How to Boost Your Internet Connection

Many residential Internet connections under perform because service providers configure them in a default way and the user generally doesn’t have the expertise to tweak the setup. What’s worse is that the performance of these setups often degrades over time, and then the connection exhibits sluggishness. When it comes to our computers, perhaps nothing is more vexing than an Internet connection that worked fine yesterday but crawls today.

Faced with the problem, your first course of action is to speak with your ISP. In the best-case scenario, a sudden slowdown may simply be a temporary issue from technical difficulties that they are experiencing. Even if they cannot explain the problem away so easily, they will be able to walk you through a checklist of the most common causes. If that doesn’t solve your problem, ask them for your theoretical maximum upload and download.
With the information in hand, you can now run one of the many bandwidth speed tests that are freely available online. After running the test, you can compare the four values, and this should give you a clear image of how severe the problem is. If the gap is relatively small, then it may simply be a matter of an un-optimized connection. In that case, the simplest solution is a TCP optimizer app that can assess and then tweak the connection.
If the problem is more severe, then trying something new is good way to isolate the problem. For instance, if you use Firefox, then try Chrome. If the problem doesn’t exist there, it’s a Firefox issue. If it does, then start troubleshooting with a power-down reboot of your router. It’s common for routers to continue running, albeit sluggishly, after crashing. Also, if it’s a wireless router, ensure that it is password protected properly.
At this point, we must turn our attention to the operating system itself. Start by examining all running applications and services. Know what each one does. Programs commonly hang or unintentionally run in the background, and if it’s an Internet-based app, they can consume great amounts of bandwidth. In addition, update your virus definitions, and scan for viruses and malware. Also, run a disk defragmenter and the built-in disk clean-up utility.
If the slow Internet connection persists, test the connection on a clean install of the OS or even on a completely different computer. What we want to do now is determine if the problem is external or internal. So if the clean OS test failed, move the computer as close as possible to the faceplate and use short, preferably new, cables. Next, install an iPlate. The iPlate will eradicate any electrical interference from the bell wire, which is a common issue.
Consider upgrading your router if it’s an inexpensive model or one that is more than a couple of years old. Routers have come a long way in just a couple of years, and the newest models are capable of assessing the network environment and fine-tuning themselves based on that evaluation. If you’re using a wireless router, and you’ve already ensured it’s secure, boost signal strength. A weak signal can create latency, which will slow the connection.
With the above steps exhausted, there is little doubt that the problem exists not with you but with the ISP. Call them, re-explain the problem and describe all the measures that you’ve taken to remedy it. They should be able to send a technician that can test your connection from the “road” to the faceplate, and then repair or tweak it. Be persistent because many ISPs are quick to dismiss such requests if possible. Often all it takes is for them to string a new cable.
This article was written by Spencer Hogg from Broadband Expert where you can find and compare high speed internet deals.