Apartment and Cable Internet and Very Slow Upload Speed

How to Gear up Your Deadening Internet

Practiced tips to banish wearisome internet speeds

Jan 23, 2022 Share
FAQ, Cyberspace Speed Guides

You tin by and large fix a slow cyberspace connection if the issue is on your finish. A unproblematic restart of your modem and your router (or all-in-one wireless gateway) tin sometimes speed up your connection. But your dull speeds may too be the result of problems on your provider'due south finish—problems yous merely can't fix.

Generally, your modem or router (or both) will create a speed bottleneck if not working properly—the same goes with wireless gateways. If your equipment is too old, it may non support important cyberspace protocols. Equipment damage, such as bad ports or components, can also crusade slowdowns.

At that place are a few ways to make sure each stride of your network is performing at optimal speed. We'll help you place and ready your network'southward weakest link starting with the basics—we'll get more than in-depth as nosotros get deeper into our guide.

Want faster internet speeds directly from the source? Enter your nada code below to see if a faster programme is available in your area.

Why is your internet and then slow?

At that place are many reasons why your net is tedious. Perhaps your internet provider is having issues, your home network needs a reboot, or you lot're merely too far abroad from the router—the possibilities can be a scrap overwhelming. Nosotros'll list the most mutual problems and how you can prepare them to get more speed.

Your internet programme is too slow
Yous demand better network management
Your provider's network is congested
You exceeded your data cap
You lot have weak Wi-Fi signals
Yous have high latency
You have slow or outdated devices
Your provider is throttling your connection

Problem: Your internet plan is too tiresome

If your internet slows downwardly but when too many other people are online simultaneously, yous're probably using more data than your plan allows. Use our internet speed exam to see if you're getting the speed advertised by your Internet access provider. If your results are shut to your plan speed, consider upgrading.

Your internet package gives you a specific amount of bandwidth, and if at that place'south more data trying to move effectually than there is bandwidth, you lot see a traffic jam.

Think of your internet connexion similar a road straight to your house. One car's worth of people (or internet information) can accomplish your house at a time. If at that place are 3 cars trying to get at that place, they have to line up to become to your business firm. And if more cars arrive as the others are waiting to achieve your house, the line and the delays go longer.

The easiest fashion to become more than bandwidth is past upgrading to a faster internet programme that can keep upwardly with your household. We're online now more than than ever, and the internet program you lot signed up for a few years ago might not be sufficient today if your connection slows downward every time multiple people use the internet.

We recommend checking out 1 of the fastest internet providers in the US.

Trouble: You lot need better network direction

If upgrading isn't an selection, you demand to either deal with the irksome speeds or manage your household'southward cyberspace employ. Thankfully, there are severa l easy ways of doing the latter that doesn't include yelling at everyone to go off the internet then you can attend a Zoom meeting.

Hither are a few tips on how to manage your home network traffic:

Use QoS settings

Many routers take a quality of service (or QoS) component that allows yous to control how your network prioritizes certain types of information. That mode, you can make sure your streaming data always gets first access to available bandwidth for smooth playback.

Not all routers accept adjustable QoS, just if your router does, you'll detect the controls in your router's web interface.

Pro tip: How to log in to a router

Many of our tips and troubleshooting guides tell yous to log in to your router's spider web interface . It's really easy if you don't know how—just follow our instructions.

Prune your internet connections

There may be some devices continued to your network that you rarely use—if at all. For example: y'all bought a new laptop, but the old one even so idles and connects to the network. Even though it's non in apply, it notwithstanding uses bandwidth for updates and other groundwork services. Your router may fifty-fifty have a limited number of devices it can connect to simultaneously, and if you have too many connected devices the router may start kicking some of them off the network.

I simple way to take stock of all the devices using your network is to load your router'southward web interface and view the network map. You will run across all connected devices, whether they're active or not, so you can block the ones you lot never utilise.

