Slow speeds are the most common residential internet issue. No matter what you do, or when you do it, you can experience huge drops in speeds, interruptions in streams, and glitchy gaming. These five top tips should help you banish the buffering and let you enjoy all the internet has to offer, faster than ever before.
Switch to a Fiber Provider
Residential internet infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the demands of contemporary tech. As our demands for bandwidth have increased, the copper phone lines of DSL internet have become overwhelmed. The simplest and quickest way to get the internet bandwidth your home needs is to switch to a provider that uses fiber internet. With this switch, you can enjoy flawless and uninterrupted gaming while others in the home are watching content that is streaming on fiber internet without buffering or glitches.
Wired Not Wi-Fi
Using wireless connections is convenient, but it is not the best way to experience the internet. If you have a regular DSL internet connection, you can improve your speeds and reduce the number of buffering interruptions you experience by using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi connections. Your speeds are still limited by the copper wire infrastructure of telephone lines, but you will have a more reliable internet service. Other users in the home may still struggle, however, especially when you are streaming HD or 4K content or playing games online.
Move Your Router Around
One of the most common causes of service drops and content interruptions is a poorly placed router. By moving it to somewhere else in the home you can get a more reliable connection where you need it, like in your living room or bedroom. This can be a challenge and may require you to invest in some longer-length cables so you can get your router to where it needs to be. This can cause problems with cabling around the house too, so it is not an ideal solution.
Check Your Devices
If you are consistently experiencing slow speeds, especially on a PC or laptop, it may be your device that is the problem. Malware, spyware, and viruses communicate across the internet and may be chewing up your bandwidth as well as sharing your sensitive information with nefarious online actors. Giving your devices a full health check may surprise you and give you a list of hidden programs that are stealing your streaming strength as well as your personal details.
Upgrade Your Router
This is a common pitfall for many internet users. We often have outdated routers that have lived in the home for some time. They may be reliable, but they are slow. Purchasing your own up-to-date internet router can not only speed up your internet service, but it may also expand your home Wi-Fi coverage. It can be tricky to program your own router to work with your internet provider’s service, and you may need the help of their tech support.
Just one of these top tips can make a huge change to your internet speeds. Switching to fiber internet is the most sure-fire way to upscale your internet service. Try a few out to see what works for you, and hopefully, you will get the speed you need to enjoy streaming, gaming, and more.