Factors Affecting Your Broadband Speed (And How To Improve Them)
If you're using a 4G broadband connection then the first factor to consider is how strong the signal is in your area. If all is well here then the equipment, cable, Wi-Fi router and devices also all need to be scrutinised as all of these can affect the performance of your broadband.
In this article:
Network signal and available broadband speeds
The signal strength and available 4G speeds is something we will have put a lot of consideration in to before suggesting it as a viable solution for you. One of the factors is the strength of signal and the available speeds, both of which can vary considerably depending on location and distance from the transmitter.
Equipment
How your router connects to the network is important. In the world of 4G broadband the router is going to need some sort of antenna to pick up the 4G network's transmission. If this equipment is sub standard then your router won't get a strong connection and your broadband speeds will be slow or even non-existent.
Cables
Following on from the connection between your router and the network (via Equipment); Unless you're using an all-in-one 4G router (more on this shortly) there will be a cable from the router (or there abouts) to the antenna. Nowadays we install this as "Cat6" copper-stranded ethernet cable which supplies both the power and the data connection for the antenna.
Cabling to the antenna should never be bent (sharply twisted) or crushed; so poking it through a closed window or forcing the cable somewhere it doesn't quite fit is never good practice.
The cable connection should be securely crimped (the connections at each end of the cable) and have a clear run from one end to the other with no damage or rubbing against sharp edges.
Wi-Fi Router
The router itself can have a significant effect on how well your broadband performs. Including factors such as:
Router position - Is it near other appliances that may interfere? Is it tucked away in a corner, making it harder for the Wi-Fi signal to reach the other end of the property?
Router's capability - What is the maximum speed of the router? If you have a gigabit broadband connection and the router only supports 100Mpbs then your connection will be limited to 10% of your broadband's actual speed. Modern routers should be able to provide gigabit connections through the network ports on the back of the router and via the Wi-Fi connection. To get a gigabit Wi-Fi connection your router should be at least "Wi-Fi 5" compliant, supporting both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequencies.
Connected Devices
The number of connected devices and what these devices are doing will impact on the speed of your broadband.
Broadband Speed Tests
If you want to know the true speed of your connection then best practice is to disconnect ALL devices from the network (cabled or Wi-Fi). Following this, connect one device via an ethernet cable and visit www.speedtest.net to perform your broadband speed test.
It's always worth performing 3 or 4 tests at different times of the day as network speeds will fluctuate according to how busy the overall network is.
Remember; almost all broadband connections are shared with other customers. What this means is your 4G, phone-line or fibre broadband will all come from an "exachange" which hundreds+ of other customers are connecting to. If everyone on that network performed a speed test at the same the results would be extremely poor. This is the result of so many users battling for the same bandwidth.