Just imagine you have an important online meeting and your client cannot see you properly because of poor streaming quality or let’s say you are trying to download some images for your next business project and the download is taking ages. This can seriously give you headaches. Nowadays we have connections that have a speed of up to 5mbps but still, we get low network speeds even spending money for better connections. There are a lot of reasons why your internet speed is running slow and it is not so easy to speed up your laptop or PC in case such problems persist. In this article, we are going to discuss some common reasons why your internet speed is not up to the mark. Let us know ‘Download Speed Suddenly Slow’.
Download Speed Suddenly Slow
The Internet can become slow because of excess data consumption, network congestion, throttling issues, multiple open tabs, modem issues, cheap routers, background applications, blocked wifi signals, browser bottleneck, overloaded channels, spyware and viruses, and so on. There are a lot of ways by which you can boost the download speed such as moving the router closer to your computer, closing unnecessary background apps, clearing your browser cache and history, updating your router’s firmware and drivers, using wifi extenders, scanning for viruses and malwares, etc. So, let’s jump into the various common issues that lead to slow internet speed.
Bad wifi spot
You need to find out what the position of your wifi device is. If you have kept the device inside a closed space such as a cabinet try to place it somewhere in an open space. In this way, it can get better signals and your WiFi speed can get a good boost instantly. If your house is quite big, then one reason can be the distance of your wifi device up to your pc or laptop. Try to experiment with the speed by moving closer to the wifi divide and then getting away from it. If the values are not similar then you need to buy some WiFi extenders and use them.
Cheap routers
Many times, cheap routers are the main culprits behind slow internet connections. Always ensure that a router is from a reputed company while making an online or offline purchase. Do not buy routers that are priced below $20. Routers are like PCs and they have their memory and processors. Cheap routers make use of inexpensive processors and memory units. A router that weighs more can be a better choice. So try to invest in good quality routers.
Background Applications
There might be a lot of applications that you use and keep them open while browsing the web or watching a video. We tend to forget that we have those apps running in the background. Those background applications can highly faucet the bandwidth and this can result in slow internet connections. You can manually check for apps and programs that seem to be running in the background and troubleshoot your slow internet issue easily at home.
Jammed WiFi signals
Elevators, metal furniture, pillars, and walls can create a blockage of the signals coming from the Wifi router and the connected devices might face serious connection issues. Try to place your wifi router or modem in the middle of the room or premises. Do not keep WiFi routers or modems inside cabinets or closets. Also, you need to adjust the orientation of the antennas properly and WiFi extenders can most probably solve your issue.
Bottlenecking of browsers
Browsers such as Google Chrome have many add-ons and there are certain plug-ins that most users seem to use in their daily life. But these things consume your bandwidth without letting you know. Certain browsers have features that scan websites before loading and such things consume more data which hampers your overall network speed. Try to disable these plug-ins and add-ons from the browser settings when you don’t need them.
Uncertain wireless connection
You need to ensure that the home pc or laptop is connected with a wired Ethernet cord rather than using the devices wirelessly in case you are not sure about the network connection. In a wireless system, the network is open and the environment changes constantly. If a single window is opened in a pc then a web browser can load multiple pages easily but it stutters when a lot of pages and windows are opened at the same time.
Issues with the host server
The host server can be one of the most important reasons behind a poor internet connection. A host is responsible for hosting websites, and the transmission of files such as images, videos, and other applications. If the server that you are dependent on can be misconfigured or can be underpowered for the users accessing it simultaneously. If a single website is not loading properly then there are issues with that particular website but if most of the websites are not loading properly then there is a problem with the host server.
External devices causing a disturbance
Sometimes we tend to replace our routers, reset our devices and even try to move the modem here and there to get a better internet speed but none of these work. The main reason behind this is that there can be devices in our home other than our laptop and router which cause the disturbance. These can be any type of electronic device like TVs, radios, monitors, etc which emit radio waves that interfere with the network signals of the routers. Locate such devices and try placing them away from the router.
Crowded Channels
The channels that seem to create interference from other devices are called “crowded channels’ ‘. This can drastically decrease your internet speed. When loading a page, you will observe that the browser takes a lot of time to load. You can bring back your internet speed by logging into your broadband user account and switching to a different channel other than the existing one.
Faulty Modem
Faulty modems can cause slower internet speeds and there is no other way than to replace them. You need to make sure the ethernet cable is not loose and all the lights of the modem are on and properly blinking. If everything seems okay try to reset the modem and see if it worked. If you notice then the issue does not get resolved then you may have a faulty modem.
Issues with your existing plan
Your service provider might also be the issue for slow internet connectivity. If you think that the network speed that you have measured matches the one given to you by your internet service provider, then it is very much likely that you are getting a slow connection for the regular price you are paying. If this is the case, then you might need to reconsider your existing plan and switch to another company if you want a better speed.
Malicious software
Viruses and spyware can have a very bad impact on the network connection on your device. Spyware and viruses slow down the computer and can regulate the internet speed on their own. Viruses tend to replicate themselves and send copies of themselves through emails slowing the internet. Hence, it is a wise thing to install anti-malware programs or antivirus and scan for this malicious software. There is a bunch of antivirus software like Avast, Kaspersky, Quick Heal, Norton, etc which can serve your purpose. Also, make sure you install paid antivirus software for better protection of your device.
Not knowing the actual speed in Mbps
There is a tech jargon that some of you might not be familiar with and i.e Mbps. It is usually associated with the network speed provided by the ISP. Usually, it is a number and we generally use that word as we say “I am getting 25 Mbps to download speed in my machine”. So if you have no idea what this mbs thing is then you cannot predict that you have a good or bad internet connection. To find out the internet speed you can use Google’s speed test by typing “speed test” in the browser. It is pretty accurate and will help you to know your network speed.
Lacking the required horsepower
As a user, you need to calculate how much data you consume in a month. You can decide this based on the number of movies you download per day, shows that your stream online, youtube videos you watch, documents that you upload, etc. If you are a light user and only browse the internet, stream some music, and a few TV shows, a network speed of 5 Mbps is quite okay for you. But, if you live with your family and other members are also going to consume the data then you might face slow internet speed because the consumption will exceed the threshold and you will need a minimum internet speed of about 20 Mbps.
Conclusion
You cannot imagine the 21st century without the internet. The majority of the work that we do in our daily life is associated with the internet and it has become a part of our life. A slow internet interrupts online meetings and video streamings and thus is a big technological headache. Slow internet connections make it hard to survive in this fast-changing world. As we discussed above it can be your router, spyware and viruses, outdated software, blocked wifi signals, overloaded channels, and many more. So, you need to fix these issues to get a better network connection and get your work done quickly.
