Slow internet speeds are frustrating for plenty of reasons. They can make your favorite movie and show stream skip, cause lag in online games, and significantly increase your download times. Dropping speeds can even affect your job, especially if you work remotely. Slow download speeds aren’t an uncommon problem either.
Internet service providers (ISPs) have received consistently low ratings since they’re been tracked by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). This demonstrates that a fairly high percentage of people in the United States are dissatisfied with their internet service.
Of course, slow internet can also affect your upload speeds. This can be especially problematic if you rely on uploading videos or other files for a living, and it affects day to day activities as well. If you have a lot of photo storage for iPhones, for example, and you want to back these photos up online, slow upload speeds will make even this simple task take much longer than necessary.
There are many potential causes for slower speeds such as the number of devices on the network, viruses, digital interference, and more. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to improve them.
Test Your Modem
While it’s easy to blame dropped speeds on your internet provider, sometimes the problem is much more simple. In fact, one of the most common reasons for slow speeds is a bad modem. This doesn’t necessarily mean your modem has started malfunctioning, though that is certainly possible, it could be a result of frayed cords or corrosion. You can test your modem via your computer’s control panel. You may just need to install some firmware updates, or you may need to replace it. If you’ve recently switched internet plans, it could be that your old modem that isn’t equipped to handle your current plan.
Check Your Router
If you’re using Wi-Fi and experiencing drops in speed, it may be a problem with your router rather than the internet connection. Try testing your router’s ping via your control panel. Simply enter “ping” and your router’s IP address in the command line. Your ping time shows how long it takes for your device to send a message through your network and receive a response. The higher your ping, the longer it takes. It’s worth noting that having multiple devices connected to a wireless network can significantly lower your speeds.
Perform a Wired Speed Test
To get the most accurate results possible for a speed test, it’s best that you switch to a wired connection if you’re typically using wifi. This will ensure your speeds aren’t being affected by digital interference or being slowed by a bad router if you’re connected directly to your modem. You can then conduct a speed test to see if you’re actually getting the speed you’re paying for. Some believe that ISPs can “detect” speed tests and boost your connection during the test, so you may want to run a second test with a VPN to see if the results match.
Temporary Solutions
If you’re still having trouble with your internet connection, there are a few things you can try to increase speeds while you search for more permanent solutions. Restarting your computer and running only your internet browser is a good start as background programs can drain your speeds. If you trust the files you’re trying to download, you can also temporarily disable your firewall to boost speeds. It may be inconvenient, but making sure to download only one file at a time can also be helpful.
Switch Your Provider
If you’ve tried all these solutions and spoken to a technician at customer support about your issues, there may be no other solution than to change internet providers. You can check Xfinity internet packages through High Speed Internet Deals to see if there’s one that fits your needs. Many internet packages also combine cable TV and home phone services. Xfinity packages can include sports and music streaming, as well as access to Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and more. With professional installation, you can have the high quality service you need when you need it.
