How To Fix SmartBro Slow Internet Connection & Get 2 Mbps Speed

SmartBro gave me some problems with their customer support the past week regarding my slow SmartBro internet connection (I detailed it in my previous entry). Here are the instructions of the things I did to get 2 Mbps with my SmartBro plan 999 canopy-type connection:



1. Access your SmartBro canopy settings - To do this, you must be directly connected to the internet connection. If you are already connected directly to your SmartBro internet, follow these steps (the instructions are for Windows 7):

• Go to Control Panel > click Network and Internet > click Network and Sharing Center 
• On the left sidebar, click Change adapter settings
• Right click Local Area Connection, then Properties
• Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click on the Properties button
• Click on Use the following IP address, and use these settings: IP address: 169.254.1.2, Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0
• Click OK, Then Close
• Now, open a browser and visit this link: http://169.254.1.1 and you should arrive at the canopy administration page

2. Choose the best access point - You can do this by clicking Tools on the sidebar, then clicking on AP Evaluation on the tabs. You'll see a list of access points similar to this:

• For more detailed explanation of those info: Read this post from Macuha.com
• Simply check Jitter and SectorUserCount and select the access point that you think will give you better connection. Low Jitter and Low SectorUserCount is the best since you'll have low interface and low number of users. But usually, AP with low Jitter already has many users. Take note of the Color Code of the access point you have chosen. 
• Use your chosen access point. On the sidebar, click Configuration, then on the tabs, click Radio. You'll see the screen shot below:

• On the Color Code input box, input the Color Code of the access point you have chosen
• Click Save Changes. Click Reboot.
• Wait for 30 seconds, then test your internet by editing the IPv4 Properties again (steps below)
• Go to Control Panel > click Network and Internet > click Network and Sharing Center 
• On the left sidebar, click Change adapter settings
• Right click Local Area Connection, then Properties
• Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click on the Properties button
• Click "Obtain an IP address automatically"
• Click OK, then Close
• Test your internet speed if it has improved.

3. Editing your Quality of Service (QoS) / Bandwidth Settings - If you are still unsatisfied with your connection, you need to get down and dirty with your QoS settings now. This is also the way to get real 2Mbps. Note that my canopy antenna has been replaced last week and that means it is a new version of the canopy and it is capable of 2 Mbps connection settings in the QoS. Those with older canopies will not see the same settings as below.

• Access the canopy admin page again (follow the steps above)
• Go to Configuration  > Quality of Service (QoS) > Settings
• Here are the numbers I setup the Settings (screenshot below):






• Sustained Uplink Data Rate: 300
• Sustained Downlink Data Rate: 1700
• Uplink Burst Allocation: 3000
• Downlink Burst Allocation: 3000
• Enable Broadcast / Multicast Data Rate: Disabled
• Low Priority Uplink CIR: 200
• Low Priority Download CIR: 200
• Hi Priority Channel: Enabled (Save Changes first to set the numbers below)
• Hi Priority Uplink CIR: 200
• Hi Priority Uplink CIR: 200

• Save and Reboot

Now check your connection with Speedtest.net and if your download speed goes up to 1.7 Mbps and upload speed up to 0.3 Mbps, then you're on the right track! You can always adjust the Sustained Uplink and Download Data Rate just as long as they are equal 2000. I'd love it if I can set Sustained Download Data Rate to 2000 but some applications I have require uploading, and the maximum upload speed I've had so far is 0.3Mbp so I set it up to 300. I hope you get the logic behind. Why is it 2Mbps? Just add up 1.7Mbps download speed + 0.3Mbps upload speed, that's how I think it works. You can always correct me if I'm wrong. :)

I've seen some Speedtest results with SmartBro showing more than 5Mbps and they claim its true, I won't contest. For now, I'm contented with my 2Mbps speed.

I hope this has helped you out. If you suspect that you still have the old antenna, call up SmartBro and insist to them that you want 2Mbps speed. Someone suggested breaking the old antenna to get it replaced, I'M NOT ADVERTISING THAT, do it at your own risk to get better internet speed!

Let me know how it goes in the comments!