- Hardware Connection and Position
- Network Congestion
- Internet Plan
Even before we were locked inside the confines of our homes because of the pandemic, almost every transaction we make goes through the internet. You pay your bills online while your children play games on the internet. Your boss needs a file urgently yet you don’t go rushing to the mail office to send it because you have Gmail, Ymail, Skype, and many more instant mailing and messaging apps at your disposal. It’s almost dinner time yet you still don’t have food on the table? No worries! A click and quick browse on the web could get you almost everything you want quickly.
Everything is almost instant! But not until the doomed buffering sign pops up on your gadget’s screen!
The hassle of having a slow internet just couldn't get worse in each passing time. Oftentimes, a lot of opportunities are gone to waste because of slow connectivity. Much more to our worries now, we certainly need strong internet connections. Unlike before, we need strong internet service for emergency purposes and convenience. Today, we certainly need it because of what the pandemic has forced us to do: social distancing, work from home, and online classes.
Causes of Slow Internet Connection
Well, there are actually a lot of possible factors that could cause the downgrade of your internet speed. It could be because of your physical location, congestion in the internet, or hardware problems. Whatever it is, we are here to provide you a quick guide in diagnosing which could be the culprit of the slowing down of your internet!
Hardware Connection and Position
Do hardware and equipment check-up. Before you call and curse your internet provider, make sure that the problem is not at your end. It is only necessary that we regularly check the hardware connected to the internet if they are positioned and connected well. Let us say for example, the connection and positioning of modems and routers in your house. Make sure that the modem is properly wired and connected. The router should be positioned strategically at the centre of the house to cover a wide range of areas. You must avoid placing the router in places where objects like cabinets and walls could block the signal.
Computers, gadgets, and equipment alike should also be updated, or at least, their operating systems. Even though you might have the fastest internet connection yet you own an old model of a desktop computer, for sure you will encounter connection problems. Make sure that the operating systems and softwares of the gadgets and equipment you are using are updated so they could maximize the speed and stability of internet service provided to you.
Network Congestion
We can think of the internet as a wide superhighway and the internet users as cars traversing it. Now, imagine that the evening rush is about to come and all are riding their cars traveling all at once in the superhighway. What would you expect? TRAFFIC. Yes, you read it right. We also experience traffic on the internet which we call “congestion”. What happens when there is congestion in the net?
Network congestion occurs when too many users are simultaneously trying to access data over the same single route or road in the internet which we call bandwidths. Most of the time, we experience traffic jams on the net during the evening. It is because more people are using the internet during that time. If you are looking for an internet provider or even so if you already have one, ask for the “evening speed” of the promo they are providing. The evening speed will give you a background on how their internet service works best during rush hours.
Internet Plan
Logically speaking, when it comes to internet service, the higher you pay--the better quality of service you expect to get. If you are still looking for an internet plan to get for your home, consider the location of the internet service provider, the cost and speed of each plan, and the data cap features. With these in mind, match the plan to your expected consumption of data and to which you will use it.
If you have a smart home and love watching videos in HD quality while working from home, then you would probably need a plan that is higher than 50 mbps to maintain a steady and fast connection. A cheaper internet plan basically means a slower and more limited internet service. There are available plans out there varying with features to suit the needs of the customer. Always look for the plan that suits your expected data consumption and internet activities. Compare Broadband has all sorts of broadband plans to offer you.
Number of Users and Connected Devices
You have applied for a plan that offers 100 mbps internet speed. All have been running smoothly--the videos are playing and the music is streaming. Suddenly one day you encountered the killer buffer sign! Without your knowledge, the entire neighbourhood has already connected to your Wi-Fi.
Yes! The number of connected users and devices matters. Users and devices connected to a single net rivals with each other as they try to access the internet simultaneously. The maximum number of users and devices connected contributes largely to the slowing down of your net. If you are planning to apply for an internet connection and you have many household members, you should consider getting internet plans with large bandwidths offers.
Internet Service Provider Issues
If you had already considered and tried all the above mentioned troubleshooting and still experience slow connection, it is time for you to call your internet service provider. However, first conduct an internet speed test to diagnose and ensure that the internet connection they provide is lower than what you paid for. Compare Broadband has listed all of the reliable service providers in AU and could get you the best broadband plan that fits you. If after all the complaints you have filed to them nothing has changed, consider trying different internet service providers.
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