Another method is to modify the Wi-Fi password, but that only applies to wireless devices . In one case you exercise , you must manually reconnect every device that accesses your wireless network .

Some routers or wireless gateways too take a handy companion app that lets you see everything on your network without loading a browser . That manner you can identify and remove devices that no longer need admission to your network .

Stagger bandwidth-hogging activities

If your connection can't handle everyone online at one time, stagger your internet activities so anybody gets a adventure at an uninterrupted connection.

Also, make sure to schedule large downloads (like computer and game updates) during times when other people won't be online.

Put visitors on a guest network

In that location'southward naught wrong with sharing your cyberspace with guests when they come to visit , but you don't want them to secretly download illegal content while they lounge on your couch . That's where your router'south guest network feature comes into play .

Yous can create a second guest network using your router's web interface or mobile app. A invitee network allows you to limit how much bandwidth guests can utilize, and what services and websites they tin access . Information technology also prevents invitee devices from mingling with your devices, then at that place's no worry about guests spreading malware to everything you use.

Problem: Your provider's network is congested

Cablevision internet subscribers may endure slowdowns during peak times when they and anybody else in the neighborhood are active online at the same time. It's a similar state of affairs to traffic on your dwelling network just on a larger scale. In this instance, yous and all your neighbors compete for the same bandwidth.

If the congestion gets peculiarly bad, your internet provider may throttle net speeds in your area to reduce traffic for the network.

Unfortunately, you can't control when or how frequently people in the same area use the net —we certainly don't propose request your neighbors to log off so yous can Zoom in peace. Simply there are a few tricks to circumventing the outcome.

Endeavor to schedule game and media downloads during off-meridian hours, similar in the heart of the night. You could also switch to some other provider that doesn't accept as many subscribers around you, though that could be difficult to determine .

The just type of internet that isn't much affected past an expanse's network congestion is cobweb internet . Fiber infrastructure is capable of carrying much more data than other internet types, then having a ton of traffic at the same time doesn't slow downwardly individual customers.

Problem: You exceeded your data cap

Many internet providers take data caps, and some slow your speeds to a clamber after you hitting that cap. Yous can usually check to encounter how much data you've used on your online account or through your ISP'south app. Providers like Xfinity give customers very high information caps—ane.ii TB for this instance—and shouldn't cause too many issues for most households. Only satellite internet providers including and are less generous with their data allowances.

Satellite cyberspace providers charge for internet employ by data rather than by internet speed. It's similar to how cell phone plans ordinarily piece of work: once yous utilize upwardly your data allowance for the calendar month , your internet connection can tedious to a crawl.

HughesNet customers tin can run into speeds drop to i–iii Mbps. Viasat customers can expect all their net traffic to be deprioritized, meaning that their data gets pushed to the back of the line of all Viasat customers' information.

Many DSL, cable, and fiber internet companies are discontinuing data limits , but in that location are many others that keep to keep them in place . Expect to see if your cyberspace service has a data cap in our guide to Isp data caps .

Problem: You have weak Wi-Fi signals

Walls, distance, and even microwaves can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. Weaker Wi-Fi signals mean slower speeds and frequent disconnects .

You can tell if signal interference and weak Wi-Fi signals are your bug if your connection works well near your router only is extremely slow in the next room .

To fix weak Wi-Fi, first, check your router's placement. Y ou want to brand sure your router is in a central and elevated location and abroad from things that can affect your Wi-Fi signals (like walls, Bluetooth speakers, etc.).

If that doesn't work, you might need to replace your router with one designed for longer ranges or amend coverage—or you can add together an extender to your network to stretch Wi-Fi signals into a previously unreachable area .

Check out our guide to long-range routers if you need better Wi-Fi coverage. It goes over both mesh Wi-Fi systems and standalone routers to aid yous effigy out how all-time to admission the net in every inch of your habitation.

