3 Tips to Maximize Internet Speed

In this article we will be going over three easy to do tips on how to get the best speed from your internet service provider. Many people throughout the United States are getting the short stick when it come to their speed. If you follow these three easy to do steps you will guarantee that you are doing all you can do to make sure you are getting the fastest speeds.

Before we start you are going to need to visit speedtest.net. Do a quick speed test and write down your results.

This way you can see if your speed improved after following our tips. Next you want to write down what server your internet speed was based on. Different servers will yield different speeds, so this is a very important step. The last thing to make sure of is to do the speed test at a certain time. This is because depending on how many users are on at the same time on your DSL or Cable line will affect your speed. We recommend doing the speed test late at night or early in the morning. Once you have written down all this information you can proceed to following these 3 steps and see if your speed goes up.

Turn off other computers and devices connected to the internet

Wire your computer directly to your modem

Check what model modem and router you are using

#1 Turn off other computers and devices connected to the internet to maximize speed

The first step out of three is to turn off any unnecessary devices that are connected to your home network. Some examples include smart phones, tablets, gaming devices, PCs, laptops, and your television if it is wired to your home network. This will allow you to get maximum speed from your internet provider. Why is this? Some internet providers speed will go down depending on if multiple users are on at the same time. This is especially true for DSL service.

We recommend that you tell all your family members or room mates about this. Let them know to turn off their devices when they leave the house or if they are not using their connection. Also most devices automatically connect to the network when they are in a certain range of the router. When you log in for the first time it usually has a check box that is already checked stating that when the device is near the connection it will automatically connect. You can turn off this by going to your signal bar and finding your network name. You then want to right click on it and select options or properties. There you should find a check box to select that you do not want to automatically connect. Although this can be a pain to log in every time you want to access the internet, it will speed up the other devices that are surfing online.

#2 Plug your computer into the modem

A easy way to improve your internet speed is to directly plug your computer or laptop into the modem. Although this may be inconvenient for laptops it may be worthwhile for a home PC. This is because a home PC is typically placed at a computer desk and does not move. When you wire your device directly to your modem you are getting the most from your internet provider.

When you wire your computer to the modem you are bypassing the router. Because the router sends the signal through the air to your device you loose out on some of the potential speed. There should have been a cord that connects to your PC with your modem. Check the box that the modem came in or the drawer that you store all your wires. Usually this is only a 10 foot cord so you may have to do some shopping to get a longer cord. You can save some money by ordering it online or you can always go to the nearest electronics store to pick one up. Note that the shorter the line the faster your speed will be. There won't be a huge difference so don't stress it too much.

#3 Check your modem and router specs

The last out of our three steps is to check what model and specs your modem and router put out.