Nowadays it feels like everythingconnects to the internet in some way—from computers and smartphones to baby monitors and security cameras.All these devices in your home share your bandwidth. Every device on your networkdecreases your bandwidth a portion, especially overWiFi.
Think of it like traffic on the highway.During rush hour when there’s a lot of traffic, thecars travelslower than usual.This is the same for your internet connection.Congestionis causedwhen everyone in your home is accessing the internet at the same time. Add in some lane closures–like older devices runningupdates orback-ups– and your speedis further reduced.
Wired vs.Wireless
A hardwired connection will always beatWiFi.Wherever possible, use an ethernet cable to connect devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles, smart speakers, etc.This isn’t always possible, but when it is you’ll see a massive difference.
Number of Devices
The term “Internet of Things” is used to describe all the devices in your home that use an internet connection to exchange data. From doorbell cameras to Google Home Minis to smart locks—our homes are increasingly filled with the Internet of Things devices. Each of these devices connects to your internet network either through WiFi or a hardwire connection. Some of these devices–like cameras or 4K TVs–consume a lot of bandwidth.
It’s not unusual for your speeds to come down at night when everyone at home finishes dinner and starts streaming Netflixat the same time.More people online means everyone is more likely to experience slow speeds. Be mindful ofthe number of people and devices accessing your network.
Age of Devices
Your home network is only as strong as its weakest link.It’s possible for older devices on a network to slow things down for everyone else, even with a newermodem.Older computers, laptops,and mobile devices with slower processors could be putting the brakes on your connection.
With new technology coming out every day, we recommend upgrading your hardware every few years. Or remove that old computer or device from your WiFi network and only sign on when you are actively using it.
WiFiRouters
Like your devices,older routerswillslowdownyour connection.If your router is more than three or four years old, it’s probably time to think about buying a new one.
If you are trying to push a lot of data to a lot of devices over an old WiFi router, we recommend looking into a mesh network like our HOP WiFi.A mesh network is basically a system of multipleWiFiaccess points that work together to blanket every corner of your home with a strong wireless connection. Unlike stand-alone routers that lose signal the farther you move away from them, mesh stations piggyback on one another to create a continuous wireless link throughout your home.By connecting all these access points together, you scale up the load your bandwidth can carry.
Viruses andMalware
Viral programs like malware and spyware will also slow down your connection. These programs download to your computer and lurk in the background.If this is the case, the spyware could be connecting to the internet without your knowledge and hogging your bandwidth. Always run internet security software, and never open email links or attachments froman unknown source.
There are several programs available to help manage and remove malware from your computer. Many of our customers use Malwarebytes or SpyBot Search & Destroy. These are both free programs that can be installed on your computer to assist you in removing Spyware and malware.
Run a SpeedTest
If your network appears slow, try running a speed test. We recommend SpeedtestbyOokla. You can download the desktop app for free on your computer or mobile device, or access it on our website.You can use it to check both yourWiFiand wired connection; we recommend checking both.
Remember that all the devices in your home share bandwidth—when you conduct a speed test, any device in usewillaffect the result.
If you have questions about your internet or WiFi speed, call 360-321-TECH (8324). Our friendly tech support is available to help 24/7. Or give us a call at 360-321-1122 to learn more about HOP WiFi and our high-speed internet options. Find more information on our website.
FAQs
Every device on your network decreases your bandwidth a portion, especially over WiFi. Think of it like traffic on the highway. During rush hour when there's a lot of traffic, the cars travel slower than usual. This is the same for your internet connection.
How do devices affect internet speed? ›
When multiple devices use the same network, overcrowding occurs as they all compete with each other to connect to the same router. This means low quality or buffering during streaming, latency during gaming, and frustratingly slow browsing speeds.
What affects the speed of your internet connection? ›
The type of hardware you use, age of the device, operating system, web browser, network interface card (NIC) and other applications running on your device all affect upload and download speeds.
What factors do you think affect the speed of the internet? ›
Factors Affecting Your Internet Connection Speed
- Type of Internet Connection. ...
- Your Internet Service Provider's (ISP) Infrastructure. ...
