WideOpenWest — known by its brand name WOW — serves around 500,000 customers across 14 states, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. They're one of the smaller major cable providers, but their pricing is often competitive with bigger names. Running a WOW speed test regularly helps ensure you're getting the speeds promised in your plan.
WOW Internet Plans
WOW offers straightforward tiers with no contracts and no data caps on most plans:
| Plan | Download | Upload | Data Cap | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOW 100 | 100 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Unlimited | Browsing, light streaming |
| WOW 200 | 200 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Unlimited | HD streaming, small households |
| WOW 500 | 500 Mbps | 20 Mbps | Unlimited | Multiple devices, gaming |
| WOW 1 Gig | 1,000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | Unlimited | Power users, large households |
One of WOW's advantages is unlimited data on all plans. If you've been burned by data caps on other providers, that's a significant perk.
Running a WOW Speed Test
Go Wired for Accuracy
As with any cable provider, your wired speed will differ from your wireless speed. Use an Ethernet cable connected directly to your WOW modem for the most accurate results.
Test During Different Time Windows
Cable internet is shared infrastructure. Your WOW speed test at 2 PM might show 520 Mbps while the same test at 9 PM shows 350 Mbps. Both are "real" — the difference is neighborhood traffic.
Common WOW Speed Issues
Evening Slowdowns
Like all cable providers, WOW experiences congestion during peak hours. If your WOW speed test consistently shows major drops between 7 and 11 PM, your neighborhood's node may be overloaded.
Wi-Fi Bottlenecks
If your wired test shows 500 Mbps but Wi-Fi only delivers 150 Mbps, the issue is your wireless setup, not WOW. Consider upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router or adding mesh nodes to eliminate dead zones.
Quick Fixes
- Restart your modem and router — the first step for any speed issue.
- Check cable connections — loose coax fittings cause signal degradation.
- Update firmware — keep your router and modem current.
- Check for outages — WOW's website shows active service disruptions.
- Try a customer-owned modem — sometimes newer modems perform better than ISP-provided ones.
A WOW speed test takes thirty seconds and tells you exactly what your connection is delivering. Run it regularly, especially if you notice slowdowns, and you'll have the data you need to hold WOW accountable.