Logan Voss
If you’ve noticed that your Internet has been slower than what you’re paying for, you’re probably eager to get it running up to speed again. It’s not always caused by people using up the bandwidth (though it can be). The different factors that impact your Internet speed may surprise you, but by knowing what they are, you can find effective workarounds.
The Hardware You Use
The speed of your Internet is highly dependent upon the network hardware used. Are you using routers for Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable? Ethernet connections are regularly more stable and quicker than Wi-Fi. These connections help you get consistent high-speed Internet as long as you keep them in temperature-controlled areas.
Your device itself may also be the problem. It doesn’t matter how much bandwidth you pay for if your processor cannot handle the demand of the websites you are trying to open.
The Position of the Router
If you’re using a router, its positioning matters as well. Make sure you place your router in a position away from aquariums, metal walls, and any other large device to get the best signal. Water or metal between the router and your device can block the signal. Likewise, the distance between the device and the router impacts the Internet speeds. If you have a large home office, consider using routers with wireless repeaters, which you can place between the router and the device to extend the reach of the Wi-Fi.
Viruses That Corrupt
Among the different factors that impact your Internet speed are viruses and malware. Some of them can run in the background, connecting to the Internet without you even being aware of their existence. They then can drain the resources your computer has, which can slow it down further. Using antivirus programs and only downloading extensions and add-ons from trusted sources is often the best way to protect yourself from this problem.
Software Used
If you’re running too many apps that need to connect to the Internet simultaneously, you’ll slow down your Internet speeds. Try to limit add-ons to avoid draining bandwidth. This includes auto-updates, syncing, and backup settings.
Number of Users
Finally, when many people are connecting to the Internet simultaneously, it can slow down. This is especially common during peak hours, such as right after work. Public Wi-Fi may also be slow since many people use that connection at the same time.
There are many different factors that impact your Internet speed that you should be aware of. This article has identified the major culprits of those issues as they most commonly arise.
