- Increase Internet Speed Spectrum
- How To Get Better Internet
- Increase Internet Speed App
- Increase Internet Speed Device
- Increase Internet Speed Ps4
- Will A Router Increase Internet Speed
Measure Wired Internet Performance. If you’ve tried the 10 above-described tips for improving wireless internet performance without any success, then it’s time to shift your focus from your WiFi and measure wired internet performance. To do that, you need an Ethernet cable and a laptop or desktop computer with an Ethernet port. Sep 06, 2019 Additional solutions to increase internet speed Tip #8: Purchase a new computer, router, or modem. Old equipment could be the direct cause of your slow internet connection. And we’re not just talking an old wireless router or modem. We also mean old and outdated computers, laptops, mobile devices, or other equipment.
While I’m generally happy with my $17 speed-up, and it did increase node performance to the Internet from 30Mbps to 60Mbps, I was pretty disappointed by the performance of my five-year-old RT. These Internet Speed Booster software let you increase internet speed in various ways. With the help of these software, you can maximize your internet’s performance. These Internet Booster software either optimize network settings to increase internet speed, or compress the data before downloading them on your browser while surfing. Ways to Boost Your Wi-Fi Speed 1. Place your router in an open spot. Because Wi-Fi is just that—wireless—its connection speed is affected by distance, obstacles (such as walls, floors, and ceilings), electronic interference, and the number of users on the network.
Last Updated February 28th, 2017
So you want to learn how to increase your download speed?
Recently my area got upgraded to the National Broadband Network and with it my speeds increased quite a lot.
It was interesting seeing how this increased the amount of work we could get through – whether it was sending files, downloading and uploading images to blogs, or just loading new pages to read.
But I was also shocked at how much extra speed I could get through my line by tweaking a few things around my house, computer and the router itself.
In this post I am going to show you a few ways you can increase your download speed. Hopefully something in this article is useful to you.
Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. I’ll let you know which ones they are below. If you purchase a product through one of those links I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend services I’ve used and love. If this bothers you feel free not to use the link.
How to test your current internet speed
The first thing you will need to do is test your current internet speed. This will let you know whether or not you are getting a lower rate than you should be. You can do this by going to SpeedTest.net and running a test. Here are my results.
Look at those speeds! Well, sort of…
This is actually a screenshot of the speed I get when I’m tethering my mobile to my laptop. Unfortunately my home WiFi speeds are not as fast as this because, well, because of Australia.
What do MBps and Mbps mean and why does it matter?
Okay, so, some boring but important stuff here. People often say megabytes when they mean megaBITS. And visa versa. But there is a big difference.
MBps = megabytes
Mbps = megabits
Mbps = megabits
So, if you refer to my speed test above you will see that I am getting 11.53 Mbps per second. To find out how many megabytes that is you just divide by 8 which equals 1.44 MBps.
Now, 1 MB is equal to 1024 KB (kilobytes) so if you want to know how fast you are going to able to download a song or movie you should refer to the KB or MB per second rate as that is usually what they are measured in.
For example, if you are downloading a 50 MB file at 1 MB per second it will take you just under 50 seconds.
Got it?
On a sidenote, we recently updated our “how to start a blog” guide with acionable insights. Do check it out and let us know your feedback.
Download faster: How to speed up your internet
Now let’s dive into a few ways that you can improve your internet speed.
Remember, some Internet companies advertise huge speeds as a theoretical “potential” but in reality you will never get near it. Email or call your ISP and ask them what is actually attainable in your area so that you don’t spend heaps of time trying to get a speed that just isn’t possible.
1. Test a different modem/router
The biggest cause of slowed down internet is a bad modem. For ages I was using a Billion modem that I thought was absolutely fantastic. I was having frequent internet drop outs and blaming them on my ISP. Finally I changed to a new NETGEAR N150 modem and speeds went up and the drop outs stopped. The problem? The old Billion modem wasn’t equipped for ADSL2+. Rookie mistake. Make sure your modem is suited to the internet plan that you are on.
