5 Ways to Improve Your Internet Speed

By: Darren Chu

Internet speed is important to all of us. No one likes waiting for a web page to load, for a Netflix show to buffer, or for a smoother video conference experience. Whatever your use of the Internet, we all want to be getting the service we’re paying for. Here are a few ways you can improve your Internet speeds to get most of your online experience.

Wireless Isn’t Always Better

Wireless signals are finicky at the best of times. In order for WiFi signals to travel from your router to where you are using your device, it must pass through your walls and floors. Building materials like concrete and brick will reduce your WiFi signal strength.

That’s why your router will often have two or more ethernet ports on the back for hardwired connections. A hardline bypasses issues like signal interference and distance.

For example, a common issue with Playstation games is that you can’t simply pop the disc into the machine and start playing that game you’ve been waiting to try for months. No, no, no. First, you have to download the 5GB update file BEFORE you can start playing. My Playstation sits directly adjacent to our router, and yet those downloads are interminable! My solution? I hardwired my Playstation into the router, and bang! Downloads take only minutes to complete instead of hours.

The same goes for anything else that is heavy on bandwidth usage and can be wired into your modem or router. Better yet, if your modem and router are separate devices and the modem is far away from your computer, use the fact that one has to be wired into the other to give yourself an extension to your computer.

If it just isn’t possible to hardwire a specific device to your router, you might want to consider investing in a Powerline Range Extender. This unique device transforms your home’s existing electrical circuit into a Gigabit network and brings your wired and wireless network to anywhere there is a power outlet. The powerline generates separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless networks and provides an ethernet port that can be used to hardwire your device.

Clear Your Browser

Your browser is arguably the most valuable piece of software on your computer or device. No matter whether you’re using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, each one has the potential to get bogged down from time to time. This will ultimately slow down your Internet access, so give these tips a try - and maybe make them part of a monthly maintenance routine.

Update to the latest version: The Internet is changing faster than I can write about it. New protocols, an endless variety of website designs and layouts, image and video graphics; your browser is expected to keep up with all of it. Upgrades are the best way to achieve this.

Close your tabs: Do you really need 20 tabs open at the same time? Try bookmarks instead!
Run a malware scan: Any scan software will do; this just makes sure there isn’t any hidden software running in the background, which can slow things down.
Clear your history, cookies, and cache: This will make opening pages a little slower at first but may also clear out data that you don’t need to store anymore.
Disable or uninstall extensions: Extensions are little add-ons that you can use to customize and personalize your browsing experience. If you’ve accumulated more than a few of these, try disabling or uninstalling the ones you no longer need or use.

If all else fails, you can also reset your browser to the factory settings and start over. Annoying for sure, but worth a try if you just can’t get it to work faster.

It’s also worth noting that a common misconception about Internet speeds is that the fault always lies with your connection. Recall any major launch on any website with national or even international attention, and you’ll remember that sites crash from an overload of traffic. Now apply that same idea to daily traffic on most websites. If a site is taking longer to load, go get a coffee and come back.

Update Your Hardware (and Software)

Technology is great in the sense that an idea today can be a reality in a few months. The downside is that technology changes so quickly that it’s often too hard (and expensive) to keep up with the latest and greatest.

If you’re experiencing slow Internet speeds, the culprit may just be your hardware. If your computer or device is older, there’s a good chance that it doesn’t support dual bands, limiting your access to the 2.4 GHz band only. Not sure how to tell? Click here to view a guide for Windows machines (you’re looking for network support that includes 802.11ac or 802.11n). Having both a router and a device that supports dual bands will allow you to evenly spread your devices across the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. (Not sure what that means? Check out our other blog here.)

If your router is older, it’s also possible that the firmware (which is just a fancy name for software) hasn’t been updated in a while. Simply look up the model number and firmware versions to find out if yours needs to be updated.

Another solution is to power cycle your hardware. This is easy to do; just follow these simple steps:

Power off all devices connected to your modem and/or router.
Unplug all cables from your modem and/or router.
WAIT 30-60 seconds (this is important because capacitors in the hardware need time to drain fully to reset the memory).
Plug in ethernet cables first (if applicable), then the coaxial or phone cable.
Plug in the power cable to your modem next, do your router second if it’s a separate device.
Wait for the systems to reboot. (This could take as long as 10 minutes.)

While you’re doing this, check to make sure the device isn’t overheating or full of dust (or pet hair). If you have a compressed air duster, now is a good time to use it. If you find the modem or router is excessively hot, it’s also a good idea to find somewhere more ventilated for it (I know they’re ugly devices, but sometimes this is all it takes).

Be a Traffic Controller

If you’re finding that your video conferencing meetings are choppy, make sure there’s no other usage on the network at the same time. That might mean asking the kids to stop their game of Fortnite or your significant other to turn off the streaming box.

The Internet connection coming into your home is basically a digital highway, and the more traffic there is on the highway, the slower things will go. It’s not ideal to be micromanaging the Internet use in your home, but it can make a world of difference.

It’s worth noting here that there’s no one to manage the Internet traffic in your neighbourhood if you’re on a cable connection. Your community might be serviced by a few lines that split off to each home; thus the more traffic there is in your community, the slower your home speeds will be. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done about this, other than to try using your connection during off-peak times.

When All Else Fails…

Internet speeds aren’t sold as guaranteed speeds. If you’re paying for 300 Mbps, then your service provider is only providing speeds up to 300 Mbps. That means you should expect to see a range of speeds below your service plan. It’s reasonable to expect a 35% decrease in your Internet speed from your service speed because of things like neighbourhood slowdown. Keep in mind that this will vary depending on the time of day and numerous other factors.

If your Internet speed just isn’t enough, accounting for the expected drop in speed, then it might be time to upgrade your plan. That doesn’t mean you necessarily need to start looking at fibre connections; just go up a level and see how that goes.

With Spot Power, rate changes are free and can happen anytime. Try our most popular plan, Internet 75 and see for yourself!