Wi-Fi speeds are becoming increasingly critical. Whether you need it for work or to watch last night’s NBA highlights on YouTube, you can’t live without it. Buffering video and audio, as well as endless loading menus, can be quite annoying when using a slow Wi-Fi connection. There are a number of possible causes for your Wi-Fi to be performing at a slower rate than expected, and this can be frustrating. You, your gadget, the wireless channel, or the network itself could all be at fault. This article will investigate the causes of your slow Internet connection.
Why is Your Wi-Fi slow?
Your Wi-Fi connection’s speed may be affected by a number of different variables. We will investigate each one individually in order to comprehend the problem and solve it. The following is a list of the most typical issues that cause the Wi-Fi to run more slowly.
Your frequency band
Wi-Fi speeds and range are affected by the frequencies used. The two most common ranges are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz frequency band is good for wider ranges but slower speeds, whereas the 5 GHz band is better for closer quarters but slower speeds. Faster Wi-Fi can be attained by using the 5 GHz band, but if you have too many devices sharing that frequency, your connection will suffer.
Your device is far from your Wi-Fi router/modem
The router is the source of the Wi-Fi signal. The signal strength will decrease proportionately to the distance between your device and the router; consequently, the Wi-Fi speed will decrease as a result. The poor quality of the signal will have a detrimental impact on the performance of your gadget. This particular circumstance is typically a problem that arises with larger houses. To extend the range of your Wi-Fi signal throughout a larger home, you will need a Wi-Fi extender.
Presence of Blockers
Wi-Fi signals are prevented from transmitting through a space by devices known as blockers. Putting the router in a location where it is blocked by cabinets or walls creates a barrier for the Wi-Fi signals. Signals transmitted via Wi-Fi have difficulty penetrating materials such as metals, cement, or concrete. When there are additional obstructions, the signal becomes less strong. In a similar vein, the proximity of microwaves or other electronic equipment that operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency as your Wi-Fi network can result in a slowdown of the Wi-Fi connection’s speed.
The strain on the bandwidth usage
Maximum data transfer rate along a given path is known as bandwidth. It’s possible that you and your friends, roommates, or family members are all using the same Wi-Fi hotspot. How many mobile phones, computers, tablets, game consoles, etc. do they have access to over Wi-Fi? They could also be engaging in bandwidth-intensive activities like playing online games, watching Netflix, or downloading large files.
These behaviours can significantly slow down your Wi-Fi connection. It’s also possible that some unseen app or programme is hogging your data transfer rate in the background. Windows Update, for instance, is a common offender because it silently installs updates. Using some apps can significantly reduce your Wi-Fi’s throughput. In the background, they frequently update or utilise data.
Interference
2.4GHz-only old routers are more vulnerable to Wi-Fi interference. The 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum is used by both Bluetooth devices and microwave ovens, which can lead to Wi-Fi interference. As a result, two routers transmitting on the same channel and frequency will experience interference from one another. In densely populated buildings or apartment complexes, this might become an issue.
Slow internet connection
It stands to reason that if the data transfer rate between the Wi-Fi router and the internet is low, the same will be true for the Wi-Fi devices. Make sure that everything is in working order with your internet connection. Even when you have access to reliable, high-speed internet, there may be occasions when its speed decreases. Therefore, you should do a speed test to ensure that your internet connection is functioning normally and that the problem does not lie elsewhere.