Update: I’m now using the default modem provided by the National Broadband Network which is automatically configured to work on that system. Again, you just want to make sure that your router is compatible with your plan.
2. Scan for viruses
The next thing you need to do is make sure that no virus itself is causing you to slow down. Sometimes viruses can live on your computer and suck resources away from what you are doing thus slowing down your speeds.
3. Check for on-system interference
Sometimes your virus scanner or other programs can interfere with your internet speeds. This is really frustrating but you can figure out by simply switching things off one at a time and then running a speed test again. Please note I won’t be responsible for any viruses or spyware you pick up whilst doing this. You should always have good virus protection.
4. Check your filters
If you have your internet connected to a phone line that also has a telephone on it then you will need to make sure you have good quality filters installed on your line. These are little plugs that you attach to the phone line and they help filter out the disturbances. Here is a photo of one of mine.
Now, these also need to be different for the different types of internet. If you have ADSL2+ or cable make sure you have the appropriate filter.
5. Try getting rid of your cordless phone
Some people disagree with this but I have found that cordless phones slow down or interfere with my internet even with filters. It is worth doing an isolation test by removing your phones and replacing them with different ones (borrow a friend’s) and see whether you get better results.
6. Plug in
Wifi is nice but wireless internet is often a tad slower than if you plug in to your modem. Try getting that chord out of the box and plugging straight into the modem, especially if it is your desktop computer and you don’t need to move it around very often.
7. Check for external interference
I bet most of you have an iPhone, iPad, sound system and at least one other form of electronic device in your modem area. Am I right? Well, if so, then you need to check to see whether these things are causing electromagnetic interference. Try moving speakers out of the way and getting other electronic devices out of your modem space.
8. Check for Foxtel or other types of TV
Old Foxtel boxes can cause interference for your internet, even if you aren’t using them. If your net speed is slower than it should be and you can’t figure out why, it might be an idea to go for a walk around your house and see if you have a Foxtel (cable TV) box that you didn’t know was there. It could be from a past owner. If so, call up and make sure it is disconnected totally.
9. Shorten and replace cables
The length of your cables and their structure can affect speeds. Try replacing old phone cables, sockets and lines and instead use shorter and newer ones. This can often make a big difference.
10. Have you tried turning it off and on again?
The last suggestion is often the most powerful one. Turn off your modem for one minute and turn it on again. It is called power cycling and can often flush out a bunch of problems that affect your speed. If you are really brave you can even reconfigure your modem with a new password as this can often refresh your settings at the end of your ISP and refresh connections.
11. Update firmware and software regularly
Your router/modem actually has it’s own software that you need to update regularly. You can login to your modem by following your brand’s instructions. For example, for a NETGEAR modem you go to http://routerlogin.com where you can update and tweak your settings. You also need to consider updating your computer’s desktop version, operating system, etc. as often the wireless settings become less compatible over time.
12. Find your router/ISP’s best settings
When you login to your modem/router (see point 11) you will see a bunch of settings relating to channels and so on. Sometimes these settings are not on the best option by default and you’ll need to update them based on the types of devices you use, etc. Check out your router and ISP’s website for the best settings.
13. Check the cabling and do a line test
If all of this fails it’s time to contact your Internet Service Provider and modem company and ask them for a line test and investigation. This may mean that a worker from the company will be sent out to your house, and this can cost an additional fee. The man who came to my property found that the wires in my roof were almost totally chewed away and needed replacing.
What have I missed?
Do you know any other ways to increase your internet speed? I would be really interested to hear them. Comments are now closed on this article but you can always catch me on Twitter if you want to suggest something else. If this post has helped you please consider giving it a little share on social media.
If you liked this guide then also check our guides on how to start a blog and how to install WordPress.
Top image © Daniel Villeneuve
Have you ever tried streaming something on Netflix only to have your episode of “The Office” interrupted by a buffering screen? What about that YouTube viral video everyone’s talking about that just won’t finish loading? Maybe you’ve just been trying to download a video of your granddaughter’s first communion and it’s taking forever.
