How Can I Fix My Slow Broadband?
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Arguably even more annoying than having no broadband at all is when you have a lot of lagging. When you’re trying to stream a film or watch YouTube and you have to keep sorting out the buffering, it can be immensely frustrating. Fortunately, slow broadband happens for fixable reasons, so here is our complete guide to fixing your slow broadband!
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Why Is My Broadband So Slow?
Slow broadband can happen for a great variety of reasons and it can be difficult pinpointing what exactly is making your internet lag so much. Sometimes, the issue is quick and easy and all you need to do is boost your signal, but other times, you might need to get a whole new upgrade to get everything sorted.
What Causes My Slow Broadband?
Some of the reasons for having slow broadband connection might be benign and you can usually solve them yourself by just moving something out the way or buying a booster. Here’s a list of the smaller problems you might have with slow broadband:
- Blocked Signal
If you have your WiFi router in the cabinet or you have a lot of thick walls at home, it can block the internet from reaching you. Especially if you have a lot of rooms, you might find the connection is better in one room than another. Your broadband network might also be down or experience technical issues. - Long Distance
If you have a large house, one of the most common problems is that your WiFi signal can’t reach everywhere. Although many companies have very strong internet routers, larger properties will always present a problem. - More Devices on Network
The more people using your network means the more bandwidth is being used. This can mean it can be harder to download things off the internet since the total amount being downloaded is much higher. More people using the internet fill up your bandwidth slowing everything down. - Old Equipment
Sometimes your router and equipment might just not be functioning as it should and might need to be replaced. In these cases, you usually need to book a visit from your broadband provider and a technician will come round and replace it for you for free.
What Big Problems Might Cause My Slow Broadband?
Unfortunately, there might be bigger issues causing you problems with your slow broadband. These are usually due to where you live and what kind of service you have. Here are some of the bigger problems that you might have:
- Poor Coverage
Unfortunately, if you live in a rural area, your broadband options might be limited. Although you’ll usually be able to get internet of some kind for your property, you might have to rely on mobile broadband or satellite broadband for a good connection. If you have poor coverage in your area, you might just need to wait until your provider can upgrade you to something faster like fibre or SIRO. - Old Infrastructure
Old infrastructure can cause major problems and slow broadband. Wires and connections might have failed over time, and less weather resilient cables might have become damaged in a storm or otherwise. These are large problems that might require some time so you might have to be patient for these to be resolved.
Learn How To Check Your Broadband Line!
What is bandwidth? Bandwidth is simply the amount of data your broadband connection can ‘fit’ at one time. It works a little bit like a water pipe: if the pipe is narrow, you can only fit a small amount of water at any one time, however, if you have a wider pipe, the more water you can fit. This is the same idea behind your bandwidth, which is why multiple devices might cause slow broadband. There is constant development on trying to make the pipe as wide as possible.
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How Can I Fix My Slow Broadband?
Fixing your slow broadband can be a bit tricky but it can be done with different methods that might help you out with various problems that you might have. Here are a few of the solutions you can try:
- Restart Your Router
Simple though it sounds, if you’ve not turned off your WiFi router for a while it can sometimes get stuck and start being a bit buggy. If you restart your router by simply turning it off and on it again, it can give it a fresh start and make it faster. - Move Your Router
Making sure your broadband router is in the optimal position is crucial for your signal. If your router is hidden away, make sure you put it in a space that will make sure you get maximum coverage possible. Make sure to place it in a central location rather than in corners. Don’t put it next to a microwave or other devices that might interfere with the signal. - WiFi Booster
If you’re living in a large home with lots of rooms, your router will probably not be able to reach everywhere to give you a connection. The best solution is to buy a WiFi booster in order to extend your connection across the entire house. Make sure you get enough in order to ensure a strong connection across your entire home. - Turn Off Your VPN
If you’re using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect yourself online, it can sometimes have some unwanted consequences in slowing down your broadband connection. Since your network constantly encrypts and decrypts when your using a VPN, this can make your connection slow. Try turning off your VPN if your experience slow broadband. - Limit the Devices You Use
Although it is nice to have all your devices connected at once, this can make your broadband slower than it should be. Some many home appliances now run on a wireless network, such as security cameras, alarms systems, and even air fryers, but you don’t need them on all the time. Try turning off your appliances when you're not using them. - Replace Your Router
If you have old equipment, you can usually ask your broadband provider to set up a new one for you at no extra charge. This will definitely help you in improving your connectivity.
How Can I Make My Broadband Faster?
If your broadband is working normally but you wish it was a little bit faster, there are a lot of different options for you to improve your broadband speeds. Here’s a list of things you can do to make your broadband faster.
How Can I Check My Broadband Speeds?
The best way to check your broadband speed is to run a speed test. This will tell you how fast your download and upload speeds are so you get an idea of what your broadband is capable of. These speeds are measured in megabits per second (mbsp) which just shows how much data your broadband can handle. The more megabits per second, the faster your speeds.
Use Our Free Broadband Speed Test Tool!
How Can I Improve My Slow Broadband?
In order to improve your speeds, you could do try the following:
- Update You Router’s Firmware
Your router runs using firmware which sometimes gets buggy or out of date. You can improve the firmware by making sure it's regularly updated, if it doesn’t update automatically. This will make sure your internet is running as smoothly as possible. - Use an Ethernet Cable
If you’re using a desktop computer or a laptop, you will be able to connect directly to your router with an ethernet cable. You will find a port on the back of your router and connect them up. This will also take away some devices from the network and free it up. - Upgrade Your Broadband Package
A really simple way might be to upgrade your broadband package. If you’re only paying for a certain amount of bandwidth and you’ve had more devices added, you might benefit from upgrading so your internet is faster. You can usually upgrade through your provider who will have different options for you.
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Can I Complain About Slow Broadband?
In your broadband contract, your broadband provider has the obligation to provide you with the speeds that you are paying for. Broadband contracts are notoriously expensive to get out of and you often have to fork out a lot of money to pay for the rest of the contract. However, if a provider fails to provide you with the speeds that you’re paying for, you can usually end the contract without paying the exit fee.
How Do I Complain About My Slow Broadband?
Your broadband speeds need to be consistently underperforming before you can make a complaint. The advertised speeds are only an average so they’re going to fluctuate from time to time, but if they are constantly poor, you will need to complain to your broadband provider directly. Make sure you carry out regular speed tests and make a note of them to know what speeds you’re getting. The full regulations are outlined by the telecoms regulate Comreg.
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