Broadband Speed Tips
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When broadband operators advertise speeds, they often refer to the maximum speed that is likely to be achieved on certain conditions. Currently the speeds they advertise are not guaranteed. The reality is that the majority of users are not able to get speeds anywhere close to the maximum speed advertised. To help identify the scale of this issue and to highlight these concerns to industry regulators we ask that you report any cases where your broadband speed is less than that advertised on our broadband speed campaign. Unfortunately, most of the problems that slow down the speed are based on your broadband provider or connection itself. These factors include: Line quality This is almost always determined by your broadband provider. For ADSL broadband, usually copper wires are used and the signals degrade faster with the length of wires. All you can do is to check whether your phone line is in bad condition as it can lead to weaker signals. Internet hardware Using the best modems and routers often help to improve your connection speed. As a rule of thumb, high-end modems/routers which are properly configured ensure higher speeds. If you are using wireless setup, extra hardware like multiple access points, antennas can help a bit. Be watchful of the wiring Always remember, the mess of wires can prove to be detrimental to speed. Short cables used to connect modem to PC or other components can do necessary tricks. Using shorter cable not only can make your table tidy, it can also help you a bit in boosting the speed. Distance from the exchange This is the one of the major reasons for the degradation of speed in ADSL. After 1.5 kms, the connection speed tends to fall sharply and after 6 kms your connection is virtually cut off from the exchange. However, if you are a cable user, you will not be affected by this factor. Contention Ratio Some broadband providers mention contention ratio of their plan which also affects broadband connection speeds to greater extent. It is often expressed as 50:1 or 20:1 to denote the traffic on a specific line. In a line with 50:1 contention ratio, there are 49 users are on line other than you at a specific time. Lower the ratio higher the speed so better service quality but you need to pay an extra those services. Switching to plans with lower contention ratio (like 20:1) or choosing a package that is enabled with prioritised traffic can be helpful, if speed is of your major concern. We suggest that you read our broadband provider switching guide before changing your provider or upgrading your package can be a hassle some times. Number of people sharing the LAN or network in your home When a single broadband connection is shared by a host of users in home or office, it is likely that speeds slow down, especially, in case of basic level plans. The right type of network, hardware and other networking tips can often help you to get the best speed out of your home networking. Read our networking guide which provides all essential information on networking and easy to follow guide on your home networking. Usage during peak hours In India, the peak hours are often during the day hours when there are lots of people online indicating a natural decline in your speeds for a temporary period. You can do nothing about it, except changing your existing plan to get a lower contention ratio. Keeping multiple websites open Speeds tend to be lower when you keep open numerous web pages. Not only your connection, but even system speed may go down during sessions when you carry out multiple tasks. Particular website may have loading problems Although this problem is not connected to your broadband provider, sometimes the speeds slow down when you try to specific site. This is due to the heavy traffic to that site or may be the server of that specific site is having some problems. Tips on improving your connection speed 1. Use short cables to connect modem to PC or any device in the network. 2. Check the quality of your phone cable. If found defective or in poor condition, get it replaced. 3. Use high quality modems, routers, cables and other equipment. If you have been using an old, low-end modem/router, replace it with the suitable equipment. Make sure that all the hardware is properly configured. 4. Be informed on fair usage policy of your broadband provider, contention ratio of your line and traffic management policy. Avoid downloading large files during peak hours as it affects the speed of connections on your line. In specific cases, broadband providers may throttle down your speeds when you breach the limit set. 5. If you are using entry-level / lower level plan, avoid doing multiple tasks or browsing through many sites simultaneously. 6. When you plan to setup home networking or sharing a single broadband connection, make sure your plan can sufficiently meet the bandwidth requirements on the line. |
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