If you’re sick of waiting for the video to buffer or to load an episode of your favorite season, you’re not the only one! Everyone faces slow internet speed issues every now and then. It can become extremely frustrating if you’re in the middle of an important online task and the internet bails on you. But luckily there are ways to get around this problem.
There are various ways you can make your internet connection faster instead of just turning your router on and off. A lot of people are not aware of the different other steps they can take to cater to this issue. Suppose, you’re working on an important business task or are in the middle of an online interview with a Pittsburgh staffing agency, you might want to be fully equipped with the necessary steps to make your internet connection faster.
Reset the Router
This step is the most common solution among many users. Simply turning the Wi-Fi on and off helps immensely with speeding up the connection. You can reboot your router by turning it off and unplugging the cord. Additionally, you need to wait 10 to 20 seconds before you can plug back the power cord and turn it on. This aids in clearing up unnecessary background processes and cached memories. The entire process of rebooting helps to refresh your router’s connection with your ISP.
Adjust the Router’s Antennas
Tweaking the antennas of the router has been proven in catching better signals and hence, providing faster internet speed. All routers don’t necessarily have antennas, but the ones that do can be flipped for better performance. Since the external antennas are usually omnidirectional, the signals sent out are perpendicular to them. So, you can try tweaking the antenna horizontally if you wish to access it from a different floor. This may be relevant during a workplace investigation process where you need to access the signal from a different location.
Clear the Cashe and Browsing History
Bits and pieces of information collected from previously visited sites get collected in the caches. This accumulated data can sometimes decrease internet speed. Hence, it is essential that you make it a habit to clear your cache and browsing history from time to time.
Relocate the Router
Physical obstacles getting in between the router and your device can greatly slow down or block the router’s signals. Therefore, you can achieve faster internet speed and better signal quality by relocating your router to a better place. Make sure that the space you move your router to is clutter-free and more open. Moreover, moving it to a central location closer to all the connected devices can boost performance.
Update the Router’s Software
It is essential that your router’s firmware is always up to date. This ensures that it runs at its peak performance and keeps the connection secure. Normally, the latest routers update their software automatically. If this is not the case with yours, you can manually check for updates by logging into the router’s interface.
Change the Router’s Band
There are two frequency bands that Wi-fi devices usually support. There are some that support both of these bandwidths, letting you choose between them. The signals of the Wi-Fi device are broadcasted on a specific channel. If you live in an urban area, interference between signals and channel congestion is likely. Fortunately, you can change your broadcast channel manually and switch to a less crowded one to improve net speeds.
Using an Ethernet Cable
Even though a vast majority prefer wireless internet devices, going back to the traditional ways aid in faster internet speed. Cabled connections tend to be more reliable, faster, and much more securer. So, if you plan on data-heavy activities, you might want to plug in an ethernet cable.
Replace the Router
Technology is evolving every now and then at the speed of light. Even the latest hardware you purchase becomes obsolete at some point. Each new model supports higher bandwidth and uses a network management app resulting in the older versions lagging behind. Furthermore, you should make sure that your new router is compatible with your ISP network and internet plan.
Check Your Data Cap
There’s usually a data cap on your monthly data usage. If this data cap gets exceeded, your ISP automatically restricts the internet speed. You can check your data cap by going through your internet bill and upgrading your plan accordingly.
Conclusion
There’s probably nothing more agonizing than experiencing slow internet speed, especially when you need it to work promptly. But you can rid yourself of this aggravation by following a few simple steps to improve the speed and signals of your router.
