Helpful Tips to Improve Your Internet

Got slow speeds, or worse — no internet connection at all?

Before you pick up a phone, try these simple tips and tricks from former internet service provider/current Connected Nation problem solver, Chip Spann; Connected Nation’s IT guru, Ryan Johnson, and the Town of Prosper, Texas’ tech expert and IT whiz, Leigh Johnson.

These tips provide quick explanations about how things work, why they sometimes don’t, and how to fix them. They will hopefully get you back onto the information superhighway in a flash.

NO CONNECTION, NO PROBLEM

The number one fix for internet issues.

More often than not, the problem can be corrected by “power cycling” your devices. Start by unplugging the power from your broadband modem, waiting about 60 seconds, and then plugging it back in. If this doesn’t work, continue the process with your wired or wireless router and then your desktop or laptop computer.

What does my modem or router look like?

Check the lights on the router.

When operating properly, the device should have green lights signifying that the signal is working. Look closely—the router has notations indicating what each light means. If one is not green, note the issue. There is typically one signifying WiFi, another showing that there’s a connection to your provider (DSL, cable, fiber, or fixed wireless), and another may indicate whether the provider’s network is connected to the internet. If you’ve unplugged it and plugged it back in and either light is not green, you’ve might have an issue.

I’ve got my colors down. Now what?

The second-most-common fix for internet issues.

Make sure your WiFi is turned on. Most PC-based laptops running Windows have a button or switch on them that toggles this off and on. It’s equivalent to putting your phone in and out of airplane mode. Some laptops may enable and disable WiFi using the Fn key and one of the function keys (F1-F12).

On a Mac product, locate the Wi-Fi icon in the main menu at the top of the screen. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. If the icon is just an outline of the Wi-Fi symbol, it is turned off. Click the icon and if the Wi-Fi is off, choose “Turn Wi-Fi on.” Then, choose your preferred Wi-Fi network from the list and enter the password.

Forget your Wi-Fi network

Occasionally, it may be necessary to have your computer or mobile device “forget” the Wi-Fi network. This can especially be necessary if any of your Wi-Fi network settings have changed. On a Windows device, click the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray and expand the available networks. Right-click on your network and choose Forget. On a Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the main menu, Open Network Preferences, choose Advanced, select your network and click the minus (-) button to remove it. On mobile devices, go to the Wi-Fi settings and select the network and choose Forget. Once it has been forgotten from your respective device, select it again from the list and connect as if it was a new connection.

Your router may be set up wrong.

Your WiFi router is too old.

WiFi on desktop computers

WiFi adapters are also available for desktop computers. The WiFi button mentioned above is not available with most desktop computers. However, there is the possibility that the WiFi adapter itself (e.g., an external version, like a USB WiFi adapter) has an On/Off button or switch. If there is no button or switch, it’s because it has an internal PCI expansion card or the WiFi adapter is built onto the motherboard. Alternatively, you can disable and enable the WiFi adapter through the Windows “Device Manager.”

Is there an outage in your area?

Other things to look for…

Internet at the Speed You Want

Check the speed of your router.

Make sure you know what connection speed of your router can handle. Put the model number into Google and request the specification or contact your provider.

What’s the speed I’m paying for?

How many devices do you have?

How your device is connected.

The devices you use.

As smart homes become more common there is more of a demand on your in-home internet service. Devices that may be connected to your WiFi router can include, but are not limited to, cell phones, laptops, iPads, TVs (Roku or similar services for over-the-top streaming Internet service), Nest Thermostats (for controlling temperatures and lights), Alexa devices, music streaming speakers like Sonos, smart appliances (which can be internet-enabled), gaming products (PlayStation, Xbox or other gaming consoles), and more.

How can you check for what’s being used?

How speed is divided.

What are your devices doing?

