Are you tired of dealing with slow internet speeds that disrupt your online experience? Whether you are trying to stream a movie, join a video call, or play an intense game, nothing is more frustrating than lagging connections and constant buffering.
Many factors can contribute to a sluggish internet, but the good news is that there are plenty of ways to improve your speed and reliability. In this guide, we will talk about practical tips and techniques to help you maximize your internet performance. From optimizing your home network to understanding your internet plan, we will equip you with the knowledge you need to enjoy a faster, smoother online experience.
Let’s get started!
- Change Router Position
Quick question: Is your router in one of your drawers? Or maybe behind a sofa because you have kids at home? Well, totally relatable, but that is a bad idea. The walls, furniture, and cupboards can dampen the Wi-Fi signals.
What to do then? Change the position of the router! Changing the physical location of your router can have a really big impact on the speed and range of your wireless transmissions.
Now, choosing the perfect location for your router will depend on your home. However, try not to tuck it away in a corner or underneath a cabinet or inside a drawer – the more central and obvious it is, the better. Even if it takes some innovative cabling to move your router, it will value the effort in the end. If possible, locate your devices as nearby as possible to your router, such as consoles, laptops, and so on.
Physical proximity does not have to be the main concern for devices that do not require much bandwidth, like smart thermostats. Plus, it’s also best to keep the router away from other devices that emit electromagnetic waves, such as wireless keyboards, baby monitors, and microwaves.
- Close All Background Applications
We have all been taught this practice from school. Does it work though? Of course! Some computer programs, such as Skype and Spotify, can automatically start when your computer is turned on by default. Many of them are silently using up your internet (and thus slowing it down for you) without you even knowing. Be sure to shut down any unnecessary applications to avoid this.
Having multiple tabs and windows open that you are not using can also potentially affect your speed. If you are not using any windows, close them.
Do not forget about other devices in your house that might be consuming lots of data without you even realizing it! Various devices like game consoles, skyboxes, and so on can cause significant slowdowns in connections while they are downloading updates, movies, and shows.
- Learn About Data Caps
Does your internet provider come with data caps? Well, if you do not know, now is the time you do some research and even switch to another provider if yours comes with data caps.
One of the biggest reasons for slow internet speed is data caps. Data caps are not advertised by ISPs for obvious reasons, but they can cause serious problems with your connection. They limit the amount of data you can use each month-from a few hundred megabytes to hundreds of gigabytes. Your ISP will slow down your internet speed if you exceed the data limit. That will be noticeable to you.
If you are not sure whether your account has a data limit, check your bill right away. It is likely that you do, and it will be stated in fine print. Get a plan with a higher data limit if you tend to exceed your monthly data cap every month.
And if you wish to get rid of this permanently, get an internet connection that does not have data caps. For instance, Cox comes with zero data caps, so you do not have to worry about bandwidth throttling and slower internets with it. A cherry on top is that, along with English-speaking customers, this provider also offers support at the Cox en español for its Spanish customers.
- Change Router Settings
If you have already tried the above-mentioned tips and still no luck, try changing your router settings. Maybe this could improve your home’s signal strength and speed.
Many routers provide entertainment settings, prioritizing bandwidth when playing video games or streaming content. Turning off the entertainment settings can be useful when multiple users are sharing a Wi-Fi connection simultaneously.
On your router, reset the thresholds for Request to Send (RTS). A data transmission channel is cleared by using the RTS threshold protocol before data packets are sent. A low RTS threshold could help improve Wi-Fi performance in crowded Wi-Fi networks, like an apartment complex.
Enhancing Faster Speeds is Just a Click Away
Improving internet speed is not as hard as it sounds. You just need some time to figure out the causes behind a sloppy connection. Sometimes, it is just about closing all the background taps or restarting your computer. Other times, you might need to go to a professional to seek expert opinion. But don’t just give up and try out everything on your own first. We hope this post was helpful in that regard! If you have further questions, please comment below and we will try to get back to you soon.
References
