QUICK FIXES FOR NETWORK ISSUES
95% of the time your network feels slow, simple fixes can solve the problem. Try these before you dig deeper:
1. REBOOT
The simplest solution if you’re having latency issues is the cliche of IT departments everywhere: “Have you tried restarting it?” Rebooting your router once in a while helps it perform better.
2. USE WIRES (Ethernet cables)
Another easy way to solve trouble with latency, ping, and other speed-related issues is to always wire in as many devices as possible. If your desktop or laptop computer is close enough to your router to connect to your router with an Ethernet cable, you’ll almost certainly get faster speeds by doing so — not to mention optimizing the speeds on your Wi-Fi network by freeing up bandwidth for other devices.
-
Did you know?
Each computer or device that’s added to your network will reduce your total bandwidth. That’s because all these devices are sharing not only the same wireless network, but they’re also sharing the same Internet connection from your broadband service provider.
-
Say you pay for high speed internet - 100 Mbps. In ideal conditions, you expect to get 100 Mbps on your laptop. You add another device - your spouse has an iPad. Now your available bandwidth on your laptop is 50 Mbps. Your teenager comes home from school and turns on his Play station or Xbox. Now your available bandwidth is 25 Mbps or less, depending on how bandwidth heavy the game he's playing is.
-
Connecting multiple devices, including blue tooth speakers, wireless printers, home surveillance cameras, etc., results in reduced performance due to each device getting a smaller bandwidth share.
- Power off or disconnect the wireless connection on any device that is not actively using your router. This will at least relieve some of your bandwidth.
Using a wired connection will allow you to get the full speed that you pay for.
WHICH ETHERNET CABLE SHOULD I BUY?
Use Cat 6a instead of Cat5 Ethernet cables. Cat5 can transmit up to 1 Gigabit per second, but Cat6a can transmit 10 Gigabits per second.
3. CHECK COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTIONS
Loose coax cable can cause intermittent connections and internet connection drops.
Check the coaxial cable going into your modem. Make sure it is tight and secure (you shouldn't be able to easily unscrew the coax cable into your modem). Check where the coax cable is connected into the wall coax jack and make sure that is tight and secure.
4. SPLITTER
If you have a splitter (your coax cable comes from the wall jack and splits into your TV cable box and your cable modem), remove the splitter and connect your modem directly to the wall jack using your coax cable.
See if you get connection drops. If you do, the splitter is bad. You can replace the splitter easily - electronic stores sells them and they're not expensive.
5. Close open programs on your computer that hog bandwidth
6.
WHAT IF I CAN'T CONNECT DIRECTLY TO MY ROUTER?
If you are not able to hard-wire your device to your router, another option is using our
MoCa Adapter
The MoCa Adapter converts a Coaxial jack to Ethernet (the same coax cable as your TV and/or Internet)! A lot of homes are built with a Coaxial jack in almost every room.
Wireless signal gets weaker the further it is from the modem. You may have a spot in your house where you can never get a wireless signal at all.
Use MoCa to connect your router to an HDTV, computer, game station, wireless extender, or other device with an Ethernet port.
With speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, it is much faster and more reliable than WiFi.
MoCa does not interfere with your TV or Internet service.
It works on the same coax that can also be used for cable TV and/or cable Internet, or for FiOS or another fiber optic service.
Because MoCa easily handles videos and other high-data traffic over your coax cable, WiFi capacity is freed up and your WiFi devices can enjoy more wireless bandwidth for increased speeds.
MoCa is easy to install, with no need for configuring the MoCa Adapter or re-configuring your router.