23 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

My wife teaches ten hours, seven days online. We don't need fast, we need reliable.

SpeedTest ranks 500+ down, 250+ up. Still mole asses. Provider (NT) show up and gave up a bigger fancier router.

Anybody thinks it's Zoom? Or is it my wife's 2019 MacBook Air?

Most likely to be the traffic going over the network

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Router is a 2023 ZTE.

Bufferbloat 450/188, seems fine to me.

The test is not for the speed throughput. Did you not read the blurb beforehand? You are looking at Latency and Jitter.

Routers have alpha numerical model descriptors...

Edited Saturday at 07:30 AM4 days by FigLeaf

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Remarkable your speed on WiFi after router reset dropped significantly!

By speed on cable, do you mean Ethernet?

Do you have a 500Mb or 1Gb package from NT?

Whatever package you have with your provider, the overall speed will vary. It is highly unlikely you will use only the providers network and even if you did the traffic will vary almost by the second. All the companies say they have very high speeds and they probably do. Unfortunately once you get past the connecting switch you are at the mercy of every other provider in the world,

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Remarkable your speed on WiFi after router reset dropped significantly!

By speed on cable, do you mean Ethernet?

Do you have a 500Mb or 1Gb package from NT?

Yes, wired ethernet via usb dongle. 1GB package.

Routers need to be booted sometimes like Windows… Mine is ZTE which is 2 years old. The speed increases, maybe my files were named incorrectly.

On 7/24/2026 at 2:57 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

My wife teaches ten hours, seven days online.

This is your problem.

70 hours per week.

Your wife is wearing out the Internet through sheer overuse.

How can anyone teach 70 hours, online?

What kind of chair does she use?

Or, does she teach standing up?

I shudder to think of being tied to a computer for 70 hours, teaching.

Anyway, I say: Switch to Google Meet. Google Meet is far better. Also, Google Meet is the application of choice for schools and universities. And, you can incorporate Google tools and Google classroom more easily.

Switch to 3BB. They have the better service.

Always connect every computer you care about VIA a LAN ETHERNET connection.

If you are not using Ethernet, and trying to teach, then this is just plain wrong.

And, if you switch to Google Meet, choose the HD setting for better quality video and screen sharing.

If your laptop does not have the CPU power for the higher definition video sharing, then you MUST buy a new computer, because the students deserve the best, of course.

And, do NOT buy a laptop.

Get a desktop, and install about 64GB of DRAM, because.....Google Meet continuously introduces new features.

I always select 1080p

I never have problems with 3BB and my Ethernet connection.

And, I have a cheap plan: 500Mbps up and down.

Another problem that does happen is poor switches in the surrounding area.

If the problem is cause by infrastructure in your area, then you MUST MOVE....

They never fix or replace garbage like this.

You can call them a million times a week, and they will send someone to your house, check your router, but they will NEVER admit that the problem lies outside your house, in the last mile.

Why don't you try Google Meet, and create a meet from your laptop to your phone, and test, if you don't have a second computer.

Also, I think you should use at least two computers at once.

First computer to connect 3 screens for Google Meet.

Then, use Google Meet to share with the second computer, and a single monitor, so that you can always check to see video quality, and what you are sharing, continuously in real time.

So, this means you will need a total of 4 screens open.

I consider this minimum equipment requirements for presenting a Google Meet session.

1 hour ago, FinChin67 said:

Yes, wired ethernet via usb dongle. 1GB package.

Routers need to be booted sometimes like Windows… Mine is ZTE which is 2 years old. The speed increases, maybe my files were named incorrectly.

Same. Is your router IPv6? 2023 for manufacture. NT lets our Internet dap so often, we have to restart!

3 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

Whatever package you have with your provider, the overall speed will vary. It is highly unlikely you will use only the providers network and even if you did the traffic will vary almost by the second. All the companies say they have very high speeds and they probably do. Unfortunately once you get past the connecting switch you are at the mercy of every other provider in the world,

And I'm told even fibre has to pass along copper at some points in the run.

7 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

This is your problem.

70 hours per week.

Your wife is wearing out the Internet through sheer overuse.

How can anyone teach 70 hours, online?

What kind of chair does she use?

