The quality of your broadband connection is affected by a number of factors both inside and outside your home. Here are some steps to take to assist in getting the best performance for your broadband connection.
- