The internet is such a blessing in the world we live in, today. It has transformed our world into this huge network of all-connected computers, a global village of sorts. Everything can now be sought online, from learning, working, and gaming, to grocery shopping, teaching, and even romances!
Today, almost anything that you can imagine is at your fingertips, day in and day out – all thanks to the advent of the internet. This is what makes the need for the internet even direr than ever before.
Since the internet forms such a big part of our everyday life in the 21st century, it is no surprise that slow internet speeds are a major bummer. Unless you have the blessing of some really good service such as Xfinity internet packages, you are susceptible to slow internet speeds. Of course, in a fast-paced world where everything is online and needs to be taken care of within minutes, even a few minutes of downtime can be damaging. And even more so, sluggish internet speeds are the worst of the lot, frustrating you until you finally give up.
Fortunately, there are some ways to diagnose and treat your snail-paced internet speeds. In this article, we will discuss some of the ways you can troubleshoot your slow internet speeds and hopefully get your connection back on their A-game. So, without any further ado, let’s begin!
1. Reposition Your Router
If you use a Wi-Fi network, your internet speeds heavily depend upon your wireless router. Your wireless router is the lifeline to your internet connection, any failure on the part of it will affect your internet speed. In most households, routers are kept in the farthest corner of the house. For most traditional routers, this weird positioning may affect the internet speeds, causing them to lag and just run slower. Keep your router area clean of any dust and clutter, so no signals are impeded, and enjoy improved internet speeds.
Reset Your Router
You may also try resetting your router if you continue to find slow internet speeds. Sometimes a build-up of temporary files or cache may result in an effect on internet speeds, although it is rare. However, if this is the case, simply turning off the router and then turning it back on might make all the difference.
2. Extend Your Wi-Fi Network
As gullible as it may sound, sometimes an internet speed problem simply exists due to a wider area that is not properly covered. For larger houses or office spaces, this can be a potential problem to consider. A Wi-Fi system or router with immaculate coverage is required under such circumstances. Hence, it is of value to consider investing in a mesh network for such settings.
Mesh networks are a more contemporary take on the Wi-Fi internet market. It creates a network series of nodes for internet access. This system includes a central hub that generates the signals and multiple nodes that are littered in different areas of your home. It is quite convenient since it allows devices to connect to a node that’s closest to them. This eliminates the need for a bigger and better router, which you may not be interested in upgrading, anyways.
Conversely, however, if you are looking for some really fast internet speeds with no lags, like for gaming, a router is your best bet. Look for a router that is DOCSIS 3.0 OR 3.1 and has a wide range. Since a router is not connecting over a network of multiple nodes, (like a mesh network) it offers direct and fast internet speeds perfect for gaming and other speed-dependent activities.
3. Change Your Wi-Fi Network Password
Piggybacking is a real thing, where neighbors and other people in your area tend to use your Wi-Fi to use the internet. Too many people piggybacking on your internet service can quickly exhaust your bandwidth, and lead to slower internet speeds. Therefore, you have to be extra careful if you have a capped internet plan because that will also mean that your data runs out a lot sooner than you expect it to. As you are well aware, that is not a pleasant experience to live through.
Changing your Wi-Fi password frequently keeps your network from unauthorized access, which is also more favorable from a security point of view.
4. Check for Background Usage Of The Internet And Malware
It so often happens that mobile applications or PC programs use background data without you ever knowing. Most of the time it is not considerable enough to make a dent in your bandwidth, however, some heavy resources or non-stop streaming requisites may be troublesome. It would use up all your bandwidth and reduce your internet speed to a crawl. The best practice is to shut down any application or software that you don’t need whenever you are active.
One other thing that may be slowing down your internet may have nothing to do with your service or router. For example, malware may possibly be inhibiting access to your base server or slowing down your internet speed. While it may be an unusual occurrence, it is not totally unheard of. Run an anti-malware scan just to be certain and see if anything pops up.
5. Reconsider Your Bandwidth Usage
Perhaps a speed of 20 Mbps or so has served you well over the past few years but there is no good reason why it should continue to do so. If your internet usage and speed needs have increased over the users, your current plan fails to support you.
Bandwidth throttling, or as it’s called, is when your internet service provider (ISP) places a throttle on your network if you use up too much bandwidth. It reduces internet speeds quite a bit. While it is an effective way to decrease bandwidth consumption, bandwidth throttling can be downright frustrating at times.
So, if you think your internet usage has increased, for example, the number of devices or users on your network, reconsider your current plan. You can always call up your internet provider and negotiate a better plan, they would be more than happy to accommodate you. If it does not work the way you expect it to, you may also consider changing your internet service provider.
Conclusion
Slow internet speeds are the bane of our existence and can lead to major losses in work and entertainment options. Luckily, there are several ways to troubleshoot and fix what’s causing the speed to slow down. For example, you can try placing your router in a more central location. Or get Wi-Fi extenders or a mesh network for larger homes. Also, consider changing your Wi-Fi password regularly to prevent freeloaders from piggybacking on your network. More often than not, one of these tips will work just as well as you want it to.
If nothing else works and you can’t find a speed that works for you, Xfinity can be your saving grace. Xfinity Internet packages come in a variety of speed tiers and pricing plans so are easy to get. Moreover, Xfinity is ranked among the largest internet providers in America, as it is available in most states and U.S territories.