Or, does she teach standing up?

I shudder to think of being tied to a computer for 70 hours, teaching.

Anyway, I say: Switch to Google Meet. Google Meet is far better. Also, Google Meet is the application of choice for schools and universities. And, you can incorporate Google tools and Google classroom more easily.

Switch to 3BB. They have the better service.

Always connect every computer you care about VIA a LAN ETHERNET connection.

If you are not using Ethernet, and trying to teach, then this is just plain wrong.

And, if you switch to Google Meet, choose the HD setting for better quality video and screen sharing.

If your laptop does not have the CPU power for the higher definition video sharing, then you MUST buy a new computer, because the students deserve the best, of course.

And, do NOT buy a laptop.

Get a desktop, and install about 64GB of DRAM, because.....Google Meet continuously introduces new features.

I always select 1080p

I never have problems with 3BB and my Ethernet connection.

And, I have a cheap plan: 500Mbps up and down.

Another problem that does happen is poor switches in the surrounding area.

If the problem is cause by infrastructure in your area, then you MUST MOVE....

They never fix or replace garbage like this.

You can call them a million times a week, and they will send someone to your house, check your router, but they will NEVER admit that the problem lies outside your house, in the last mile.

Why don't you try Google Meet, and create a meet from your laptop to your phone, and test, if you don't have a second computer.

Also, I think you should use at least two computers at once.

First computer to connect 3 screens for Google Meet.

Then, use Google Meet to share with the second computer, and a single monitor, so that you can always check to see video quality, and what you are sharing, continuously in real time.

So, this means you will need a total of 4 screens open.

I consider this minimum equipment requirements for presenting a Google Meet session.

For someone who keeps telling us how wonderful China is, why do you recommend Google Meet? It's blocked in China. All my many students in China use Zoom for online lessons...

4 minutes ago, simon43 said:

For someone who keeps telling us how wonderful China is, why do you recommend Google Meet? It's blocked in China. All my many students in China use Zoom for online lessons...

Using Zoom is always the CRAZY choice.

Just demand student install a VPN. This is the minimum requirement for teaching in China.

Why?

Because you need to share Google Sheets, Docs, and other Google tools.

So, a VPN is non-negotiable.

ANKI will not work in China without a VPN, either, by the way. Or, it did not in the past.

And, yes, China is great.

But, China is still not perfect, yet.

9 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

This is your problem.

70 hours per week.

Your wife is wearing out the Internet through sheer overuse.

How can anyone teach 70 hours, online?

What kind of chair does she use?

Or, does she teach standing up?

I shudder to think of being tied to a computer for 70 hours, teaching.

Anyway, I say: Switch to Google Meet. Google Meet is far better. Also, Google Meet is the application of choice for schools and universities. And, you can incorporate Google tools and Google classroom more easily.

Switch to 3BB. They have the better service.

Always connect every computer you care about VIA a LAN ETHERNET connection.

If you are not using Ethernet, and trying to teach, then this is just plain wrong.

And, if you switch to Google Meet, choose the HD setting for better quality video and screen sharing.

If your laptop does not have the CPU power for the higher definition video sharing, then you MUST buy a new computer, because the students deserve the best, of course.

And, do NOT buy a laptop.

Get a desktop, and install about 64GB of DRAM, because.....Google Meet continuously introduces new features.

I always select 1080p

I never have problems with 3BB and my Ethernet connection.

And, I have a cheap plan: 500Mbps up and down.

Another problem that does happen is poor switches in the surrounding area.

If the problem is cause by infrastructure in your area, then you MUST MOVE....

They never fix or replace garbage like this.

You can call them a million times a week, and they will send someone to your house, check your router, but they will NEVER admit that the problem lies outside your house, in the last mile.

Why don't you try Google Meet, and create a meet from your laptop to your phone, and test, if you don't have a second computer.

Also, I think you should use at least two computers at once.

First computer to connect 3 screens for Google Meet.

Then, use Google Meet to share with the second computer, and a single monitor, so that you can always check to see video quality, and what you are sharing, continuously in real time.

So, this means you will need a total of 4 screens open.

I consider this minimum equipment requirements for presenting a Google Meet session.

18 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

This is your problem.

