Your Internet Connection And Speed Are Both Slow. What Could Be The Issue?
Internet access is just as important as other utilities for most businesses and even homes. Most businesses rely on the internet for everything from client communication (email, VOIP, etc.) to credit card processing. Some businesses just cannot function without an internet connection.
In addition to their work needs, an increasing percentage of home users utilize the internet as their primary source of entertainment. This is due to the popularity of social media and video streaming services. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the most important factors to consider when choosing an internet service provider (ISP) for your business or home.
It is no longer possible to speed up internet access in your home; nonetheless, many individuals believe that purchasing the most recent modem will solve all of their difficulties. Wrong.
The 5 things that could be affecting your internet speed
1. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
In this case, location has two meanings. The first is the location of your home or company; the second is the location of your router.
The proximity of your physical location to your provider's service region determines the quality and speed of your Internet connection. Inquire about your provider's coverage map to determine your closeness. The map will show you the places they service, as well as the distances between different locations and their central mast. The greater the internet quality, the closer you are. As a result, choose a service who is close to your location.
However, there are areas where internet connectivity is a challenge, especially in rural areas. The regular network connections and wiring needed in standard network provision might not work in a rural setting. Therefore, you should select an internet provider that utilizes rural microwave technology to serve you if you’re in a rural area. This system uses microwave links in internet provision.
2. HARDWARE
Your network equipment, such as the router or cable, has a significant impact on your internet speed. An ethernet connection, for example, is more reliable and faster than Wi-Fi. If you’re utilizing a Wi-Fi connection, your internet speed can decrease as more devices connect to the same network. Last but not least, the hardware of your computer may slow down your online job - for example, if you have a slow CPU.
3. TYPE OF CONNECTION
How fast the internet "feels" is largely determined by the type of connection used. Despite having reasonable download rates, satellite internet is renowned for appearing "slow" (Up to 25Mbps on HughesNet). The reason for this is simple physics. Your satellite sends a signal into space that travels about 22,000 kilometers. The satellite in orbit then contacts a network center to locate the required location. This data is subsequently relayed to an orbiting satellite, which then relays it to you. Even if light travels at the speed of light, this operation takes nearly 500 milliseconds, plus any additional request processing time on both the server and client sides.
I know it doesn’t sound like much, but adding an extra 1/2 second to every action makes it seem so slow if you’re used to a traditional connection. By contrast, even the latency on 4G-LTE signals is around 100 milliseconds versus 400+ milliseconds for satellite connections. Other connections, such as Fiber, offer much lower latency, often under 20 milliseconds.
4. THE SOFTWARE YOU RUN
Things will inevitably slow down if you run too many programs that need to connect to the internet at the same time. Some of them may be running in the background without you being aware of it. Check the auto-update, sync, and backup settings in any file-sharing apps you use, for example.
Also, make sure your browser only has the necessary add-ons and toolbars. Each one is a little app that can consume a portion of your bandwidth.
5. WEB BROWSER
It might sound simple but your choice of browser can also affect your internet speed.
Experiment with various browsers like Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox with the sites that you visit most often and see which one delivers the fastest response.
Computer use status
Finally, one of the elements influencing internet speed is the state of computers used at home or at work. The current approach is insufficient in circumstances where the computer is a very old model PC. It is possible that your speed and connection speed will suffer as a result. As a result, if you have the possibility, it will be useful for you to refresh the computer or upgrade the existing operating system after a set period of time.
An added bonus for Wi-Fi users
Your internet speed will suffer if your Wi-Fi router is too far away from your devices. Consider obtaining a wireless repeater to remedy this problem. These are small signal copiers that can be positioned between the router and the device to increase the Wi-Fi signal's strength by a factor of two. Physical barriers, such as water and metal, that are placed between the router and the devices can also slow down internet speed. So, if you have any metal boards or aquariums, move them out of the way.
What kind of internet connection do I require?
With many of us working from home more than ever before, as well as streaming shows and gaming in our spare time, speed is often a major consideration when choosing a provider and a plan. Let's start at the beginning: internet speed, often known as 'bandwidth,' is measured in Megabits per second, or Mbps. Here's the bandwidth required for some common operations at home to help you figure out what speed you'll need:
- Skype HD video call: 1.5Mbps
- General web browsing: 3Mbps
- High Definition (720p) video streaming: 5Mbps
- 4K video streaming: 25Mbps
When Should You Contact Your Internet Service Provider?
It can be difficult to troubleshoot poor internet speeds. It is sometimes necessary to use a combination of the strategies. Don't be scared to try out different techniques to get your network back up and running. However, if you've tried a few alternative solutions and are still stumped, it may be time to contact your internet service provider.