Get the Most Out of Your Broadband

We’ve come a long way since the days of dial up internet and the associated time it took for – well, anything to happen really. If you don’t remember those days then you should count yourself lucky. Using the internet was often interrupted by someone (usually your mum or dad) trying to make a phone call or generally just slow and irritating.

Then broadband came along and changed life as we know it. Suddenly you could access the internet at the touch of a button, no annoying dial up tone and everything was super fast. That’s not to say it always runs smoothly, in fact more and more of us are dealing with slow broadband connection speeds on a daily basis. With our reliance on the internet for pretty much everything these days, it’s more than a little irritating if your broadband connection is running a bit under par.

But don’t panic just yet, there are a few tricks and tips you can try to help get the most out of your broadband:

Run a Speed Test
If you think your broadband is running much slower than the provider has guaranteed then you should run a speed test. There are lots of online speed test tools, Thinkbroadband.com gives comprehensive results which you can then use when you contact your provider. You need to check your broadband speed through a wired connection first and then check through the WiFi- if the speed is slow through both of these methods you need to contact your provider. If the speed is ok through the wired connection but slow with wifi then you have a problem with your router.

Contact Your ISP
They should be able to help you work out what the cause could be.

Slow WiFi
If you connect to your broadband using WiFi then there are a couple of things you can try to improve the speed such as moving your router:

• Avoid metal objects and appliances that send out electromagnetic waves (metal is one of the biggest wifi signal disruptors) and keep it off the floor and as far a way as possible from appliances such as tumble dryers, washing machines, microwaves and dishwashers. Ideally, your router needs to be as close to the centre of your house as possible and away from any obstructions.
• Give the signal a boost by making sure the antennae are vertical and place it on a high shelf.
• Update your router to make sure it’s running the latest firmware.
• If your router is old it might be time to upgrade- older tech is often outdated and it’s probably a good idea to replace it.
• Invest in a WiFi extender to give your WiFi a much needed boost. Check out TechRadar’s suggestions.
• Make sure your router is password protected.

Update Your Browser
Make sure you’re using the latest version of your browser as this will offer better security and run faster.

Most importantly, remember you have a right to request a decent broadband service. From March 2020 if your download speed is less than 10 M/bits and your upload speed is less than 1 M/bits you have a right to request an upgraded service. Find out more here.

Contact File Genie for further help with your broadband/WiFi speed or for advice on upgrading your router.