Now that our remote lifestyle has equipped us fully, the availability of a reliable internet connection has become rather a necessity. The global pandemic that we faced last year and are still getting acquainted with, has programmed us to carry out any and all activities from the comfort of our homes. Be it taking a yoga class or consulting a medical professional, be it working from home or learning a new course, be it getting entertained by playing video games or streaming on-demand videos, be it shopping online or getting groceries delivered at home, all we need to do is push some buttons. The pandemic has hit us bad though it has pushed us to find new realms of ease and convenience through the internet, as well.
In such times, a poor internet connection can literally cut you off from the outer world and that is the last thing you need right now. For such reason, the easiest step you can take is to switch to an internet service provider that sees through your needs, is reliable and stable, provides great internet speeds at reasonable rates, and is available in your vicinity. If you reside in Texas, you should go for Grande internet for all the reasons listed above, however, for people living elsewhere in the United States; we recommend you check out Spectrum and Optimum internet plans.
Occasional connectivity problems are somewhat common and that is why we have put together a list of reasons why you might be experiencing a slow internet connection and the possible solutions to redeem your speeds.
Internet speed requirement
A good reason for slow internet speed is that you are not getting enough of it. To assess your internet requirements, the first thing you must do is to understand your internet speed. Take out your internet bill and carefully read it to find out the internet speed you are paying for. Once you know the speed, you need to take a speed test to ensure if the speed you pay for is the same that you are getting. You can take such a speed test via Speedtest by Ookla. With both speeds in hand, compare them. In the event that there is a huge difference between both speeds, contact your internet service provider and inquire about it.
If the speeds are the same, you might want to reevaluate your internet speed requirement. This might happen when you are paying for the basic internet plan while using it heavily. Talk to your ISP to understand the requirement in a better way. You can upgrade your plan and even ask for a discount.
Wireless Connection can be iffy
This might come as a shock to you but wireless connections are not all that great. Whilst wireless connections do bring convenience and ease of movement, wired Ethernet cable connection is much more fast and secure. It might not be possible for you to always use Ethernet cable; however, for important meetings or video conferences, you should always use a wired connection for your device. Another important reason to go wired is that it is more secure and protects your data transmission to a greater degree than a wireless connection.
Your modem just needs a reboot
It is as absurd as it is true: your internet might kick off by simply rebooting your modem or router. Restarting your equipment has the same effect on your devices and their operational speeds as when you wake up fresh after a restful sleep. Try resetting the modem again by connecting it with the Ethernet cable. If the problem persists, contact the contact center of your ISP.
You might also want to check if the connectivity problem is being shown in just one device; in such case, the problem might just be with the device and not the internet.
Lacking hardware
When was the last time you bought your router? Can’t remember? Well, it is time for you to switch to a modern router. Ensure that your router technology is top-graded. A modern router is incorporated with software and functions that can very well support your internet requirements. Another thing that you might want to consider is the router’s compatibility with your internet connection. For this reason, before investing in a router, you might want to correspond with your ISP.
Move your router
You might be surprised to know this but putting your router in a closet is killing your connection. Move your router to an open space preferably in the center of your home. If your home has multiple floors, you might want to put the router on the first floor, in a hallway. You must also reposition the Wi-Fi extenders to cover the whole house. The ideal case scenario is putting your router in a central, elevated position without any physical obstructions.
Furthermore, you need to understand that your wireless router works through radio frequency, and if there are devices around it radiating the same radio frequencies, your signal might get impeded. The following devices can cause signal interference:
- Television
- Wireless Devices like Speakers and Cameras
- Child Monitors
- Microwave Oven
- Electrical Cables
Install an antivirus
Another reason for a slow internet speed can be a virus working off your internet connection. Virus steal your valuable information without your knowledge and can likely slow down your system as well as the internet speed. To counter this dilemma, you should install a reliable antivirus program on your PC.
Background applications
While you might like to keep all the programs opened on our PCs or multiple tabs opened on your browser to let everything in place, you should know that all such software and applications keep on running in the background and hog your bandwidth. Programs like Skype and some games that turn on as soon as the system starts are essentially hogging your bandwidth without your knowledge. Close all the background applications to ensure a good internet speed.
You might also want to clear out your browser’s cache and cookies to improve the speed as well. If you’ve tried all of the above, you may just have to accept the fact your internet service provider is letting you down. You can easily switch and compare the best broadband deals without too much effort