70 hours per week.

Your wife is wearing out the Internet through sheer overuse.

How can anyone teach 70 hours, online?

What kind of chair does she use?

Or, does she teach standing up?

I shudder to think of being tied to a computer for 70 hours, teaching.

Anyway, I say: Switch to Google Meet. Google Meet is far better. Also, Google Meet is the application of choice for schools and universities. And, you can incorporate Google tools and Google classroom more easily.

Switch to 3BB. They have the better service.

Always connect every computer you care about VIA a LAN ETHERNET connection.

If you are not using Ethernet, and trying to teach, then this is just plain wrong.

And, if you switch to Google Meet, choose the HD setting for better quality video and screen sharing.

If your laptop does not have the CPU power for the higher definition video sharing, then you MUST buy a new computer, because the students deserve the best, of course.

And, do NOT buy a laptop.

Get a desktop, and install about 64GB of DRAM, because.....Google Meet continuously introduces new features.

I always select 1080p

I never have problems with 3BB and my Ethernet connection.

And, I have a cheap plan: 500Mbps up and down.

Another problem that does happen is poor switches in the surrounding area.

If the problem is cause by infrastructure in your area, then you MUST MOVE....

They never fix or replace garbage like this.

You can call them a million times a week, and they will send someone to your house, check your router, but they will NEVER admit that the problem lies outside your house, in the last mile.

Why don't you try Google Meet, and create a meet from your laptop to your phone, and test, if you don't have a second computer.

Also, I think you should use at least two computers at once.

First computer to connect 3 screens for Google Meet.

Then, use Google Meet to share with the second computer, and a single monitor, so that you can always check to see video quality, and what you are sharing, continuously in real time.

So, this means you will need a total of 4 screens open.

I consider this minimum equipment requirements for presenting a Google Meet session.

She sits on a hard chair with an IKEA cushion. Hehe wearing out the Internet!

Can’t switch. IT ties her to Zoom and provide it for free, not time limited. So she often gives her students extra time.

We have certain though about changing providers. If the new router doesn’t solve the dropout problem (which may be solely due to our location), NT is in the rearview. Having to restart Mac & Zoom during a class is a PITA for both sides. Some have even quit!

As I said, a 40ft Ethernet cable snaking through the house is not a good plan. To reduce this, we’d have to get NT to come in and redo all the wiring. The techs said they don’t relish it. Internet would be off at least a day.

What kind of CPU power are you talking about? We both have 16GB of RAM. As you must know, Macs are no longer upgradable which is why I’m sticking with my 2015.

Neither of us are “new feature” kind of folks. And we’re not moving after 37 years here!

Nah, laptops. We both like to compute and teach on the toilet!

Thank you for all the info (even if we are not following most of it!). You’ve put in great time and thought.

Just now, GammaGlobulin said:

Using Zoom is always the CRAZY choice.

Just demand student install a VPN. This is the minimum requirement for teaching in China.

Why?

Because you need to share Google Sheets, Docs, and other Google tools.

So, a VPN is non-negotiable.

ANKI will not work in China without a VPN, either, by the way. Or, it did not in the past.

And, yes, China is great.

But, China is still not perfect, yet.

Neither of us use any Google Tools. I suppose you could call us Luddites. We just don't need much out of a computer!

Yes, lots of her Thai students are Chinese, Taiwan or Hong Kong.

3 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Nah, laptops. We both like to compute and teach on the toilet!

Obviously, this is the REAL reason your students are quitting, left and right.

It's not an internet -related issue.

Well, guys, thanks for all your help. I'm calling it hardware failure. Macs ain't what they used to be under Steve-o. I still have a working 1984 Mac Plus; floppy disks are hard to find!

Hardware failure because it fails backups. If it won't even backup, it's toast. As I said, I won't buy a new Mac because Apple supports Trump. But a buddy of mine buys all old Apple stock when they change models. Brand-new in the box with AppleCare available.

T'mow's errand...

27 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I shudder to think of being tied to a computer for 70 hours,

Unfortunately for the rest of us on AN you seem to do so!

16 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Neither of us use any Google Tools. I suppose you could call us Luddites. We just don't need much out of a computer!