Slow internet can be a real drag in a world where the internet is everywhere and integral to so much in our lives. So, what do you do when your attempts to have movie night with Netflix or Hulu are thwarted by slow internet speeds? Or when you’re left out in the cold at the office water cooler because your internet isn’t fast enough for you to see the latest viral YouTube video? You need to increase your internet speed. But how?
What’s Bogging Down Your Internet?
The first thing you should do is diagnose the problem. As vast as the internet is, there are lots of little things you can test without having to contact an expert. That way, at the very least, you can rule out some of the more general factors that could be slowing down your internet. This will make your call to your internet service provider (ISP) less frustrating if/when the time comes to get an expert’s opinion.
The weather
Increase Internet Speed Spectrum
There’s some debate on whether the actual weather—rain and high winds—can impact internet speeds or if it’s simply the results of inclement weather (hail and ice damaging power and phone lines). Techwalla claims water droplets can absorb the radio frequency associated with Wi-Fi signal, thus partially blocking the signal. Of course, since most home Wi-Fi is deployed in the home, it seems strange that rain would hurt a typical person’s internet performance.
The site
As ubiquitous as YouTube is, there once was a time, however brief, when no one in the world could access it. Yes, even go-to sites and social media platforms can have bad days. So, if you’re experiencing slow load times on your Facebook account but everything else seems OK, it might not be your internet speed. The best way to rule this out is to try accessing other sites. If you’re finding that load speeds are considerably faster on image-heavy sites like Imgur when compared to the text-heavy Reddit, then you know it’s probably not your connection that’s the problem.
The device
You might just have a slow phone. If you’re browsing the internet on your smartphone and it’s taking a while to load certain pages, it might be the device. In the event it’s your phone that’s at fault, we recommend looking for any firmware updates you might have missed. Also, if possible, see if you can try accessing the same pages using another device like a tablet or a laptop. If you don’t have any problems on other devices, then it could be a device issue that’s causing the slow speeds.
How To Get Better Internet
The number of users
Sometimes you’re not the only one on the network, and whether it’s your roommate downloading a massive file or multiple family members all trying to stream Amazon Prime Video, this can impact your internet speeds. Theoretically, most individual wireless routers can support up to 250 connected devices, according to Lifewire, but it’s certainly not ideal. These devices would all share the same network connection and it wouldn’t take long to max out the network speeds with multiple users all engaged in various forms of streaming, downloading, uploading, or just browsing.
The presence of a virus
If you’re experiencing slow speeds on a desktop PC or a laptop, you should consider the possibility of a computer virus. These malicious programs can live rent-free on your machines, sucking up resources and performing tasks in the background that can slow down your computer. We recommend scanning your computer daily and there’s a plethora of free, reputable anti-virus programs to consider.
6 Ways to Increase Your Internet Speed
Now that we’ve looked at some of the more common causes (and potential fixes) for slow downloads and streaming, let’s talk about how to increase your internet speed. There are quite a few things you can do that can help kick your network into a higher gear. We’ll start with the less intensive tips and work our way up.
1. Update your internet browser
Believe it or not, part of the problem could be with your internet browser. We’re mostly speaking to the desktop/laptop crowd but it’s still something to consider. Take, for example, what Mozilla engineer Chris Peterson had to say in a Twitter thread a few months back regarding YouTube and the Firefox internet browser. The engineering program manager at Mozilla helped shed some light on why YouTube’s page load rate was 5 times slower on Firefox than on Chrome. Turns out YouTube’s redesign had been optimized in such a way that only the Chrome browser was displaying the site properly.
Sometimes, if the pages aren’t loading or your download is taking too long, it could be worth trying a different browser. In the case of Peterson, he was able to point Firefox users toward an extension that would address this discrepancy. We also recommend keeping your browser up to date with the latest patches and fixes. Most browsers do a pretty good job of auto-updating or raising the alarm when you’re caught using last year’s model.
2. Change the ethernet cable
Ethernet cables are those cords that almost look like phone cables, but are slightly wider at the plug-in component. They plug into the back of the modem and the wireless router and different types work better or facilitate different speeds. Sometimes the problem with slow internet speeds could be with the cable, especially if you’re using an older type. Try replacing the existing ethernet cable with a newer version. These can be purchased at most retailers that specialize in consumer electronics.
