Why Is My Internet So Slow?

Are you the problem?

First things first, it pays to run an internet speed test. This will quickly tell you if the problem is your internet, or if it’s you. Or, at the very least, someone in your household.

If the speed test reveals you are hitting the expected speeds, then the internet is unlikely to be the problem. It could be your device that’s the issue, or it might even be that your household is too demanding for your internet type (particularly if you’re not on fibre).

→Related article: Fastest Broadband in New Zealand

For example, 4G fixed wireless only hits around 40Mbps, which can struggle with even a single UHD Netflix stream. Although if you’re on fibre 300 and above, it’s unlikely you’re too demanding for your internet connection, unless you’re really pushing your bandwidth.

For even fibre 300 can stream four UHD Netflix shows simultaneously without issue.

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On the other hand, if you’re on fibre 300, but your speed test reveals you’re achieving well below that speed, then there’s likely something going wrong somewhere.

Again, it pays to run speed tests on multiple devices and in multiple areas of your home. This will help to pinpoint if there’s a problem in all parts of your home and across all devices, or whether just one device or one corner of the house is of issue.

Why is my internet so slow?

If the speed test reveals your internet is, indeed, the problem, and your speeds are below where they should be, there are a few common reasons for this. Note that often it’s not just one issue, but a combination of multiple (and often seemingly insignificant) things that can all add up.

Your router is in a bad spot

Wi-fi routers aren’t the prettiest of devices. As a result, many of us tuck them away behind TV sets or on shelves, and set them up in little-used rooms, such the laundry, and do everything we can to hide them from sight. But this is going to hinder the internet connection. When it comes to a strong wi-fi signal, walls and distance aren’t your friends.

It pays to think of your wi-fi signal the same as you would sound. You wouldn’t spend hundreds of dollars on a premium set of speakers, put your favourite song on, and then place it in a cupboard and close the door. You also wouldn’t set it up down a hall in a laundry and then go sit in your living room to listen to it.

Place your router high up, in an unobstructed location, and near your demanding devices, such as computers, smart TVs and gaming consoles.

You need a wi-fi extender/mesh routers

Depending on the size of your property (or the density of your walls), it may be that one router isn’t up to the job. If your wi-fi is flying next to the router, but stuttering down the hall and in your bedroom, it may just be the signal is struggling to reach that far.

Wi-fi extenders can help. These don’t extend your wi-fi per se, rather they use your existing wi-fi connection to broadcast their own one. As a result, you’ll have more than one wi-fi network in your home. Your regular network, often in two options (2Ghz and 5Ghz), and the one broadcast by the extender.

This means that you’ll have to switch between the two/three networks whenever you drop in and out of range of them. It’s also worth noting that the extender’s wi-fi likely won’t be as fast as your main wi-fi network’s. So, depending on your needs, it may not offer you the blistering speeds you require. Wi-fi extenders are, however, cheap.

Mesh routers, on the other hand, deliver a single cohesive wi-fi network that utilises the main router and then several nodes to boost the network around the home. This means you have just one network to connect to, but the mesh routers cleverly route your connection to the closest node, depending on where you are in your home. This provides you with the best connection possible.

Mesh routers are a lot more expensive than wi-fi extenders, but some providers offer mesh routers as part of their broadband plans.

→Related article: Vodafone SuperWifi: What Is It and Is It Worth the Money?

Your router is old.

It may seem like all routers are the same and do just one thing (connect you to the wi-fi) but that’s not actually the case.

Router technology is constantly improving. An old router might still connect you to wi-fi, but it may do so at a slower rate. It can also leave your connection open to security risks, and it might lack optimisation features that could improve your connection.

Modern routers feature a host of features that can all improve your home’s wi-fi experience, such as:

• Beamforming: detects device locations and focuses wi-fi signal to where it’s needed)
• Quality of service: allows you to prioritise the connection quality of certain devices over others
• Band steering: steers dual-band devices to the less congested network

If your router is getting old, it could be time to upgrade.

→Related article: How to Choose the Right Router For Your Home

You’re crowding the bandwidth/using the wrong option

If your router has two networks for you to choose from – 2GHz and 5GHz – (as most modern routers do) this means you have a dual-band router.

Your router uses radio frequencies to transmit internet to your devices, and 2GHz and 5GHz refer to the frequency of those radio signals. To get the best out of your wi-fi connection, you need to utilise both and in the correct way.

• 2GHz is the slower of the two, but the signal travels further
• 5GHz offers better speeds, but only over short distances

For this reason, it pays to set up your router close to your most demanding devices (gaming consoles, smart TV, work computers, etc.) so you can utilise the 5GHz network.

You can then connect most other things on 2GHz, which is perfect for devices far from the router, as well as things that don’t require much bandwidth. For example, most smart appliances can happily stay on 2GHz, even if they are close to the router.

Furthermore, try plugging demanding devices directly into the router via LAN cables. Not only does this improve the connection to those demanding devices (no more lag when gaming!) but it frees up bandwidth for other wireless devices.

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About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.