Do you suddenly suffer from slow internet? Or is it a common problem? By determining where the problem is, you can optimize your equipment or home network to keep your connection as stable and fast as possible.
We don’t need to explain the symptoms of a slow connection to you. However, we can determine when the problem occurs. Is the connection slow on a device that is connected wirelessly, and if so, where is your device in relation to the wireless connection point?
Do specific devices have connection problems, or do laptop, PC, smartphone and other equipment in the house suffer from the same problem? These are all questions that you should ask yourself to determine whether the problem is with your network or the device you are connecting to.
It can also happen that your internet connection is unstable, especially with wireless networks.
Diagnosis
Okay, first determine where the problem is. You can check your internet connection speed with speedtest.net. By performing the speed test on the devices you have at home, you can determine some things. For wirelessly connected equipment, perform the test twice, once near your wireless router. If the test results at the router are much better, then the WiFi range (net) may not be sufficient enough. If you do the speed test with a device that is connected via Ethernet, you may notice that it achieves higher speeds than your WiFi equipment.
You can also map out your WiFi range at home. This can be done, for example, with the Netspot tool. This way you know exactly where your connection is less good. Your wireless connection can be affected by many factors. The distance of your wireless connection point is not the only measure of the speed of your connection. For example, do you have a concrete wall between your connection point and your device? That reduces the speed considerably compared to a plaster wall.
Other devices can also interfere with your WiFi signal. For example, a microwave or a wireless doorbell. These kinds of malfunctions can often cause your internet connection to be less stable. You can test this by switching off nearby devices to see if your connection is more stable.
Network upgrade
After you have made the diagnosis, you can tackle the problem in a targeted manner. Is your connection speed moderate regardless of your location type of connection? Then you can see whether the modem and router are sufficient, or whether you want to increase your subscription speed.
Do devices mainly have problems with Wi-Fi, for example with speed or stability. Then there are several options. For example, upgrading your network to a WiFi mesh network, or opting for an extra connection point (although this does not guarantee the highest speed). You can also see if you can pull Ethernet cables through the house to connect your devices or connection points. Thanks to the mapped home network, you can check where the extra connection points should be placed.
Tech Academy network upgrade
Still need a little more help diagnosing network issues and upgrading your home network? Then you can go to the course bundle Network Upgrade from the Tech Academy. In this you will learn how to tweak your router, optimize mesh network and identify pain points in the network. The course bundle with book and online platform is available via the site of the Tech Academy.
