My internet is really slow! I thought I was supposed to get a gig of speed (1000Mbps). Why do I get less than that when I run speed tests on my device?
When it comes to internet speed it is really important to understand wireless vs. wired connections.
The equipment in the Shutesbury network is designed to communicate with the ONT (the fiber modem in your home) at about 1000 Mbps (1 Gig). This means 800-950Mbps of bandwidth will reach your home on the mainline wired network.
After this very fast bandwidth reaches your home, it gets distributed throughout your home by the wireless router. If you stand directly next to your router with your device and run a speed test using sites such as https://www.speedtest.net/ or https://www.fast.com you should see speeds above 500 Mbps.
When you move away from the router, the speed will reduce. The wireless signal (WiFi speed) is affected by many variables such as:
-the WiFi adapter on your device
-the processing speed of your device
-the distance and physical barriers (walls, floors, furniture, windows) between your device and the router.
-the conditions on the wider internet.
-which wireless band your device is using
-the browser you are using
If you get a slow speed test please don’t assume the overall service is slow! The appropriate bandwidth is likely reaching your home but then is slowed down by your-in home network and conditions.
Here is how to accurately measure the internet speed coming into your home.
1. Connect your laptop or computer directly to one of the 4 ports on the back of the Linksys router with an Ethernet cable. If your internet device does not have an Ethernet port, adapters can be purchased for many wireless-only devices.
Do not use a wireless device or connection to make this measurement. Remember, there are too many variables with wireless devices and test results will be inconsistent.
2. Run a speed test using sites such as https://www.speedtest.net/ or https://www.fast.com.
Speeds should be in the 800-950mbps range for both upload and download.
You can also run this test by connecting your Ethernet cable directly to the ONT. Test results will be about the same for both the router and the ONT.
If you run this test and get less than 800mbps consistently, please call Customer Support to report it and get assistance.
What happens to the signal beyond router entails “in-home” support for devices and there are limits to the support that our Customer Support can supply for individual devices. Customer Support will supply basic device troubleshooting and help you to check your router settings. If you need additional help with your individual home setup and personal devices beyond what our support can offer, we highly recommend that you hire a home networking specialist to assist you.
Whether or not you perform the wired speed test above, here are steps you can take to improve the speeds on your wireless devices.
-Check your device’s capability and make sure the electronics and software you’re using are optimized for the higher speeds. Older devices may "top out" at a certain speed. Having very fast internet speeds doesn't mean old devices will perform faster if they are limited by their processors. Older Wifi adapters and ethernet ports often can't handle more than 100 Mbps.
-If you log in to a VPN (virtual private network) check if that's affecting your speeds by logging out of your VPN and testing speeds again. With so many people working from home, a VPN is often used to connect to workplace networks and can slow your connection since rarely do VPNs perform at gigabit speeds. (If you don't know what a VPN is then it is highly unlikely you are using one and can skip this step!)
-Check which wireless router band you're connected to. If you see more than one network (SSID) name appended with a "5" or "2.4", try connecting to the other one and test to see if that improves the speed. The numbers in the name refer to the channel frequency (gigahertz (GHz). 5GHz provides faster data rates at a shorter distance. 2.4GHz offers coverage for farther distances, but may perform at slower speeds.
-Move your device closer to the router to see if the speeds increase and so are affected by the distance from the router. If distance is a factor you can:
a) Buy a WiFi range extender to boost the router's wireless signal to rooms where you have a slow connection such as third floors or rooms distant from the router. These devices are small and plug into anywhere there is an electrical outlet and cost between $20 - $60 for a basic model. At your local retailer or online ask for a "WiFi extender." We recommend a Linksys model since that's the type of router you have, but most models will work with any router.
b) Move your router to a more centralized location in your home so it gets closer to all your devices. Use a long ethernet (CAT6) cable to do this. Please don't move the ONT.
c) Hardwire with ethernet (CAT6) cable directly to the router. Each router comes with four ethernet ports to allow for direct connections to bypass using wireless altogether. Direct connections to your router will give you the fastest and most reliable speeds because it will not rely on the wireless signal.
If these steps are too confusing for you, ask a neighbor or friend/family member who is good with technology to help you! Our Customer Support can also assist with basic speed troubleshooting.
Customer Service: 855-415-7592