which is connected via Wifi and the Airport Extreme router. Download speed dropped to 35 Mbps.

So it seems the issue may be with the Airport Express. It's not a wireless problem, because as you can see the download speed dropped from 300Mbps when connected directly to the model to 100Mbps when connected to the Airport Extreme, and then to 35Mbps when connected wirelessly.

How do I troubleshoot/fix this?
[doublepost=1465430462][/doublepost]I've been having a lot of problems with slow internet speeds and interruptions. Comcast came out and updated the modem to their new model but I was still having problems. I disconnected my Airport time Machine because it wasn't working anyway and I wanted to see if it would make a difference and voila my Airport Express is doing a great job o it's own and I have no slow-down issues. My guess is that the firewall for the Time Capsule and Extreme is too effective and is slowing your connection down.
 

Altemose

macrumors G3
Mar 26, 2013
9,189
488
Elkton, Maryland
My guess is that the firewall for the Time Capsule and Extreme is too effective and is slowing your connection down.

Most often people tend to run too many wireless access points which slows the entire network down due to overhead and interference. That is likely what you're experiencing as only one AirPort runs a firewall.
 
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