5 Tips to Boost Your Internet Connection

Nowadays, it is hard to imagine people living in the world without access to the Internet. Almost everything is connected to the Internet; nothing is more frustrating than having a slow and unstable Internet connection. A poor Internet connection can give you an awful surfing experience. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you want to know about the Internet connection.

Importance of a Fast and Stable Internet Connection

The Internet is an essential part of our daily activities, and you should learn how important it is to have a fast and stable Internet connection. Fast and stable Internet makes you more productive as you can work efficiently with your tasks and offer you a better experience of using streaming media. Having a perfect network also makes it possible for many people to work at home, especially during the pandemic. With a fast, stable Internet connection, you can work, learn things, and entertain yourself easily at a low cost.

Why is My Internet So Slow?

Does your Internet speed meet your expectation? Do you know what affects your Internet speed? The following will reveal the mystery of factors affecting your Internet connection.

Wired vs. Wireless 

Though Wi-Fi can cover a larger area than Ethernet cable, a wired connection can always beat a wireless connection. A wired connection is faster and more stable than wireless connection. If possible, use a CAT6 cable to connect to your devices, such as gaming consoles, smart TVs, and computers.

Internet Connection Types

Internet connection types differ according to different Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and areas. Dial-up, DSL, cable, satellite, and fiber Internet are very common on the market, and they feature different bandwidths and speeds.

Dial-Up Internet: Dial-up Internet requires a phone line to make access the Internet. But you can’t use the phone and Internet connection simultaneously. Dial-up Internet is outdated today, but it was once one of the most common Internet connection types.

DSL Internet: The full name of DSL is Digital Subscriber Line. DSL Internet provides an Internet connection through a telephone line. With DSL Internet, you can use your phone and surf the Internet simultaneously.

Cable Internet: It is a kind of broadband connection. Cable Internet uses a cable modem to provide the Internet connection through cable TV lines. The cable modem can provide fast access to the Internet, so the cable Internet is chosen by most users.

Satellite Internet: Satellite Internet is available in rural areas where broadband connection has not been provided.

Fiber Internet: It is also a broadband connection that can reach a high speed. Fiber Internet has low latency, suitable for those with high data process requirements. Fiber Internet connection has been more and more popular in recent years.

Cellular Internet: Cellular network is a technology providing wireless Internet through mobile phones. Different ISPs offer cellular services at different speeds, and the most common cellular technology are 3G, 4G, and 5G.

Location

Your Internet connection can be affected by the location of your home or business as well as the place of your router. The ISP usually has a coverage map, and the Internet connection quality can be influenced if you are far from the central part. The router location is also very essential if you use Wi-Fi. It’s better to place the router close to your user devices.

Hardware

People access the Internet through different devices such as computers, iPads, gaming consoles, tablets, and routers. Older hardware has a lower “standard,” which will significantly affect Internet speed. Old hardware cannot process high Internet speed and you may have a terrible experience surfing the Internet. If you upgrade your Internet connection and want to enjoy the corresponding Internet speed, you also need to update your hardware.

Network congestion

You will be caught in a traffic jam in rush hour and the network is just like the highway; the Internet speed will become slow in peak time. You can do nothing about your Internet speed if you want to enjoy watching Netflix after eating dinner because everyone chooses to enjoy streaming media at this time. But you can control the number of people and devices that enter your network.

Other Factors

Internet connection and speed can also be affected by other factors such as malware, quality of routers, viruses, popular websites, network cabling, and exterior environment.

5 Ways to Increase Internet Speed

You have already known what factors will affect your Internet speed, so how to boost your Internet connection? We have listed the following methods to help you increase your Internet speed.

Consider Your Internet Plan

Sometimes your Internet plan can be the biggest problem. If you find your current Internet plan is still slow, no matter what you do, contact your ISP or just change to a new ISP for a higher-speed plan.

Place Router Correctly

The router’s location can affect your Internet speed. For instance, your Internet speed will become slow if your router is outside your room against a thick wall. You’d better put the router in the central part of your home so that the signal can reach your devices in different rooms. Or you can place the router closer to your main devices' space.

In addition, move your devices or router away from electronics with signal interference, such as microwaves and cordless telephones.

Use Ethernet Cable

A wired connection can always be more stable than a wireless connection. See more information in this article: wired vs. wireless connection. Use the Ethernet cable to connect to your frequently used devices for faster speed and stability. It will help if you choose the right Ethernet cable category, high-quality RJ45 connectors, and the correct cabling length.  

Upgrade Devices

Your outdated hardware can also affect the Internet speed. If your devices are incapable of high-speed processing, you need to upgrade or replace them. In addition, upgrade your computer, especially the network drivers and router firmware to improve your Internet speed and secure your network.

Close Unnecessary Windows

If the Internet works well on your phone or iPad but could better slow on your computer or laptop, you need to check if you have opened too many unnecessary background programs or applications. Remember to close these unused programs to maximize your Internet speed.

Sometimes, too much cache data on your browser can also affect your Internet speed. Just clear your browser’s cache and history.

For more information on this topic, you can keep up on our blogs. While VCELINK offers general and basic information for our customers and other visitors to the website, it’s not professional advice.