Testing your Astound (RCN, Grande, Wave) connection
Astound Broadband is the brand that has united RCN (Northeast and Chicago), Grande (Texas), Wave (West Coast) and enTouch (Houston) since 2022. Most of its service runs over cable (DOCSIS 3.1), with fibre at some addresses. If RCN, Grande or Wave is on your bill, this is your network: download speeds are high, and on cable the upload is much lower than the download.
This test detects your provider automatically and measures download, upload, ping, jitter and latency under load against the nearest server on Cloudflare's network. Enter your plan speed under the result to see the percentage you really get.
Astound (RCN, Grande, Wave) speeds by plan
| Plan | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|
| Entry tiers | 300 to 500 Mbps | lower than download on cable |
| Gig tiers | 1,000 to 1,500 Mbps | lower than download on cable |
| Multi-gig (select areas) | above 1.5 Gbps | higher, often symmetrical on fibre |
Astound's tiers and names differ between its former RCN, Grande, Wave and enTouch markets. Check the broadband label of your plan for the exact typical speeds. Checked on 31 October 2026; tiers change and vary by address, so confirm on the Astound (RCN, Grande, Wave) website.
What result should you expect?
On a Gig plan, a wired test from a gigabit port should show about 900 to 940 Mbps down. Upload on cable tiers is a fraction of the download; on fibre-fed addresses it can match it. Over Wi-Fi, expect less, especially far from the router.
Measure your connection now. Start the test
Common reasons for slow Astound (RCN, Grande, Wave) speeds
- Old modem on a gig tier: gig speeds need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.
- Small upload on cable: measure latency under load if calls freeze during uploads.
- Evening congestion: see internet slow in the evening.
- Data allowance: some former Wave markets have had monthly data allowances. Check the terms of your plan.
Before contacting Astound support
- Restart the modem, then the router, waiting until each is fully online.
- Run three wired tests at different hours.
- Check Astound's outage information for your area before calling.
- If speeds stay below your plan, check for traffic throttling, then contact support with your saved results.
More help: slow internet: causes and fixes and all providers we cover.
Sources
- FCC: broadband labels (typical speed and latency)
- Astound (RCN, Grande, Wave): official website
- Business Wire: RCN, Grande, Wave, enTouch and Digital West now Astound Broadband
SpeedFibre is an independent website, not affiliated with Astound (RCN, Grande, Wave). The provider's name is used only to describe the service being tested.
Frequently asked questions
Is RCN now Astound?
Yes. RCN, Grande, Wave, enTouch and Digital West have operated under the Astound Broadband brand since 2022, with regional sub-brands such as 'Astound powered by RCN'.
Is Astound cable or fiber?
Mostly cable, with fibre at some addresses. A wired test helps: an upload close to the download means a fibre-fed line.
Why does my Astound Gig plan show 940 Mbps?
That is the practical maximum of a gigabit Ethernet port. Faster results need a multi-gig port and cable.
