Why Is My Internet So Slow (Infographic) & How To Fix It

I hope you'll agree with me when I say: There's nothing more annoying than a slow Internet connection, right?

It can get really frustrating when you’re in the middle of a heavy file transfer or you’re bang in the middle of a heated battle that seems to be turning in your favour and suddenly, things begin to lag. This lag could potentially mean the end of your battle or it could mean that your data transfer which was slated to take 30 minutes, now taking 15 hours. Sounds ridiculous? This happens to many people, and if you want to avoid this from happening to you, simply take a look at this infographic to know the problem and to fix it yourself.

This depends on what you use the internet for and how many users will be connected to your network. If you are a gamer, then you ideally need high speed internet, preferably 100Mbps. If that’s not possible, the higher is always better. If you simply browse, then there is no need to subscribe to high speed internet.

You should periodically check your internet speed to know if you are getting the speeds you pay for. Clicking on this link will take you to a reputable site that will accurately tell you your internet speeds as well as your pings.

Running the Test: Testing the speeds over wireless, the speeds were nearly reaching the speeds we pay for, especially in a distance of 15 feet from the router, but a wired connection brought speeds 20% more than what we actually pay for!

Types of Service:

Where you live could determine the type of service that is available for your area. As of now, DSL and Cable hold a monopoly on the internet market, but fiber is making a strong entry, changing the way we experience the internet. Many parts of the country still run on DSL and Cable, and they are great types of service, and are more than capable of delivering speeds that will be more than you actually need. Fiber is still paving the way for a not so distant future, where Gigabyte speeds will be the norm, instead of the exception.

There are many factors that could affect the speeds you receive at home or at work, and knowing what could be potential problem areas are also offered with a solution, so that you know ways that this problem area can be fixed. After all, it’s always good to be able to do things by yourself, instead of waiting for a tech guy to come home after a week or more, just to do the same thing that you would’ve done had you seen this infographic earlier.

1. Wifi vs. Ethernet:

Problem: Wireless does not offer flawless coverage and range nor does it deliver on superfast speeds.

How to Fix it: Firstly, upgrade your wireless router to something that can deliver the speeds you pay for. It should support the latest wireless standard of 802.11ac, and be backwards compatible. However, if you are looking for superfast speeds with minimal lags, you should hardwire your device to your router. A wired Ethernet connection is the way to go – we recommend using a Cat6 cable or higher to access maximum speeds.

2. Hardware

Problem: Getting slow connectivity.

How to Fix it: Many times, the router you have is not equipped to handle heavy loads. By this we mean, when too many devices are connected to your network equipment. You receive a certain amount of bandwidth, and the more devices connect to your network, the bandwidth is used up, leaving you with a slower connection. This is especially the case with a wireless connection. However, many times it could simply be your device’s hardware. Keep checking and running updates to see that you are up to date with your computer’s hardware so that it can handle the heavy loads you place on it. Having a powerful processor is key to faster speeds.

3. Spyware

Problem: Annoying pop ups that freeze your screen or spyware that is downloaded to your device could slow down your speeds considerably, and affect your device’s performance as well.

How to Fix it: You should periodically run anti-virus software to check if there are any viruses hiding in your computer. Cyber threats are a reality and they probably nearly affect every person using the internet.

4. Router

Problem: You don’t get a stable connection via your router.

How to Fix it: The problem is not your ISP, it could simply be the router that you have. Routers which are older models usually don’t have the latest technology to keep up with the demands and loads we place on them. Every part of your router needs to have updated hardware – for example, if you get better antenna, you can improve your signal to give better coverage. In addition, if you get a new router, you have more power in your processor, the latest wireless standard and much more that will help boost your internet speed.

5. Location

Problem: Your signal doesn’t reach every part of your house and you have dead spots.

How to Fix it: Just like real estate, this is all about location, location, location. Where you place your router is vital to how optimal your internet speed is. Your signal degrades as it passes through obstacles, so you should avoid placing it in an area where there are many metal objects, water obstructions like aquariums, and also interference from other household gadgets like microwaves. You should place it high and at a central location so that it can cover a larger area, without having to penetrate multiple walls.

6. Web Browser

Problem: You find that your browsing speed is slower.

How to Fix it: The problem is not your actual internet speed, but the type of browser you are using. There are many browsers you can use, ranging from IE, Chrome, Firefox, Safari and more. Each browser is created by a different company, and although all are built for fast browsing in mind, invariably there are certain factors that can affect your browsing speed.

7. Host Server

Problem: Your websites take time to load.

How to Fix it: Your host server may probably need to reconfigure certain things, or it simply cannot handle the amount of load you place on it. Think of it as a water balloon. It can hold only so much liquid, and once it has been filled past capacity, it could burst. Similarly, if you find that your pages are not loading and that getting your work done online on your websites is taking too long, you have two options.

One, communicate with your dedicated host server and find out what equipment that use, and if you can be upgraded to a different plan. You would pay more, but you would get what you want.

Second, you could simply change your host server to one that has better data relay speeds.

8. Broadband connection

Problem: Slow internet speeds, which just don’t seem to improve no matter if you use the latest internet equipment.

How to Fix it: Simply put, it could be your ISP. Most problems with slow internet speed have a direct link with your ISP. You can either upgrade your subscription plan to a higher tier which offers faster speeds, or you could even check out what type of internet connection you have. Is it dial up? DSL? Cable? Is fiber available in your area? Do your research and find out which ISPs operate in your area to check out the best deals as well as speeds provided by each to determine which ISP would be the best one for you.

9. Operating system

Problem: Slow website loading speeds or slow internet speeds, and your ISP isn’t the problem

How to Fix it: If you are subscribed to a higher tier with your ISP, and when you do a speed test, all turns up as expected, but you find that sites are taking their own sweet time to load, then your device could be the problem. The type of device you are using, the make, the age of the device can all affect your speed. Upgrade your computer’s processor and RAM to access higher speeds.

10. Network Traffic

Problem: You find that your network is clogged, and everyone can access reduced speeds.

How to Fix it: It’s a case of having too many cooks spoil the broth. The more users that connect to your network, the more load will be placed on it. You have to check if your network can handle the amount of traffic it is getting. You can circumvent this by checking out how many channels you can use in your router, and assigning devices to particular bands or channels.