Slow Internet Connections in Laptops, Learn How to Fix It

These days, the internet has already been considered part of everyone’s lives. We mainly use the internet to communicate to other people, especially our loved ones who are at the other side of the globe. Aside from its big use in terms of communication, the internet is also a huge source of information which allows a person to improve himself/herself. It has also a big help for students and educators in doing some research and studies online, without going to public libraries, which in turn has only limited resources of information. It also provides us the latest news and events in our society. Likewise, the internet has also played an important role in entertaining us. We get to play games, listen to music, as well as watching television programs and movies online.

How to Use the Internet?

There are only two basic ways on how to get connected to the internet. The devices involved include the computers and smart phones. You need to sign up or subscribed from the services of an internet service provider or ISP so that you will get connected. You will be required to pay for the installation as well as the monthly payment to continue the internet service you have availed. In mobile phones or smart phones, users could use free Wi-Fi or they could pay for the services provided by their network carrier.

If internet surfing can give us lots of joy and information, it is also inevitable that we may also experience annoyance especially if the connection is really slow -- so slow that loading Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites take about an hour. Of course, who else is not going to get upset with that?

I know the feeling of being annoyed or upset because of slow internet connectivity. However, we should also consider a lot of factors that might affect our connectivity to the internet. To know more about the factors, continue reading the rest of the article because I know this will be of great help to you.

Device Used

The computer you used in accessing the internet has a huge role in the processing and connectivity of user requests. If the random access memory or RAM of a computer is 2 gigabyte (GB) and above, it will process the data better and faster than a computer with 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM. Likewise, computers or laptops process data faster than smart phones because obviously smart phones have lesser memory than computers or laptops.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Another factor affecting internet connectivity is the internet service provider or ISP itself. There are various ISPs in your place or area and each of them has their own ups and downs. You need to select the ISPs which have stable internet connectivity and which is worthy enough to get hired. Listen to the comments and feedback of customers using the service of a particular ISP so that you may have a better picture in selecting only the best for you.

Type of Internet Service Availed

There are various promos or bundles of internet service provided by your ISP. Your data allocation may either be 515 kilobytes (KB), 1 megabyte (MB), 2 (MB), 10 megabyte (MB), and beyond. The higher the allocation is or the speed per data transfer, the higher you are going to pay for the service provided. 

Wired or Wireless?

Wired internet connections are more stable than wireless internet connections. Why? Although wireless internet connectivity will provide you flexibility and portability when you are travelling, it doesn’t give you stable connection. The worst is, if you are far from the main source of signal, you will definitely have the hard time accessing the internet faster, even if you are using the fastest computer of all.

Line of Sight

Wireless connectivity involves the term line of sight. If you are on the line of sight of the wireless signal, the better it is for you because you will be able to access the internet faster. 

Traffic Jam

There are a lot of internet users all over the world, and you are not alone. If lots of people are accessing the internet or a particular website at the same time, it will really take slow because of the first come first serve basis. 

Likewise, if you are using a computer from a shared internet, you will never access the internet faster if there are also a lots of users accessing the internet within your network. You could usually experience that one if you are using a computer from an internet café or a free Wi-Fi service from a public library or a shopping mall.

Modems/Routers/Switches/Cables Used

Network devices such as modems, routers, switches, and cables have big roles in connecting to the internet. If these network devices are capable of processing gigabytes of data, they will surely be a big help especially if your connection is fast.  You need to consider that the capacity of these network devices must be compatible on the type of internet service and speed availed from the ISP.

Web Browser Used

Web browsers are another factor of internet connectivity. Popular examples of web browsers include the Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. For me, Mozilla Firefox processes data faster than Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. It also offers security than the two browsers. 

Website Accessed

If the website is full of animations and flash videos, the longer will it take to be loaded by your web browser, making you think that your internet connection is slow. You also need to consider that so that you are not going to blame your computer or ISP all the time.

Viruses

Viruses can also be considered culprit in slowing the internet connection of your laptop. Viruses often disguise themselves and attack the system. These malwares are also central processing unit (CPU) intensive and might suck the bandwidth of your internet, making it more slow even if you are not downloading files.

To make your internet faster, you need to consider your computer, website you accessed, your ISP, type of connection, network devices, traffic jam, and viruses.