Locating the problem

The first step is to determine whether your speed issue is related to a specific device or your home network setup.

Check to see if you are getting the same performance issues when connecting directly to the router via a wired/ethernet port.

Run a speed test on multiple devices. If only one device is experiencing slow speeds, the issue is likely with that device. If you're connected via WiFi distance from the modem or other interference could well be a factor. Older devices may struggle to process higher speeds limiting performance.

Simple troubleshooting steps such as restarting your modem may resolve the problem.

Testing

To determine whether your internet speed is the issue, run a speed test and compare the results with the expected speeds for your plan. To do this go to https://www.speedtest.net/

It is important to rule out potential WiFi and device issues, so do a test over WIFI and one connected directly via an ethernet port on your router.

WiFi performance: Wireless connections will rarely reach the same speeds as wired connections, and the device itself aswell as other environmental factors can impact performance.

Further help

After running speed tests at different times of the day and checking your devices and home network setup, if you are still experiencing speeds issues please contact us via our support@frednet.co.nz address and our team will be in touch to arrange further troubleshooting.

It really helps if you can provide any speed test results or further details around the testing you’ve already tried.

What's the difference between WiFi and ethernet?

There are two main ways you can connect to the internet.

• Ethernet/Wired is where you connect an ethernet cable from your modem directly to your computer or device such as a TV. It gives you a stable, faster connection but you'll need to have the cable plugged in whenever you want to connect to the internet.

·        WiFi lets you connect to the internet without plugging any cables into your device. Data transmits between the modem and your device wirelessly.

Why are my WiFi speeds slower than expected?

WiFi will almost always be slower than if you're connecting via an ethernet/wired cable. There are a few reasons for this:

• Distance from the modem

• The number of devices using the same network

• The WiFi bands

• WiFi interference and obstacles

• Your devices

Distance from the modem

The further your device is from your modem, the weaker the WiFi signal will be. If you have a larger house you might find there are places where your WiFi coverage has fewer signal bars, or dead spots where it can't quite reach.

If this happens, consider expanding your WiFi coverage using WiFI extenders.

The number of devices using the same network

Many households have multiple devices such as mobile phones and laptops connecting to the internet over WiFi at the same time. Some households also have smart devices such as TVs, household appliances and security cameras all connected to WiFi.  

If you use the internet on a single device it can access the majority of the speed that's available. When multiple devices use the internet at the same time your available speed is shared between them all.

WiFi bands

Most new modems have two WiFi bands: 2.4GHz or 5GHz, like the TPLink device we provide. When you looked for your WiFi host name on your device you may have noticed two options with a similar name. The 2.4GHz band provides WiFi coverage to a larger area but has lower speeds. The 5GHz band provides faster speeds but to a smaller area. Some devices are only able to connect to 2.4GHz.  

The TPLink we supply will automatically connect to the appropriate WiFi band based on your distance from the modem at the time.

If you're using your own modem, you'll need to select the most appropriate band yourself when connecting to the internet over WiFi.

WiFi interference and obstacles

Your WiFi network can be affected by interference. Some factors in your house that can cause this are:

·        Physical barriers. This is one of the most likely reasons for the WiFi signal being unable to reach your device. Concrete or metal barriers like walls, floors, TVs or fish tanks can diminish or block the WiFi signal.

·        Other devices in use. Most microwaves operate on the 2.4Ghz spectrum. This is the same as a lot of wireless devices, so your microwave may interfere with your WiFi while it's in use. Other household devices such as cordless phones, refrigerators and baby monitors may also interfere with your WiFi.

Your devices

Older mobile phones, computers and other devices may not be compatible with higher speeds. Check with your device manufacturer to see what the maximum speeds they'll support are, this goes for wired and wireless.

What can I do to improve my speeds?

• Look at the location of your modem, try and ensure it’s in a central location away from items that could cause interference.

• If you want a faster and more stable connection, where possible plug devices such as TVs and desktop computers into your modem using an ethernet cable. Check that the cable is Cat 5e or above. This will always yield the best performance.

• Check your modem is compatible with your broadband plan's speed, especially if you have an older modem. Not all modems can deliver higher speeds.

• Check your device. If you're connecting an older device to the internet, it might not be compatible with higher speeds. Check with your device's manufacturer to see what speeds your device is capable of.

• Expand your coverage. If your WiFi isn’t reaching the far corners of your home look at investing in a WiFI extender. Installing a WiFi mesh or extender will allow devices further away from your modem to connect to the internet, but it may not improve the speed if you’re on a slower plan or if your WiFi network is affected by factors listed above. 

• If you're rewiring or building a new home, consider installing Cat 6 ethernet cabling. Cat 6 cabling can process more data than Cat 5e cabling and will give you the most consistent performance.