Spring 2020 Newsletter

Many Factors Can Affect Your Internet Speed Older Routers May Not Be Up to Speed Nothing lasts forever, including that router you have under your desk. Routers have a lifespan—typically 3-6 years—and become outdated as tech- nology advances. For example, some older routers have a speed cap limiting the maximum internet speed possible. If your internet connection from All West Communications doesn’t seem as fast as you expected, the router you purchased several years ago could be to blame. You can find out if this is the case by following these steps: 1. Go to www.speedtest.net and do a speed test. In seconds, your download and upload speeds will be displayed. 2. Next, unplug the broadband internet cable from the back of your router and plug it directly into a laptop or desktop PC. 3. Run the speed test again to see what your speeds are without the router. (Be sure to plug the broad- band internet cable back into the router after testing to continue using your wireless devices.) Need a new router? Contact our Customer Service team at 866.255.9378 to learn about options. If you’ve tested your internet speed at www.speedtest.net and it’s not what you expected, your first thought might be to contact your Internet Service Provider. Keep in mind, however, that a number of things could be decreasing your internet speed. They include: Multiple Devices Connected Simultaneously Does your household have multiple laptops, tablets, game consoles and smartphones? This can reduce the overall internet speed each device receives, since when multiple devices are connected simultaneously to the same network, they must share the available bandwidth. Bandwidth-Demanding Applications Applications such as streaming movies and TV shows, playing online games and video conferencing will consume more bandwidth than things like checking email, so they can reduce your overall internet speed. Poor Computer Performance The culprit for disappointing speeds could be your computer—such as an old and unstable operating system or insufficient memory. In addition, if your computer is infected with adware or spyware, you may experience diminished computer perfor- mance and a stream of pop-up ads. This will likely cause everything on your com- puter to work more slowly. Insufficient Wireless Router Wireless router specification is an important factor in your home’s internet performance. If an older router that does not support high speed is used, internet speed will be corre- spondingly reduced. For example, if you are signed up for 100 Mbps service and your outdated wireless router only supports up to 40 Mbps, your internet speed will only reach up to about 40 Mbps. Buying a new 801.11ac router is one of the best ways to make sure your network is as fast and reliable as possible. Interference in Your Home Network Other wireless devices — such as older cordless phones, baby monitors, some security cameras and microwaves — can cause interference in your home, weakening your wire- less router’s signal and affecting your internet speed. All West can answer questions about home networks and provide managed Wi-Fi solutions to help you get the internet speed you need. Call us at 866.255.9378 to learn more. © All West Communications Had a great experience with us? Leave us a Google or Facebook review.

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