Trouble: You have high latency

Latency is the time data takes to make a circular trip from your device to the destination and back. A loftier latency creates noticeable lag: an extended duration between your physical deportment and the results displayed on your screen. This tin exist particularly frustrating with online gaming or video calls.

High latency is difficult to work effectually. It depends partially on your physical distance from internet servers, network congestion between you and the servers , and your internet provider'south infrastructure. Net type can also play into latency every bit well.

For example, satellite internet has high latency because all your data must travel to space and dorsum, both coming and going to your device. Newer types of net, including fiber and 5G mmWave , accept lower latency because they tin can handle faster signals.

If yous're looking to lower your latency for a better connection, check out our report on the fastest ISPs . Information technology dives into which internet services have the best tested speeds and everyman average latency.

Problem: You have ho-hum or outdated devices

The problem might not be with your cyberspace connection—it might be with the device y'all apply . Your calculator, tablet, phone, or gaming console could be outdated and not capable of processing today'due south Wi-Fi speeds.

For instance, the old (but much loved) PlayStation Vita handheld console supports up to 150 Mbps per 2nd because it uses a Wi-Fi 4 radio. That speed can decrease based on the router it connects to and the security protocol it uses. The Vita will never see speeds beyond that 150 Mbps limit.

If you have speed bug on a desktop or laptop, try power cycling the device. This clears the memory of any junk, refreshes your connection, and cleans out unnecessary processes and temporary files. Speed issues tend to happen due to an overworked processor, and a quick power cycle—shutting it downward completely for 30 seconds—will "clear its head."

Other things that tin can slow down your devices include the following:

Too many open applications
Likewise many open browser tabs
Outdated software
Outdated drivers
The operating system needs to reboot to install updates
Patch downloads
App downloads
Malware

Avoid overwhelming your computer'south CPU past closing unused applications and browser windows. Keep your device's operating system upward to date by allowing machine-updates, and keep your antivirus definitions electric current.

Problem: Your provider is throttling your connectedness

Internet providers tin can throttle your speeds, causing a slow connection . We'll go over throttling briefly here, but you can get a more in-depth look at the subject area in our guide to network throttling .

Nosotros've already discussed a few circumstances where a provider might throttle your speeds—like if you go over your data cap or if at that place'due south likewise much congestion in the network. But your provider might as well slow you down if it flags your internet activity every bit potentially illegal or if it generally doesn't want yous to exercise a specific type of activity (like torrenting).

To come across if your provider is throttling your internet, run a speed examination normally and so run information technology over again using a VPN. If your speeds meliorate with the VPN, congratulations! You're throttled.

Other factors that bear on your speed

Your internet program'south maximum speed

Internet speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mbps) . This refers to your connectedness's full bandwidth, non the actual fourth dimension information uses to make a round trip to a website and back—that's chosen latency.

Providers unremarkably advertise their internet speeds equally "upward to" a certain number of megabits per second, and at that place's unremarkably some fine print that says those speeds are not guaranteed. Internet providers are mostly in the clear legally if your internet doesn't actually perform up to the highest advertised bandwidth.

Realistically, you may pay for 400 Mbps per month, but you likely won't run into that maximum due to hardware bug between your internet provider's operator—a device that communicates with multiple modems—and your physical cyberspace connection. Utility pole connections, your buried cablevision, and so on all play a major factor in how your connection performs. There'southward nada you can do to get the maximum bandwidth yous pay for each month other than hope for the highest speeds possible.

If you demand a refresher on cyberspace speeds and what they mean, check out our guide to internet speeds .

Your upload and download speeds

You upload and download data every day, whether you're on a smartphone or a laptop. For case, when you access a website, y'all upload a request to that website and and then download temporary files from the site to view it in your browser.

If you don't take issues with streaming on Netflix or downloading files but are still experiencing some symptoms of slow internet speeds, your issue might actually be with your upload speed.

