The price you pay your ISP for internet service is based on the speed you choose and if you bundle the internet with other services like TV and phone.
When signing up for new service you often receive a discount, a promotional offer that typically expires after a year. Then the rates go up. There are also upfront installation charges although some providers wave this fee for new customers. If you need a cable modem for your connection, there is often a monthly rental fee. You can avoid that charge by purchasing your own cable modem just be sure that your ISP allows this and find out which modems are supported. You will pay to buy the modem but it will pay for itself in a few months since you will not be paying a rental fee.
And ask about autopay. Many ISP’s will give you a discount if you sign up for that service.
So with the high price of internet service you want to make sure you are getting what you pay for.
The speed you receive is based on what your internet provider is giving you, how you are using your service and your location.
Most homes have a combination of hard-wired and wireless devices. A hard-wired connection will always be faster than wireless. Whenever possible connect your devices to a hard-wired connection.
Some homes, especially newer homes have ethernet cables run throughout the house. This allows you to connect devices like your smart TV, video games, smart devices like refrigerators and other appliances, computers and other equipment. If you are building a new home consider running cables to all of the rooms during construction.
If you don’t have existing lines you can run them yourself but this can be expensive and time consuming. If you don’t want to run cables you can use wireless to connect all of your devices. Just be sure you have a good wireless router and consider a mesh system that adds “extenders” to your network for a better connection. A mesh network is a set of devices that behave like a single wireless network, so there are multiple sources of wifi throughout your home. Often if your devices are located far from the wireless router you will experience performance issues and connection problems. Using a mesh system is ideal for larger homes or even smaller homes where you are not receiving a strong wifi signal.
Another factor that determines your speed is the age of your equipment. If you have older computers, tablets, phones and laptops they may not get a connection that is as fast as newer equipment with updated network adapters and other hardware. Older equipment on your network can also slow down the speed that newer devices are able to connect.
Viruses and other malware can also have a negative impact on your speed. If your computer or another device is infected the malware can connect to the internet without you even knowing it and use up your bandwidth. It is important to always have a quality antivirus program installed on your computers, laptops and mobile devices to prevent an infection.
If your cable modem and router are more than a few years old consider updating them. Older devices can slow the entire network down. Also try to position your router in a central location that is free of interference from other devices in your home and don’t put your router in a confined space such as a closet or cabinet.
If your ISP provides your cable modem and it is more than a few years old ask them for an upgrade. If the modem is less than a few years old ask them if there is a firmware update available for the modem. If you own your cable modem and router check for firmware updates for those devices.
The traffic on your network also influences your speed. Gaming and streaming use a lot of bandwidth. How your ISP passes out their service to customers is also a factor. Most residential broadband services share bandwidth. So the network traffic at any given time can have an impact on your speed.
The material used in your home can also affect your wireless signal. Homes with a lot of brick, metal, thick timber and concrete can block a wireless signal. Signals can be weakened when passing through walls.
Other devices in your home can interfere with your wireless network. Baby monitors, Bluetooth devices, walkie-talkies, microwave ovens, florescent lights, wireless security cameras, radar motion detectors, analog audio systems and even your neighbors wifi. Try to locate your router In an area that is far away from those types of devices.
Those are just some of the factors that can impact your speed. Now let’s talk about how you can find out if you are getting the speed you are paying for.
There are several websites you can use to run a speed test. A speed test works by identifying your location and the location of the server that is nearest to you. It sends a ping to the server to determine how long it takes for the ping to reach the server. It will measure the download speed which is the speed the server sends data to you and the upload speed which is the speed in which data is sent from your devices to the internet.
Speedtest.net: Run a scan using your internet connected devices and speedtest will report your connection speed.
Visit their website here Speedtest then just click the “Go” button to run a test.
Speedtest is currently available for the web at Speedtest.net and for download on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Google Chrome, and Apple TV. So you can run a test on any of those devices.
Fast.com: Another site you can use to check your speed.
The test starts as soon as you land on the website. Fast.com
mLab: Is another speed test website. They are open source and provide a more comprehensive analysis of your connection speed.
Most internet service providers have their own speed test. Visit your ISP’s website to see if they offer the test.
Once you determine the speed you are receiving you can compare that to what your ISP is charging you for. If you find that your speed is very different from what you should be receiving call them.
Keep in mind that the speed quoted by your internet service provider is a top speed. Most customers will not get the top speed but it should come close. If there is a dramatic difference between what you are getting and what you should be getting your ISP can troubleshoot the issue for you.
And remember that all of the things I listed above can have an influence on your speed so it may not always be the fault of your ISP if you are getting a slower speed than promised.
The Tech Minimalist 