Fast internet speed is essential if you want to make the most of your time online – for instance, by playing the latest casino games using the Mohegan Sun online casino bonus code. A slow broadband connection can mean it takes longer to connect to websites and to download files. Music, film or TV streaming services will be lower quality and could lag or keep “buffering” –meaning your entertainment is randomly interrupted over and over. Playing games online is only really possible if you have good internet speed, as you need to be able to respond quickly to what is happening on screen.
Things to look out for
If you think your broadband speed is slower than it should be, there are several factors that could be responsible. The fault may lie with your computer, your router or your internet service provider. It could also be down to issues outside of your home. The best thing to do is to investigate each of these possibilities methodically, one by one. You might be able to find a single cause that you can fix to give you better internet speeds, or you might be able to improve it incrementally by fixing a number of different small problems that are slowing you down.
Check your current speed
The first thing you need to do is find out your current broadband speed. There are many sites online that let you do this: simply Google “check broadband speed” to find one. Make a note of the result, but be aware that this is only your internet speed at the moment you make the check. Your actual speed may vary considerably at different times of day, or when you are carrying out different activities.
Once you know the speed you are getting, check what speeds are available in your area. Again, this can easily be done online. Make a note of which providers and packages are offering the best speeds local to your address. If you are currently getting a speed that is below average for your area, you might want to consider changing to a different provider. Before you do this, however, you should eliminate a number of other possibilities.
You may also find that internet speed is less than you might wish for across your whole area. This means that external factors may be responsible and there could be little you can do about those short of moving house. However, you may still be able to make some improvements to your speed at home.
Secure your Wi-Fi
If your Wi-Fi isn’t password protected, then other people nearby could be piggy-backing on your network, causing it to slow down. Having an unsecured connection also leaves you open to other risks, such as people being able to monitor your activity. If your connection is not secure (i.e. not password protected) then it is strongly recommended that you secure it immediately.
To do this, open your router settings by typing your IP address into your browser. The IP address should be printed on your router in the form of a string of numbers. You should also have an admin password and user name on your router which you can use to log in and set up a password.
Move your router
Physically moving your router to a better location in your home can work wonders. It should be as high up as possible on a flat, stable surface like a table or shelf. Never leave it on the floor or shut it away in a cupboard. Keep it away from other electrical devices, especially those that emit wireless signals, as these can cause interference. Examples include TVs and monitors, halogen lamps, dimmer switches and fairy lights, stereo/computer speakers, microwave ovens and power cables.
For maximum coverage, place it somewhere central in your home and ideally plug it directly into your phone socket, rather than use an extension lead. If you have to use a lead, make sure it’s new and as short as possible. You must use a microfilter to split your landline and broadband signals so that they don’t interfere with each other.
Clean up your computer
There may be junk or other programs running on your PC that can slow down your system and, by extension, your connection speeds. Open tabs, applications, pop-ups, updates, scans, cookies and cached files can all cause problems. Some programs connect to the internet and constantly update even when they seem to be turned off.
Open task manager and activity log to see all programs that are running and turn off all those you don’t need. Delete old files and clear your browser history. Now check your broadband speed again. You may be amazed at the difference this makes!
If none of these options makes much difference, then you might want to consider getting a different provider and/or upgrading to a better package. Fast internet is essential in this day and age, and providers should run a line test before you sign up. They can then tell you what speed they should be able to provide you with. Shop around for the best deal and you’ll soon be surfing the net with the best of them.