bandwidth problem

[FaZe]

Ok I have MediaCom High Speed internet that is rated to be 5000/256, the problem is that with my router plugged in I get no more than 1500/256 most of the time, my average speeds are around 1000/256, but the weird thing is when I plug my modem directly into my computer i get speeds of like 3200/250. I also must add that the other computer that is attached to my router is rarely used. I also like my router because of the built in NAT firewall.

My modem:Motorola SurfBoard 4100
my router: Belkin 4-Port Cable/DSL Gateway Router with latest firmware

Could upgrading my modem, getting a different router, or better (CAT6) cables help this at all? It's like the router limits my bandwidth. I can guarantee it has nothing to do with network congestion also since I live in a sparsly populated town (couple thousand) and my ping/latency is fairly low and very stable to most servers.

[Zogo]

that modem and cat5e wouldn't cause a problem like that..so upgrading both of those shouldn't make a difference.

there's probably some setting that needs to be changed on the router.