Ever find your Internet speed lacking, even when you’re right next to the Wi-Fi router? Slow Internet speed can cause anything from a minor inconvenience to a significant working hindrance.
Many people work remotely in this modern digital age. Even those who don’t generally use the Internet on a daily basis.
Slow Internet is irritating, but it can be resolved. Continue reading as we explain why your connection could be slow and how you can speed it up.
What is Internet Speed?
When we say Internet speed, we are referring to the speed at which data travels between a device and the Internet. Generally, this speed is measured in Mbps or Gbps.
The two primary components of Internet speed:
- Download speed: The speed data comes to you, such as how quickly a website takes to load or a file takes to download.
- Upload speed: How fast data transfers from you to the Internet. For example, the speed at which you can send emails or how quickly your voice travels on a phone call.
What Causes Slow Internet Speed?
Several factors can use up bandwidth and contribute to slow Internet speed. Here is a list of some of the main causes:
- Network congestion: When too many devices are connected to the same network simultaneously, this can overwhelm the bandwidth and slow down the Internet speed.
- Malware: Devices that have been infected with malware or viruses can consume bandwidth without you knowing.
- Background applications: Apps and devices that are downloading or updating can use up high amounts of bandwidth.
How to Speed up Your Internet
Upgrade Network Equipment
If you’ve recently upgraded to a faster plan, your computer’s old network card may not be able to handle the speed.
An upgraded network card can:
- Provide quicker internet speeds to load websites faster.
- Ensure a stronger connection that limits the chance of connection drops.
- Works well with newer Wi-Fi by connecting faster and offering stronger signals.
- Deliver better capability to handle more devices while still working quickly.
Check the Network Settings
In certain situations, slow Internet is merely due to network settings. When unoptimised or misconfigured, they can be the root cause of slow speeds.
Here is how to check your network settings:
- If your device has the incorrect IP address or there is an IP conflict, the connection can drop. Check that your device is connected to the correct DHCP server.
- A slow DNS server can heavily slow down the loading time of your websites; ensure your DNS is set to a quick, reliable server like Google 8.8.8.8.
- Check that the router is on a less crowded Wi-Fi channel and the MTU is set correctly, because crowded Wi-Fi or incorrect MTU sizes can interfere with and cause interruptions to the connection.
Router Placement
We mentioned at the top that your Internet speed could be slow while sitting close to the router. However, in some instances, router placement can be the cause of slow Internet speed.
Placing the router behind the sofa, near thick walls or electronic devices, can weaken the signal of your Wi-Fi, which in turn slows down Internet speed.
Placement is important:
- You can maximise coverage and reduce signal obstruction by placing the router in a central, open and elevated position.
- Putting it at floor level or inside cabinets limits the signal.
Close Background Apps and Devices
Multiple apps running simultaneously in the background use your connection to update, download data, and sync content, especially cloud service apps like Dropbox and OneDrive. Certain apps consume lots of bandwidth, which can leave you with less for watching videos or playing games.
The more devices that share bandwidth, the less each individual one gets.
Solutions:
- Close or pause apps that use high amounts of bandwidth.
- Disconnect devices you aren’t using from the Wi-Fi.
- Utilise Quality of Service settings on the router to prioritise what you want to use most. For example, you can adjust settings so that calls take precedence over downloads.
Combat ISP Throttling
ISP throttling is a common cause of slow Internet speeds and occurs when your Internet Service Provider deliberately slows down your speed, depending on your data usage or peak hours.
For example, if you reach your monthly data cap, your ISP may intentionally slow down your Internet connection until the beginning of the new billing cycle.
There are several ways you can limit the impact of ISP throttling:
- Upgrade to a plan with no data caps.
- Track data usage to make sure you don’t hit your monthly cap.
- Using a VPN can encrypt data and make it harder for your ISP to throttle certain traffic.
Check for Malware and Software Issues
Not only does malware consume bandwidth, but along with software problems, it also changes DNS settings and various other network configurations.
Malware can eat into your CPU or RAM and leave you without enough resources to efficiently process Internet-related tasks.
Checking for malware and software issues helps:
- Keep your personal data protected, as malware can steal passwords and even banking information.
- Improves system performance by shutting down bloated apps and eradicating unnecessary background programs which use system resources.
- Malware infections cause instability, crashes, and slowdowns. A check will help prevent your system from crashing or freezing.
Conclusion
A slow Internet connection is frustrating, regardless of whether you’re using it for work or as a means of relaxation.
There are a variety of root causes that can slow your speed down, but fortunately, there are several ways in which you can get your Internet connection back up to a good speed.