Cable, DSL, and satellite providers requite customers way less upload bandwidth than download bandwidth because most people request much more information from the internet than they send. Upload speed is typically an outcome for heavy uploaders—like Twitch streamers , people who work with video or audio , or those who often have to share large files.

The best style to ameliorate upload speeds is to switch to a fiber plan. Cobweb-optic internet connections often give customers upload speeds equal to their download speeds. If yous don't know what kind of speeds you really need , bank check out our recommendations for upload and download speeds .

Your internet connection type

There are a few different technologies cyberspace providers utilise to deliver your connectedness, like cable, fiber, satellite, or DSL. Your cyberspace connection type p lays a huge gene in your overall speeds.

Satellite internet transfers net signals from a base station to a satellite to a receiver at your home. Because all your data must travel such a long distance both ways, satellite internet can have very high latency compared to other types of cyberspace, which slows things downwardly.

DSL cyberspace uses telephone lines to bear data. Because the infrastructure is usually a piddling older, information technology can't handle the same corporeality of bandwidth as a newer connection like fiber. DSL internet tops out at just over 100 Mbps, and its electric signals tend to degrade in quality over long distances.

Cablevision net tin be faster than DSL because it uses the same coaxial cables that conduct cable TV. Speeds can accomplish up to 1,000 Mbps, but cable is susceptible to network congestion during high-traffic times due to the infrastructure'due south overall "shared" design.

Fiber-optic internet is ane of the newest types of internet, and it's the best wired connectedness you can get. Fiber uses LED or laser pulses to send your internet data, so information technology has lower latency than other internet types equally a whole. It tin as well bear much more bandwidth than cable or DSL, offer speeds upwards to 2,000 Mbps. It's less prone to network congestion and can offering equally loftier download and upload speeds.

Overall, DSL and cable are the most mutual net types while fiber is newer but deficient. Satellite is best for rural areas where the other three types can't reach.

How to troubleshoot a ho-hum connection

Commencement, know your program speed

You need to know how much speed yous pay for each month and compare that number against the speed you're actually getting now . Look on your newspaper bill or log in to your online account to see your plan's advertised maximum speed.

Next, run a speed test and compare

Running a series of speed tests while connected to different points in your network tin help you effigy out where your speeds are slowing down. We'll intermission the testing procedure downwards into two sections.

Role one: Test the modem

Your beginning speed test is to encounter if you're getting the right speeds to your home compared with what yous're supposed to get from your internet provider . To get the well-nigh accurate results for your initial speed test, unplug your router from the modem and connect a figurer to the same port on the modem using an Ethernet cable. If you have a wireless gateway, just plug it into one of the Ethernet ports.

Warning: We don't recommend browsing the internet for extended periods of fourth dimension without using a router. Your router has some excellent congenital-in security features that protect your network from viruses and malware.

This first exam should give y'all results that are close to the speeds promoted with your plan. If not, try to track this issue over multiple days and times of day to found a pattern. Contact your internet provider to talk about why you're not getting the correct speeds if you continue to see lower than expected results .

Run the Speed Test

Part ii: Test the router

If your modem isn't the issue, the next step is to test the router. Plug the router back into the modem and run multiple speed tests using your wireless devices, and wired devices plugged into the router's Ethernet ports.

If yous see a vast difference between the modem and router tests, then your router is causing your connection slowdowns—or the Ethernet cable tethering your router to the modem.

Continue in mind that not all wireless devices experience identical speeds. Their connections depend on the hardware inside no affair what router you apply, and so a upkeep Samsung phone volition have slower Wi-Fi speeds than an expensive wireless card plugged into your desktop.

To troubleshoot router bug, follow these steps:

Footstep ane: Unplug the router'due south ability, look 30 seconds, then plug it back in.

Step two: Make sure all cables are connected securely and that all ports work.

Step 3: Update your router's firmware. You tin do this past logging in to your router'southward web interface or mobile app . (Your Isp likely does this automatically, simply it'southward worth checking.)

Step 4: Reposition your router .

