Why are my actual download speeds lower than advertised?

Advertised speeds in gigabits per second are eight times higher than download speeds measured in gigabytes per second. A 1Gbps connection yields maximum download speeds around 125MBps.

How should i test my true internet speed?

Run a speed test with a computer connected directly to your router using an Ethernet cable. This bypasses Wi-Fi issues to show the actual speed coming into your home.

What is the best way to improve Wi-Fi coverage?

Place your router in a central and elevated location away from thick walls and metal. For larger homes, add wired access points instead of relying on repeaters.

How can i reduce Wi-Fi interference?

Keep the router away from cordless phones and microwaves. You can also switch to less congested Wi-Fi channels like 1, 6, or 11 using a Wi-Fi analyzer tool.

How do i prioritize bandwidth for gaming or video calls?

Use the Quality of Service settings on your router. This allows you to prioritize specific devices or applications so they perform smoothly even when other devices are using the network.

How to Maximize Your Home Internet Speed

You can maximize your internet speed by first verifying your ISP plan delivers enough bandwidth, then optimizing your local hardware and network settings.

Start by running a speed test with an Ethernet cable to check your actual ISP speeds. Understand that advertised gigabit speeds refer to gigabits, so your actual download speeds in megabytes will be eight times lower.

Put your router in a central, elevated spot away from thick walls and microwaves. Run Ethernet cables to static devices like gaming consoles and desktop computers, and keep your Wi-Fi for mobile devices.

Switch to less congested Wi-Fi channels using an analyzer tool, disconnect unused devices, and use Quality of Service settings to prioritize traffic for gaming or video calls.

How to Maximize Your Home Internet Speed — infographic

Maximize internet speed by first ensuring your ISP plan delivers adequate bandwidth, then optimizing your local network with wired connections and proper router placement.

Evaluate Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Plan

Upgrade your plan for faster speeds if your current plan is insufficient, especially if you consistently hit bandwidth limits with multiple users or high-data activities like 4K streaming or large downloads. "Call your ISP Buy a higher speed package"

Understand advertised speeds because advertised "gigabit" speeds (Gbps) refer to gigabits per second, not gigabytes per second, and actual download speeds in gigabytes per second (GBps) will be eight times lower. "1Gbps = 1000 Mbps = 125 MBps. Capital B means it's working correctly, your download manager is displaying wrong, otherwise it could be something else."

Verify your ISP connection speed by performing a speed test with a device directly connected to your router via an Ethernet cable to accurately determine the speed coming into your home, bypassing potential Wi-Fi issues. "The only way to test what actual speed you’re getting is an Ethernet (cat5e or higher) cable from your router to a computer."

Optimize Your Local Network Setup

Use Ethernet cables for static devices like desktop PCs, gaming consoles, and smart TVs to ensure the most reliable and fastest connection, reducing reliance on Wi-Fi. "Run an Ethernet cable to everything static and keep your WiFi for the devices that need mobility"

Upgrade your router if it's outdated, as an older router might not support the full speeds of your internet plan or efficiently manage traffic for multiple devices. "I upgraded my Asus WiFi6 router to a TP-Link Wifi 7 BE9300 router. I get about 930ish Mbps in speed tests now."

Improve Wi-Fi signal strength by placing your router in a central, elevated location, away from obstructions like thick walls and metal, and consider adding wired access points (not repeaters) for better coverage in larger homes. "Just try placing your router in a central position in your house instead and try keeping it elevated, away from thick walls and metals."

Reduce Interference and Prioritize Traffic

Minimize Wi-Fi interference by keeping your router away from other electronics like cordless phones and microwaves, and by switching to less congested Wi-Fi channels (like 1, 6, or 11) using a Wi-Fi analyzer tool. "Sometimes we mistakenly install our routers near cordless phones or microwaves, and this causes disruptions in the signal transmission."

Prioritize critical devices or applications using Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router, which allows you to allocate bandwidth to ensure smooth performance for activities like gaming or video conferencing, even when other devices are active. "One solution to this problem is called Quality of Service or QoS. This allows your router to prioritise certain types of connections or devices to allow them to function perfectly"

Disconnect unused devices from your network, as every connected device consumes bandwidth, potentially slowing down the overall internet speed. "Open the router's user portal and take a look at all the connected devices. Then, disconnect the devices that y..."

Do you want to know more about specific router settings to optimize?