Nearly everyone has experienced slow or problematic Internet connections at some point in their lives, and some experience this on a daily basis. If you are one of these individuals, know that you do not have to put up with this kind of service. You have plenty of options for getting your Internet speed faster, accessing the Internet in any room of your home and experiencing a quality Internet connection no matter what day of the week or time of day it is. Check out the following five most common reasons that your Internet may be on the fritz, and you may just be able to wipe out some of the tech stress in your day.
Your Router Is Not Working
Most modems and routers are only designed to last approximately five years. Check to see if your router is connected to power and to your Internet cable, and make sure that all of the appropriate buttons are lit up on your device. If your router is not actually connected to the Internet, it could be fried or simply too old to hook up successfully to the newer, stronger bandwidths associated with many Internet plans.
Your Wi-Fi Signal Is Too Weak
If you are like a majority of homeowners, you have a wireless router either hooked up to your modem or standing alone. Routers must be strong enough to reach through all of the walls of your home if you expect to be able to use it any room of the house. Consider purchasing a stronger wireless router or purchasing an extender to increase the strength of the one you already have.
Your Speed Is Too Slow
Your Internet service provider plan may simply not be fast enough to allow you to do everything you want to do online. If you only like to browse on one computer at a time, you can most likely get away with the cheapest plan that your provider offers. However, if you have multiple people using the Internet on multiple devices simultaneously or if you like to download movies, play online games or stream television shows over your Internet, you will need high speed Internet, such as DSL, cable or broadband, from a company like TruVista.
You Are Using Too Much Bandwidth
To fix a slow connection without having to change your service plan, you may need to turn off some devices or close down apps and windows. Even if you are not actively using some programs, many, such as Google and Weather Channel, use bandwidth behind the scenes, slowing down what you are currently trying to do.
Your Internet Provider Is Having Issues
If you have looked into each of the previous issues and can find nothing wrong, you may simply be dealing with an actual Internet service provider problem. Their systems may be down in your area or they may be having a temporary issue. If these issues happen often enough, you may want to consider switching to a new provider or may at least want to ask your provider for some compensation for all of your trouble.
There is no reason why you should have to put up with slow or shoddy Internet connections. You may need a new router, a new Internet plan or even a new Internet provider. Say “no” to all of the headaches of patchy Internet service, and find a way to do everything from playing games, surfing the Web and watching movies over the Internet without frustration.