Upload speed drops when multiple users zoom

[Xfin_user]

Normally I get good download/upload speed test results even with regular internet use (not just idle line). 180-200Mbps Down. 11Mbps Up. My modem router is a Netgear C7000v2.

But I noticed that if one of two members of the household are on zoom/video calls then the upload speed drops dramatically - down to just 1 - 2Mbps. Download still remains good though at 180+Mbps.

Is this normal ? I thought upload speeds hold pretty static even with multiple users ? Or is my wifi not able to keep up ? Its a pretty new modern gateway. What might be the issue ?

[andyross]

Unless you have video disabled, Zoom is uploading video continuously. That obviously takes bandwidth. You only have 200/10 service. I'm not sure just how much bandwidth the video is, but you will notice it much more due to the restricted upstream speeds.

[strega7]

I don't think that Zoom uses much bandwidth, by default, but I've never checked the "send HD video" option.   I have no trouble at all running Zoom on a 70/5 connection with other things using the internet as well.  You might want to try wired connections - both for Zoom and the other activities - as I do find Zoom to be problematic with my Wi-Fi, but all issues go away on a wired connection. 

By comparison, Skype defaults to using as much bandwidth as it can use to display an HD image, and I can see a huge increase in the video quality over Zoom's default, as well as much more data use, but it still gets along fine with a 70/5mps connection.

[Xfin_user]

I tried it on a wired connection too - same result. Upload 2Mbps even with only 1 zoom on.

And zoom is not on HD. I unchecked that HD box on all computers.

Anyone else have this experience ? I understand that bandwidth will be split but this is like 80-90% less. 

btw, I am not neccessarily having any performance or dropout issues, but I feel its pretty close to that. and with any more zoom/video conf its going to be a problem. I'd rather stay on top of it and fix it before suffering any issues when its needed most.