The 5 mistakes that slow down your fiber in Luxembourg (and your cable connection)

Fiber vs. Cable at Eltrona: What Really Matters

• HFC architecture: fiber optic up to your area, then coaxial inside the home.
• User experience: Gigabit speeds and optimized latency suited for cloud gaming, 4K/8K streaming, and remote work.
• Continuous upgrades: the first hybrid fiber/coax networks are being rolled out, with next-gen modem/router equipment.
• Bottom line: whether it’s fiber or cable, your experience depends mostly on home installation, Wi-Fi, and proper settings.

Tip: For a personalized checkup, start with Test My Speed, then review your equipment and router placement.

Mistake #1: Confusing theoretical speed with actual bandwidth

Why it’s a problem

Advertised speeds (up to 1 Gbit/s) are measured under lab conditions. In reality, actual throughput depends on many factors. Luxembourg’s regulator, the ILR, reported an average 17% gap between promised and measured speeds in 2024.

How to fix it

• Run a test with the official Test my speed tool to compare results.
• Measure via Ethernet, with the modem only, no VPN, no downloads running.
• Note the time of day: evening peak usage can reduce bandwidth.

Good to know: On a modern HFC network, an Ethernet test better reflects true capabilities than a Wi-Fi test.

Mistake #2: Overlooking your home network setup

Symptoms: Dead Wi-fi zones, buffering videos

Wi-Fi 5 quickly reaches its limits if your router is hidden in a cabinet or surrounded by obstacles (concrete, metal, mirrors).

Easy fixes

• Place your router high up and centrally in your home.
• Optez pour un réseau Mesh si votre maison dépasse 120 m²
• Use the 5 GHz band for consoles and desktop PCs.

Mistake #3: Using outdated equipment

A Wi-Fi 4 router caps you at 300 Mbit/s even on fiber. Make sure your modem supports Wi-Fi 6 and VLANs up to 1 Gbit/s. The Internet GiGA plan includes a Wi-Fi 6E-ready modem for future-proof performance.

Gamer tip: Connect your console or PC with a Cat 6a Ethernet cable to reduce latency from 20 ms down to under 5 ms on Luxembourg’s fiber.
A recent cable modem/router and a Wi-Fi 6/6E router are must-haves to fully benefit from Gigabit speeds, whether your access is fiber or coaxial.

Mistake #4: Letting apps and smart devices hog bandwidth

By 2025, the average Luxembourg household will run 15 connected devices. An 80 GB automatic download can saturate your upload and freeze your video call.

Fix

1. Schedule system updates at night.
2. Prioritize video calls and gaming using QoS in your router settings.
3. Switch off IP cameras in standby when streaming in 4K.

Mistake #5: Ignoring interference and latency in gaming

Even with fiber or cable Gigabit, a ping > 40 ms ruins the experience. Wi-Fi quality, radio noise, and QoS settings often matter more than whether you’re on fiber or coax. Common interference sources include:

• Bluetooth, microwaves, baby monitors (2.4 GHz)
• Poorly shielded Ethernet cables

Targeted fixes

• Move wireless devices to 5 GHz or 6 GHz.
• Disable unnecessary UPnP to reduce phantom packets.
• Test your latency on Luxembourg’s fastest connection with the nPerf comparison tool.
  

By avoiding these five mistakes, you’ll unlock the full power of your Eltrona high-speed connection. Our HFC network combines fiber and cable to deliver Gigabit speeds and stable latency every day. Need help? Our experts will optimize your home setup and guide you to the Internet GiGA plan that fits best.

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