When you need faster computer performance one of the first steps in troubleshooting and finding the problem is often overlooked. There are of course several things that can slow your online work or browsing down. First is the Internet speed itself or do you have the very common slow computer?
If you still think it might be slow internet access causing at least part of the problem, a quick, free test will actually tell you how fast your online connection is really running. It is very simple and several websites offer these quick tests.
Do a Google search for “Internet speed test” or something similar. You will then simply need to choose a city close to you or enter your zip code and the test will start. It takes less than a minute and it will give you the download speed and the upload speed of your connection. This is the speed coming into your computer not what is reaching your house or office building.
A typical downloading speed is around 6mb/s but that can vary based on your agreement with your Internet service provider, if you have on a DSL line or Cable connection (cable is normally a good bit speedier), and your residence or office’s closeness to the a strong Internet line. If your connection speed is below 4mb/s you probably have a slow Internet speed problem. If you find that your speed is too slow you may want to speak to your ISP by telephone and they can run a speed-test themselves, online, and see what is causing your slow speed internet.
But one thing you may want to do before making that call is to check out your wireless router and how well it is working. The best way to know if your router is OK or not is to operate more than one computer doing internet downloading at the same time and see if it makes the computers run slower. You can simply have 2 or more computers on the wireless network browse the web, going fast between different pages and sites. For this test you need to browse web sites the computers have not been to before.
If this little test does not affect browsing speed then the Internet and wireless system in your home or office is not the culprit. And at that point you will need to get your Internet Service Provider to help you. Check the best way to do this. Sometimes live Instant Messaging can be faster with service techs than even the phone.