The internet has become our lifeline. We can’t even recall a world without it. If you have had to go without the internet, then you know how vital it is. But it is not enough to simply have an internet connection. It needs to be fast as well.
The way we use the internet today, a slow connection is almost as bad as not having one at all. Some would say it is even worse. The frustration of a slow connection is off the charts. Unfortunately, many of us know that frustration well. How often have you wished that your internet speeds would match the advertised speeds? Probably, countless times.
You could have the unlimited high-speed internet package and still get slower speeds. That is because the internet speeds advertised when you bought the package were in fact advertised speeds. The real speeds may differ based on location usage at the time. This is something service providers don’t mention when you are applying for their service.
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Why Should You Increase Internet Speed?
You might think that it is too much trouble to contact customer service or try to fix the issue yourself. The fact is that you are getting a slower internet connection when you have paid for a faster one. The service providers are not going to charge you less if the internet speeds are slower. So you might as well get the most out of it.
But there is another, more important, reason for you to increase internet speed. That is because you, like most of us, use your internet to stream. Most of us watch our favorite shows online when we have the time. But with slow speeds, the stream stops every couple of minutes to buffer. That simply ruins the experience.
How to Find Out What Speeds You are Receiving?
There is an easy way to find out the current speed you are getting. You can go to the website Speedtest.net. This is one of the most popular sites to test internet speeds. They check your downloading speeds as well as your uploading speeds.
Of course, there are many other websites you can use. But some may try to download a file onto your system to check. That is not advisable since those files could be infected with malware. Your internet security protection should be your number one concern. Try to use a site that can check your speeds without asking you to download any files.
How to Speed Up Wifi Connections?
Once you have checked your internet speeds, it’s time to speed up your connection. The reason you need to check your speed first is so that you have a baseline. Now you will be able to measure how successful you were in increasing the speed.
- Reset Your WiFi Router
- Change Your Router Channel
- Check if Someone Else is Using Your WiFI
- Turn off Extra Devices
#1. Reset Your WiFi Router
More often than not, your internet speeds will return to normal by a simple reset. Usually, WiFi routers hang up or get some sort of malfunction. A simple reset of the router can automatically fix the problem. There is usually a small slot for a pin or the tip of a pen on your WiFi router. By pressing that the router will reset.
If you can’t find the reset button you can also reset the router another way. Switch off the router by pressing the power button. Or you could simply disconnect the electric cable connected to the router. If you are doing either of the two, give the router 15 seconds before you switch is on again.
#2. Change Your Router Channel
If you have reset the router, then test the speed afterward. If it’s still not fast enough then you can try changing the WiFi router channel. There are different ways of doing this. The most convenient is by using your computer or laptop. But is possible to do it through your phone and tablets as well. Since there are so many ways and every system has a separate settings menu. You can search for the best way online.
An issue with the WiFi channel can happen even with the best internet connection. This does not mean that there is a problem with the connection. It is, in fact, a problem with the wireless router. So calling customer service wouldn’t do you much good. They would recommend that you try the same fix.
You can google “How to change WiFi router channel on Apple iPad” or whichever device you are using.
#3. Check if Someone Else is Using Your WiFi
Another reason you might have a slow internet connection is someone else could be using it. Unfortunately, there are those among us who use their neighbor’s connections instead. You can try changing your security passwords regularly to stop unwanted guests.
#4. Turn Off Extra Devices
Sometimes, we don’t realize exactly how many of our devices are connected to our WiFi. Sure we have the basic 2 or 3. But if you have IoT devices like smart coffee machines, Alexa, or any others, they could be the issue. Try disconnecting them from WiFi to see if it increases the speed.
Now you know the basics of how to speed up WiFi connections. There are many other ways as well. But these are the most common thing you can try first.
Should You Use an Internet Speed Booster?
You would have likely heard of these applications. Internet speed boosters are applications you download onto your system and they increase the speed. There are many speed boosters available for you to download but beware of malware.
The internet is full of viruses that find their way into your system through such applications. If one gets through to your system, even the Cox internet customer service wouldn’t be able to help. If you are going to download one, it is important to make sure it is from a trusted source. Microsoft offers a speed booster you can try.