The speed you may need to…

1 Mbps

Casually browse the internet
Making a video call – teleconference on Skype of Facetime
Send Email
Browse and post social media

3 Mbps

Streaming Music

5 Mbps

Gaming or Online Multiplayer
Streaming high definition video (e.g. Netflix)
Distance education courses

10 Mbps

Download files
For students doing homework and research projects

(5-25 Mbps)

Telework/work-from-home

25 Mbps

4K and/or ultra-high definition streaming

100 Mbps

3 or more family members using multiple devices

Improve your device’s “speed usage.”

Check for malware or viruses If you see unwanted pop-up advertising (or pornography) on your computer, you’ve probably contracted a virus or are infected with malware. You’d be surprised how much of your internet service that will use up and how affect your other devices are when attempting to access the Internet.

While there are several “free” antivirus programs available please be reminded of the old adage “you get what you pay for.” In this day of hacking, attacking and ransoming of computers, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Invest in a reputable antivirus software that can be installed on laptops, tablets and handsets. You’ll be glad you did!

Check your settings. If you see unwanted pop-up advertising (or pornography) on your computer, you’ve probably contracted a virus or are infected with malware. You’d be surprised how much of your internet service that will use up and how affect your other devices are when attempting to access the Internet.

You can adjust a Roku, Fire TV, Ring doorbell, Nest Thermostat, or gaming headset to have quality without being aggressive on the data consumption. You can generally find how to do this online or on the manufacturer’s website.

Are other people using your internet?

Is your cable too long?

Got gigabit internet service but only megabit speed?

Before you call your provider to complain, check your computer’s network card. Many older computers come with network cards that could only handle up to 100 Mpbs. You may need a gigabit-capable network card. If you’re using a wireless device plugged into a USB port, double check the speed it can handle. If either can’t handle the speeds you’ve got, then you won’t get the speeds you are paying for.

Can provider congestion play a role?

Network congestion can sometimes slow speed, but it’s typically limited to types of technology rather than actual congestion. For instance, fixed wireless may be limited by line of sight, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) may be subject to distance, and mobile wireless works better outdoors than indoors.*

*We were surprised to learn that as well. According to Chip, mobile networks are designed for the outdoors. That’s because there’s no way for engineers to determine refractive index for the style of windows in your home or other building materials (such as brick, stucco, wood, aluminum siding, etc.) that may impact in-home connections.

That’s Not All You Should Know

What to look for when buying your own router.

Wireless specifications are constantly evolving and that evolution in the speed of routers is noted by numbers and letters. 802.11 refers to a family of specifications for Wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) like the WiFi network you have in your home. These have evolved over time and now the notations are moving toward easier-to-understand terminology such as WiFi 6—which is the next generation. Below is a list of what 802.11 numbers currently mean:

In 1997, the 802.11 standard was introduced and offered speeds of up to 2 Mbps
In 1999, 802.11a and 802.11b were offered speeds starting at 6 Mbps
In 2003, 802.11g came along with improved speeds of 54 Mbps
In 2009, we were amazed to hear that 802.11n would deliver 288 Mbps
In 2013, the introduction of the 802.11ac standard delivered a blistering 346 Mbps.
Recently, 802.11 ax hit the market with gigabit capable delivery speeds

You’ve heard of latency. What is it and will it affect you?

What’s good and bad latency?

My computer takes forever to boot up.

Why some speed tests are unreliable.

What's that mean?

How fast is high-speed internet? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines the basic broadband speed at 25 Mbps download/3 Mpbs upload

Commonly Used Terms:

Bandwidth – the width of the band, the amount of data measured in bits per hertz, a range of radio frequencies used to transmit a signal

Broadband – high-speed internet (these terms are interchangeable)

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) – it’s the family of technologies that are used to transmit digital data over older copper telephone lines

Ethernet Cable – a commonly used category 5 or 6 cable, consisting of 8 copper wires, used as part of wired network

Gigabit – one gigabit is 1,000 megabits

Gbps – gigabits per second

ISP – Internet Service Provider

LAN (Local Area Network) - a group of computers and peripheral devices that share a common communications line or wireless link

Modem – this device connects directly to the internet

Mbps - stands for “megabits per second”; it’s the amount of data that can be transferred within one second and is most commonly used to quantify internet speeds