In this day and age, it is almost impossible to get anything done without the internet. Using your computer, smart phone, streaming TV services and even smart home devices utilize the internet to provide you with service. In order to get good service, you will need good internet speed, and nothing is worse than trying to get things done with slow internet speeds. There are many different things that can affect the speed of your internet and today, we are going to look at 9 things that could be slowing down your internet speed to help you get the fastest internet available.
Limitations Of Your ISP (Internet Service Provider)
When looking at your internet speed, you are only going to be as good as your internet service provider. If your ISP cannot handle the type of speeds that you are demanding, no equipment that you can purchase is going to help make your internet speed any faster. If you suspect that your internet service provider is the problem with your internet speed, it is a good idea to call them up and see if there is a problem. It could be as simple as an area wide outage or a delay in service, but a call is going to give you the information that you need to determine if you need to switch ISPs.
Underperforming Or Substandard Equipment
If your internet service provider is providing you with the best service that you can get and you are still getting slow internet speeds, you may want to take a look at the equipment that you are using. After all, having the right equipment is half of the battle when it comes to providing internet service. Over the years, it is easy to forget about your modem, router, cables, or other equipment you may have and it can easily become outdated or overworked. Take some time to review each component of your setup to see if anything need to be replaced, repaired, or disposed of.
Utilizing The Right Wireless Network Channel/Band
If your equipment seems to check out and you are having problems with your wireless connections, you may want to look at your modem to see if you are on the right wireless network channel. While this is not something many people change very often, it could be that one channel is getting overworked with all of your devices in your home. Explore whether or not you can use a different band of channel for items that require a faster internet speed to help even things out a bit.
Range Of Your Wireless Network
Another common problem that many don’t think about, especially when moving to a larger living space, is the range of your wireless network. For example, if you were to use a smaller modem and router for your single bedroom apartment and notice a decrease in performance once you moved to a larger house, you may need to upgrade to a wireless network setup that can handle a larger living space. A smaller router is not meant to give you full wifi speeds across a large house or between floors in a multi-story house.
Penetration Of Your Wireless Signal
In the same boat as the range of your wireless network, there are other factors that can compound slow performance in bigger homes. Wireless networks can travel through walls, obviously, but when it comes to larger homes with multiple rooms, walls, and doors that a signal has to pass through, you may not get the same type of service as you would with a system designed for your home. This may be the time to look at boosters or additional equipment to ensure your whole home has the internet speed that you expect.
Unauthorized Access Of Your Internet
If you have ever set up a wireless network in your home, you know that you have had to create a password to make sure that your internet service use stays within the people that you give access to. Unauthorized access to your network can seriously slow down your internet speeds and could potentially open you up to the possibility of hacking. Make sure that your internet is password protected to keep neighbors, guests, and any other people close to your home from slowing down the speed of your internet.
Interference From Other Devices
If you have checked and made sure that your network is password protected and that no one else has access to it, you will need to consider if any devices are interfering with your connection. Wireless networks work off of waves to send your connection throughout your home. Things like microwaves, security cameras, cordless phones, and florescent lights can all interfere with your connection, causing you to experience trouble with your internet speeds. To test this easily, record when you are having connection issues and see if it correlates with the use of any certain appliance or device.
Malware Or Virus
One of the most common reasons that you are seeing slow internet speeds and cannot find a reason of why, is because there is a hidden virus or malware on your computer that is actively running, ultimately killing your internet speed. Malwares and viruses come in many different shapes and sizes, all with various different missions. Most of these will run in the background without you knowing to allow it to slowly gather all of the data that it is in search of. This can slow not only your internet speed down, but also your computer as a whole.
Incorrect Plan For Your Data Usage
If all of the above have checked out and you still cannot figure out the issue, it may be time to call your ISP and discuss your internet plan to see if it is up to the standards of what you are trying to get out of it. It could be something as simple as not having the right plan for your demands. This can be an easy fix for an ISP and can get your speeds back to where they need to be ASAP.