Yes, lots of her Thai students are Chinese, Taiwan or Hong Kong.

I am fascinated and curious as to what students are studying which does not require document sharing, using Google Docs, and spreadsheet sharing, for data.

Even for scheduling Docs is handy.

Also, how would one contact students without Gmail?

And, Gmail requires a VPN, or at least I thought it did, in China.

What subjects does your wife teach, if I might ask?

I just overflew the coversation since my last visit here. We have mesh wifi from AIS...

Our fibre comes to the first connection point -> router no.1., a small bricked shed for the "solar stuff".

From there we have a cat.6 hardwire cable to our main house to our second router. Length of the cable is about 60 - 80m. From there another cat.6 cable to the office - directly connected to our mac bought in 2018.

Cat.6 cables arent expensive.

I really wouldn't change your notebooks, computers etc. except they are really old.

Good luck anyway - seems you have quite alot of infos to sort out :-)

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I am fascinated and curious as to what students are studying which does not require document sharing, using Google Docs, and spreadsheet sharing, for data.

Even for scheduling Docs is handy.

Also, how would one contact students without Gmail?

And, Gmail requires a VPN, or at least I thought it did, in China.

What subjects does your wife teach, if I might ask?

Conversational Thai, reading, texting & culture. Many of her students become fluent.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Conversational Thai, reading, texting & culture. Many of her students become fluent.

Oh.

Well, then...

Maybe it actually IS worth spending 70-hours per week on a straight-backed chair.

a. Also, if you are now using a Mac Air 2019 manufacture date (even though, of course, I detest ALL Apple products) then I would say that the fault very well may lie with the computer hardware.

b. The CPU is probably an Intel i5, and so:

Your 2019 MacBook Air (1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU and Intel UHD Graphics 617) meets the basic requirements for Google Meet, but it will struggle with heavy or all-inclusive presenting.

Performance Limits

• Basic Presenting: Sharing static tabs, PDFs, or Google Slides works fine because it requires minimal processing power.

• Heavy Presenting: Sharing video clips, animations, or using live background/camera effects will cause high CPU usage, fan noise, and potential lag.

• Multitasking: Running many background apps or heavy browser tabs while presenting on this dual-core chip can freeze or slow down the laptop.

c. But, if you have a 2021 year laptop, then this is the bare minimum:

the Apple M1 chip (with its 8-core CPU and 7- or 8-core GPU) in a 2021 MacBook Air is fully powerful enough. Google lists the Apple Silicon M1 explicitly in its optimal specifications tier to run high-quality video, handle animations during screen shares, and manage heavy multitasking.

Performance Strengths for Google Meet

• Hardware Acceleration: The integrated M1 media engine and GPU use WebGL 2.0 to efficiently encode and decode video streams, keeping video smooth.

• Neural Engine: The 16-core Neural Engine easily handles real-time background blur, visual effects, and noise cancellation.

• Silent Operation: Because the MacBook Air is fanless, it will stay completely quiet even when pushing the processor during a long presentation. [1]

Potential Bottlenecks to Watch Out For

• RAM Limits: Base models feature 8GB of unified memory. While efficient, having dozens of heavy browser tabs, Slack, and a high-resolution screen share open simultaneously can strain 8GB.

• Thermal Throttling: Because there is no internal fan, a prolonged multi-hour presentation in a very hot room might cause the M1 chip to slightly lower speeds to cool down.

d. NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE REALIZE (IMHO) that when a laptop begins to get hot, the CPU will begin to throttle down to avoid burnout. This means that laptop performance will slow down, sometimes markedly.

You need a GPU working fast to deliver HD video, especially when sharing video, etc.

So, a HOT computer is not like a HOT wife. Hot wife good, and Hot computer bad.

e. I am still betting that video streaming during meeting slowdown is caused by intermittent problems involving the switches outside your house, somewhere in the local area.

I think that when these components begin to heat up they will slow down or lose bandwidth.

This is a ;problem with the local internet infrastructure.

They never admit this.

They send a low-level employee, a nitwit, to check.

Then they leave because they see nothing wrong.

Then you call back again, next time.

Then they do this same move, once again.

ETC.

