Wow Speed Test

This diagnostic utility validates the throughput of your WOW! Internet connection. WOW! primarily utilizes a Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) network running on the DOCSIS 3.1 standard. Unlike fiber providers, your performance is heavily dependent on the "Signal-to-Noise Ratio" (SNR) of the copper coaxial cable entering your home.

Understanding Your Speed Metrics

When analyzing your connection integrity, focus on these three performance vectors:

Download Throughput: WOW! offers high-speed tiers (500 Mbps, 1 Gig, 1.2 Gig). On the 1.2 Gig plan, you will only see full speeds if you own a modem with a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Port (e.g., Arris S33 or Netgear CM2000). If you use a standard Gigabit modem, you are physically capped at ~940 Mbps.

Upload Throughput: Like most cable providers, WOW! plans are Asymmetrical.
• Internet 500: ~50 Mbps Upload
• 1 Gig / 1.2 Gig: ~50 Mbps Upload
Note: WOW! does not typically offer the "High Split" symmetrical upload speeds found in some newer Comcast/Spectrum markets yet.

Latency (Ping): Expect 20ms to 40ms to local servers. If you see latency spikes, access your modem's event log (`192.168.100.1`) and look for "T3 Timeouts." These indicate "Ingress Noise" on your line, usually caused by a loose cable or bad splitter.

What Results Should You Expect?

The "BYOM" (Bring Your Own Modem) Factor

Your test results depend entirely on your hardware choice. Benchmarks include:

Arris S33 / SB8200 (DOCSIS 3.1): Capable of full Gigabit speeds (~940 Mbps - 1.2 Gbps wired).

Older Modems (SB6183 / SB6190): These are DOCSIS 3.0. Even if you pay for 1 Gig, these modems will struggle to pass 400-600 Mbps and may suffer from the "Intel Puma 6" latency bug.

Eero Wireless: On the standard Eero 6+ (supplied by WOW!), expect ~400-600 Mbps on Wi-Fi close to the main unit. Wireless speeds will never match wired speeds.

If you pay for 1 Gig but test consistently at 90-95 Mbps, you likely have a damaged Cat5 Ethernet cable or a router with an old 100 Mbps WAN port.

Why Is Your WOW! Connection Slow?

Before calling support, verify these common premise-level faults:

The "Splitter" Problem: The #1 enemy of WOW! internet speed is an unnecessary cable splitter. If your modem line is split to feed a TV box in another room, your signal strength drops by 3.5dB to 7dB. Remove the splitter and connect the modem directly to the wall for best performance.

Eero Placement: If you use the supplied eero system, the satellite units must have a strong wireless connection to the main unit. If the light on the eero is Red, it has lost connection. If it is yellow, the connection is weak.

Modem Reset: If you bought your own modem, WOW! pushes firmware updates automatically. Sometimes a "stuck" update requires a hard reboot (unplug for 60 seconds) to clear.

WOW! Technical Configuration Data

How to Get an Accurate Test

Wireless testing via the Eero app measures speed to the router, not your device.

To confirm the actual speed delivered by WOW!, connect a Cat6 Ethernet cable directly from the Modem (bypass the eero router entirely) to a laptop. You must power cycle the modem (unplug for 30 seconds) when you switch devices so it can issue a new IP address to your laptop. If this wired test is fast, your line is healthy.

When to Call Support

Escalate the issue to WOW! support if you observe these specific failures:

Blinking US/DS Light: The modem cannot lock onto the Upstream or Downstream channels. This is a physical signal outage.

Uncorrectable Errors: If you check the modem logs at `192.168.100.1` and see thousands of "Uncorrectables," the line has noise (likely a bad connector outside).

T3/T4 Timeouts: Frequent disconnects visible in the Event Log.

You can troubleshoot equipment and check for outages via the WOW! Way App or by calling 1-866-496-9669.