Step 5: Move wireless connections to the best Wi-Fi ring .

Step 6: Alter Wi-Fi channels in your router'southward interface to find one that's less crowded.

Step seven: Try a factory reset by pressing the reset button located on the back of your router.

If none of these steps piece of work, you may need to upgrade to a newer or more powerful router. Net tech advances rather apace, and if your router is more a few years old, information technology might be fourth dimension to get yourself something more mod . If you're looking for router-buying guidance, we have recommendations for the all-time long-range routers , the best modem and router combos , and the best routers for Xfinity .

Check for Wi-Fi dead zones

Wi-Fi problems tin can stem from multiple factors . It could exist your router's range, a crowded frequency channel or band, or signal interference caused by physical obstructions and other electronics.

Yous already know that y'all should place your router at a primal and elevated location for the all-time coverage, so we'll assume that you've already washed that and pointed your antennas in the correct direction.

Go to dissimilar areas of your house with a figurer or smartphone and watch the Wi-Fi signal strength indicator. If you detect a lot of dead zones, you may demand to move your router again (if they happen in areas where you usually need Wi-Fi) or invest in something to boost your Wi-Fi bespeak to that detail surface area. You can besides brand a Wi-Fi heatmap if you want to get more precise with it.

If you have more than a couple of issues with Wi-Fi expressionless zones, we recommend upgrading to a mesh networking kit . They commonly transport with at to the lowest degree two nodes—1 that connects to your modem and another that communicates directly with the showtime unit—to create a "blanket" of coverage. At that place's no centralized point, and you can easily add together more nodes to extend coverage. Moreover, devices seamlessly switch betwixt nodes as you lot move about the habitation or office.

If you prefer to stick with the traditional router, you could add a Wi-Fi extender or powerline adapter , However, we even so prefer mesh router kits versus the router/extender setup .

Reorganize your Wi-Fi connections

If you lot've already pruned your Wi-Fi connections of unnecessary devices , it's time to brand sure all active connections are on the correct Wi-Fi band.

About modern routers offer two Wi-Fi bands, which each create their own visible Wi-Fi network. Past default, these are commonly labeled with their frequency bands, but it might be different if y'all've inverse your Wi-Fi network's name.

These bands operate on ii different frequencies: two.4 GHz and five GHz. The 2.four GHz frequency band has a amend range, but it's slower and more susceptible to signal interference from other electronics. The five GHz band is faster simply can't travel as far.

Basically, yous want to employ the 5 GHz ring for nigh bandwidth-heavy applications like streaming or gaming. Devices that don't need that much speed—like smart habitation devices— should use the two.4 GHz ring instead .

Typically, y'all tin can change the Wi-Fi band each device uses by logging in to the right Wi-Fi network on each device. Even so, some routers broadcast just 1 network proper name and automatically selects the best frequency band for your device. This can be problematic if you really demand the faster 5 GHz connection, but the router forces your device to employ the 2.4 GHz band.

Change your Wi-Fi band's aqueduct

Both the two.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands used by your router divide into multiple channels, like to how analog and digital TV works over the air. Like any network dealing with lots of data, these Wi-Fi channels tin can get also crowded, which can cause slowdowns. This is especially true for compacted living situations like apartment buildings.

To find the best channel, you can use an app like NetSpot for Windows or use the Network Diagnostics function on a Mac. Changing your Wi-Fi channel involves logging in to your router's web interface and manually selecting the ideal channel.

Check connected devices

Every bit nosotros mentioned before, sometimes the issue isn't with your internet connection— information technology'due south with the smartphone, computer, or tablet you're using to admission the internet . It may need a reboot, it may be outdated, or you take likewise many apps and programs open up, bogging down the device's processor.

Manage your network

If you've fabricated it this far and you're withal experiencing problems with slow internet speeds, run through the tips in the home network traffic section of this post if you oasis't already.