Edited Saturday at 03:21 PM3 days by GammaGlobulin

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

So, a HOT computer is not like a HOT wife. Hot wife good, and Hot computer bad.

555. Cooling is important. I've been using AIS and 3BB since 2019. So long as it's a good connection 10Mbps up and down is fine. Always have a secondary connection, just in case. As for Hot wife, a good one is all that's needed.

On 7/24/2026 at 4:45 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Maybe have two sources, phone data can be useful for testing. My 3BB can go down for seconds then i switch to AIS data and all good

Dual fiber is the best method I find.

I've got both 3BB and CAT fiber connections and if i really need to get online when they're both down - like the UPS ran out of steam during a power outage and the routers have no power then I could just use the cellphone hotspot for my laptop - for a while - so generally I just read a book while literally chilling in the car with the AC on if it's hot.....and it's always hot.

18 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Well, guys, thanks for all your help. I'm calling it hardware failure. Macs ain't what they used to be under Steve-o. I still have a working 1984 Mac Plus; floppy disks are hard to find!

Hardware failure because it fails backups. If it won't even backup, it's toast. As I said, I won't buy a new Mac because Apple supports Trump. But a buddy of mine buys all old Apple stock when they change models. Brand-new in the box with AppleCare available.

T'mow's errand...

Likely an easy fix.

21 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Using Zoom is always the CRAZY choice.

Just demand student install a VPN. This is the minimum requirement for teaching in China.

Why?

Because you need to share Google Sheets, Docs, and other Google tools.

So, a VPN is non-negotiable.

ANKI will not work in China without a VPN, either, by the way. Or, it did not in the past.

And, yes, China is great.

But, China is still not perfect, yet.

So you want me to tell my Chinese students to break the law? VPNs are illegal in China. I've managed for more than 7 years teaching Chinese students online, without the need for Google Docs, Meet etc, (but blocking YouTube sucks because there are some good science videos there - I have to download them and stream from my computer...)

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

So you want me to tell my Chinese students to break the law?

Absolutely.

You can teach your students, learning through doing, about civil disobedience and freedom of thought and knowledge and experssion.

Yes. encourage your Chinese students to install VPNs.

Just now, GammaGlobulin said:

Absolutely.

You can teach your students, learning through doing, about civil disobedience and freedom of thought and knowledge and experssion.

Yes. encourage your Chinese students to install VPNs.

Expats like you in China are the reason Chinese authorities watch every move they make.

3 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Expats like you in China are the reason Chinese authorities watch every move they make.

When I was at school, missionaries came to speak to us. They were presented as heroes because they had smuggled Bibles into China and converted thousands of Chinese people to Christianity. I am quite sure they were sponsored by governments through hidden donors. China’s paranoia about foreign influence did not come from nowhere and has existed for a long time. Who can forget the Opium Wars?

Anyway, off topic

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

Anyway, off topic

Yep, they call 'em foreign devils.

I have noticed a marked slowdown with international sites and Youtube which has now started buffering. I am on 3BB (now AIS) with 1mb up and 500gb down and been at the current address for 2+ years without any issues before. Speedtest shows the correct speeds so its not my connection its something at 3BB that is causing it. Has anyone tried reporting it or is there a submarine cable down?

(Long-suffering) wife makes $45/hr in front of that screen without any of that fancy stuff. Sounds like overkill for teaching.

She creates custom whiteboards Thai/ English / Chinese for each individual lesson and also 2-6 student group classes.

Yes, 2019 Air has an Intel i5, don’t think it was an i7. I massaged it back from the dead yesterday, so now she’s not keen on spending the money!

Never heard of any hot Apples and I’ve been using them since 1984.

Browser tabs and multiple open browsers are my curse, not hers. I have six or seven windows in three browsers open right now, maybe 60 tabs. On my 2015, never a crash or hang.

Still hot, though. Don’t know where she gets the energy!

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

Expats like you in China are the reason Chinese authorities watch every move they make.

The Chinese watch everybody, not just me.

Probably they are watching me, at this very moment, even though I am in Thailand and not China.

They provide most of the internet switches used in Thailand, don't they?

I would recommend True fiber. I've used them for years now and very rarely ever have issues, and the speeds are blazing fast.