- Your Home's Location and Distance from the ISP Central Office. ...
- Your Home Network Configuration. ...
- Shared Internet Connection Usage.
Devices (phones, tablets, PCs, etc…) can have very different Wi-Fi and cellular radio capabilities. This means you might get one Speedtest result on one device and a different result on another, even using the same provider. Some devices may not be able to measure the full speed of your internet service.
How Internet connected devices can affect me? ›
Some of the risks of using internet connected devices are: other people might be able to access the device and content without you knowing such as a child's GPS activity tracker. you may not be able to see that someone's connected to your device, but sometimes developers or hackers can see your content.
Does my computer affect my internet speed? ›
The health of your computer can affect your Internet connection. Spyware and viruses can definitely cause problems, but your Internet connection speed can also be affected by add-on programs, the amount of memory the computer has, hard disk space and condition, and the programs that are running.
Does internet speed depend on number of devices? ›
Every device on your network decreases your bandwidth a portion, especially over WiFi. Think of it like traffic on the highway. During rush hour when there's a lot of traffic, the cars travel slower than usual. This is the same for your internet connection.
How do I fix a slow internet connection? ›
On some routers, the router light will pulse while it reconnects and then finally turn solid when finished.
- Clear Cache. ...
- Update Your Web Browser. ...
- Check Hardware Storage. ...
- Update your Device's Operating System. ...
- Check your Computer for Malware.
You can increase WiFi speeds by:
- Moving your router.
- Power cycling your equipment.
- Securing your WiFi.
- Upgrading to a faster internet connection.
- Using the latest WiFi technologies.
- Replacing your equipment.
- Updating your firmware.
- Getting a WiFi extender.
The speed of the processor, network, hard drive, graphics accelerator and the amount of RAM on a computer. An inefficient, corrupted or misconfigured operating system. A networking device or router that is older, has outdated software or is misconfigured or overloaded.
What are 3 factors that affect speed? ›
There are several factors that can affect the speed of an object, including the force acting on the object, the mass of the object, the surface it is moving on, and the presence of friction or other resistive forces.
What controls your internet speed? ›
The most important factor in your networking speed is the ISP, or Internet service provider. Your ISP determines the maximum speed of your network with the technologies it employs and the limits it places on them.
What is a good speed for internet? ›
Are your speeds fast enough?
| Speed | Category | What you can do with a laptop or smartphone |
|---|
| 40-100 Mbps | Good | HD gaming, video streaming, 4K video streaming |
| 100+ Mbps | FAST | Multi-player gaming, 4K video streaming, huge file downloads |
| 1+ Gbps | Can we say too fast? | Anything you want on multiple devices |
3 more rowsA slow internet connection may be due to a variety of reasons. It could be your inefficient router, internet service provider (ISP) bandwidth throttling, outdated devices, or even malware. While speeding up your internet connection on your computer is not always easy, there are ways to optimize it.
What does the Internet speed depend on? ›
Multiple factors affect the speed and quality of your internet connection. Transfer technology, your location, the number of people you share the connection with and the device you use are only some of these factors.
Does turning off devices improve Wi-Fi? ›
Turn off devices connecting wirelessly that are not in use
iPads, desktop computers, smartphones, gaming consoles often run background applications that are constantly running and using your bandwidth. Turning them off when not using them frees up WiFi bandwidth!
Do smart home devices slow down Wi-Fi? ›
Do Smart Switches Slow Down WiFi? Generally speaking, smart lights won't put much extra drawn on your WiFi network because, like smart plugs, smart lights are very simple devices that will typically only need to communicate when their status changes.
How many devices before internet slows down? ›
As a result, there will be an increase in traffic on the router's frequency, as each device takes turns sending its data packets across that same frequency. Even though it depends on the type of WiFi router, a slowdown occurs when four or more users are connected to a typical home network.
Do certain devices use more internet? ›
Some devices use a lot more bandwidth than others. For example, smart TVs use vast amounts of bandwidth to stream movies and television shows. So, if you have multiple smart TVs streaming simultaneously, you may experience some slowdowns. Cell phones use bandwidth anytime they use the internet in your home.