Your speed problems most likely stem from your internet provider's reliability or the traffic on your ain habitation network. Even if you've organized and trimmed down your number of connected devices, you could still not have plenty bandwidth at certain times of day to cover everything your network has to handle. The only solution to this is to either use the internet less or get a faster cyberspace programme.

Check out every provider and plan in your surface area to run across if you lot tin can go ameliorate speeds for a better deal.

Quick fixes for slow internet speeds (and why they work)

Earlier we dive in, take an internet speed test. Measuring your net speed and knowing how it compares to the speeds you pay for is an of import part of diagnosing a tedious connexion.

Run the Speed Exam

Fix #one: Ability bicycle your modem and router (or wireless gateway)

Your modem and router work hard , and sometimes they need to refresh with a quick power bicycle. Just pull the plug on both units, wait 30 seconds, and so plug the modem dorsum into the wall outlet. One time information technology properly boots, practice the same with the router.

In the case of a wireless gateway, pull the plug, wait, and plug information technology dorsum in.

Draining both units of ability allows them to clear the organisation memory, clear up any local advice problems, and reestablish fresh connections. Moreover, a power cycle allows the modem to resync with your internet provider'due south operator—a device that communicates with multiple modems. It also refreshes your router's public IP accost.

Overall, a power bike can really requite your cyberspace speeds a boost on your side of the modem.

Fix #2: Move your router to another location

Many people hide their routers or wireless gateways in closets, behind furniture , or down in basement s . Don't exist one of those people unless you want excessively bad Wi-Fi.

Instead , put as few physical barriers between your router and your devices every bit possible. Walls, floors, ceilings , doors, large furniture, and like obstructions tin can barricade your Wi-Fi signals and reduce connection speeds , peculiarly over longer distances.

Certain signals from other devices tin also interfere with your wireless speeds. These include microwaves, Bluetooth speakers, baby monitors, and cordless phones.

For the best Wi-Fi coverage, place your router in a central, elevated location, or at a location where you use Wi-Fi the well-nigh, similar in a home function .

Be sure to use your router'southward external antennas ( if nowadays ) to get better Wi-Fi coverage. Nearly router antennas broadcast Wi-Fi signals in an outward circle perpendicular to the antenna'due south position . For instance, if the antennas are positioned vertically, the Wi-Fi signals broadcast horizontally in all directions.

That said, if you live in a one-story house, proceed the antennas vertical. If you live in a multistory firm, positional at least 1 antenna horizontally so the Wi-Fi signals achieve the additional floors.

Gear up #3: Use the internet during off-peak hours

If y'all know at that place's a big download in your future— the latest version of macOS or a 100 GB update for an Xbox Series X game—you might want to schedule a time when you don't need to do annihilation else online. The early on morning hours are ideal when everyone is asleep and no other downloads currently hog your bandwidth.

Operating systems tend to wait until the early on forenoon hours when you're fast asleep. Game updates, meanwhile, typically crave you to manually start the download. Other updates aren't quite so accommodating with your schedule.

If your net gets too slow to stream during sure peak hours, download the content earlier in the day (or once more, in the middle of the night) so you'll be ready to binge lookout all of Avatar: The Last Airbender without buffering -related interruptions.

Fix #4: Upgrade your internet plan

You lot may need a faster plan if more people alive with you now, if you transitioned to working from domicile, or if you generally apply the internet more than you did before. Enter your zip code beneath to find a speedier plan that's available in your area .

Author - Rebecca Lee Armstrong

Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of feel writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech production and service reviews while finishing her BFA in artistic writing at the University of Evansville and has constitute her niche writing about home networking, routers, and cyberspace access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top X Reviews, MacSources, Windows Cardinal, Android Cardinal, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things cyberspace for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she'due south non editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands similar Pluralsight. She believes no one should experience lost in cyberspace land and that a good internet connectedness significantly extends your life span.

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Source: https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/why-is-my-internet-so-slow