3. Move the router
Sometimes it’s literally as simple as moving the router. If you think about Wi-Fi signals as radio signals, then it makes sense. The farther you get away from the router (and the more walls and floors between your device and the router), the weaker the signal. The weaker the signal, the slower your internet speed.
4. Update the firmware on the router
Increase Internet Speed App
All routers come with firmware that, on occasion, will need to be updated. This is done manually and most routers come with detailed instructions on how to determine your router’s information and finding the necessary updates. However, if you are having trouble with this or don’t know where to begin, we found this detailed wikiHow guide to be extremely helpful. By updating the router’s firmware, you can improve the connectivity and, perhaps more importantly, keep your wireless network secure from unwanted visitors.
5. Purchase a new router
Routers can become obsolete long before the physical parts begin to fail. As wireless networking standards continue to improve, devices that were better suited for older standards start to show their age. In situations such as these, there might be nothing for it but to purchase a new router. In our review of the best wireless routers, we considered 136 models before arriving at our top picks. We recommend reviewing our findings and considering your home’s layout (as well as the number of people on the network) in order to find the most optimal router for your needs.
Increase Internet Speed Device
6. Consider a Wi-Fi extender
We already mentioned how helpful simply moving your router can be. However, if this is inconvenient or not feasible and you’re still left with Wi-Fi dead zones, the next best step could be to look into a Wi-Fi extender. Just like it sounds, these handy devices can be plugged into power outlets and catch Wi-Fi signal, and then release it with minimal interference. In our review, we covered two of the best models on the market with our focus primarily on reliability. If moving the wireless router just isn’t an option, try extending the signal, instead.
Internet Speed FAQ
Does the U.S. have the fastest internet in the world?
Not the fastest, but also not the slowest! In fact, out of 200 countries ranked, according to a study by internet comparison site Cable and reported on by travel blog Atlas & Boots, the U.S. came in 20th with an average speed of 25.86 megabits per second (Mbps). That might not sound like a lot since online activity—downloading music, uploading videos, etc.—is usually measured in Megabytes so let’s look at an example.
We’ll convert 25.86 Mbps it into megabytes per second (MBps) by dividing by 8, which equals 3.23 MBps. This means that if you were to download a 600 Megabyte (MB) file with an internet speed of 3.23 MBps, it would take over 180 seconds or 3 minutes. For some people, that’s no so bad but if you’re working in a fast-paced environment (journalism, advertising, design), you’re likely dealing in Gigabytes which can take even longer at those rates.
How can I tell what speed my internet provider is charging me for?
The best way to do this would be to review your bill when it comes in the mail or, if you’ve gone paperless, access your account online. Most internet providers give you this option, especially those that are enabled for online bill pay.
Is the internet service provider (ISP) to blame?
While it is certainly a possibility that the problem could be with your ISP, we recommend doing everything you can on your end first to rule out any other causes or issues. More than anything, this will save you time and frustration when you do need to contact the ISP as you can tell them everything you’ve tried to fix the problem. You’ll also want to go ahead and do a speed test, which can be done at Speedtest.net, or Google has its own built-in speed test when you do a search query for “speed test.”
If you do find yourself needing to call the ISP, they will likely ask you a series of questions and provide you with some actions you can take to try and improve the problem. They might refer to this process as troubleshooting. The ISP will test the signal coming into your home and compare that with the plan (and the speed) you’re enrolled in. If the signal is strong in your home based on the ISP’s signal test, then the fault lies in your home possibly with the equipment.
If All Else Fails
If, after all this, your internet is still too slow or doesn’t feel fast enough, it might be time to look at either upgrading your package or switching to another service provider. We’ve reviewed the best internet service providers as well and that list might be a great place to start shopping for another plan if all else fails. Just remember there are a lot of factors that contribute to a slow internet speed and it might take some research and investigation to find out exactly where the problem lies.