No residential internet user wants to see the dreaded prolonged buffering screen on their home videos or music playlists. When your internet seems to get stuck in time, it’s natural to wonder how to fix the problem and get back to endless entertainment. These few helpful tips are offered to those who are tired of wrestling with a slow internet connection.
The Cause of Speed Issues
As more connected devices entered American homes, residential internet customers quickly noticed buffering issues. That’s because the more connected devices you have, the more data your internet service is going to process. If you’re wondering why your simple and very fast desktop computer seems to be dragging, it’s possible that four smartphones, a video game console, and two smart TVs might be eating into bandwidth that used to be reserved only for one family device.
Imagine a family of four. The dad usually uses the internet for video conferencing meetings. The mom is busy watching reruns on Netflix and the son is busy download high quality HD games from torrenting platforms. This means that everyone is using the internet at the same time. You are going to have some seriously compromised levels of speed if all the three activities are taking place at the same time. To know more about platforms, you can use about downloading content from the internet for free, please click here.
There are sometimes other reasons for slow internet. It’s possible that network congestion during a busy time of day might be dragging you back to slower internet. At other times, a damaged piece of equipment can cause things to get clogged and dull your connected shine. Checking for possible hardware and software issues first is usually a good idea. From there, you can do a few helpful things to get to the root of the problem.
1. Check those wires
Cables sometimes get old and damaged. If you have damaged cables inside the home or even outside the home, you can see an abrupt drop in internet speed.
2. See who’s on your internet
“Piggybacking” internet users are no one’s friends. If you don’t have your network locked down and secure, it’s possible that a neighbor could be hopping on your network. More people on your home network means less bandwidth for you. Many internet companies now lock down their networks, but if you’re with an older ISP like HughesNet internet, it’s well worth checking to see who’s using your computer.
3. Don’t go out of date
Your internet connection sometimes runs through software and hardware that must be updated in order to keep up with the times. Missing even one update can send you spiraling backwards. Update your software and check that your hardware is the latest version you should have in your home.
4. There’s always room for an upgrade
If you’ve just noticed that your home has many more connected devices than it once had, it might be time to look for a healthier internet speed plan. ISPs now offer fiber optic internet and even satellite internet in many places they didn’t before. If you’re lagging behind the times, and it’s cutting into your entertainment and web browsing, then discuss a beefier plan with your ISP. It could just be that you need a higher speed plan.
Read: How 5G Internet Works And How You Can Benefit From It
5. Wires are still allowed
If you have just one connection and the Wi-Fi entryway to your internet is damaged or not working right, then you can plug your system directly into the device you’re using. Don’t be afraid to test this out. Discovering that your internet is fast enough when it’s connected with wires, but acts up when it’s on Wi-Fi, can be an instant clue that something is wrong with your Wi-Fi equipment or service.
Suffering through a poor internet connection is too much for most American households to handle. We’re a constantly connected society and one that prizes our speed. Families often notice slow devices or connections during the day. Pinpoint the source of the problem, and then you can easily take steps to fix it. In most cases it’s just that too many people are now using the internet plan you have. It might just be time to sprint toward higher internet speeds and the associated extra costs. How much would you pay for faster internet? For a heavy internet user, the answer is, “A whole lot more than I’m paying now.” With a bit of effort, your internet will be blazing fast again.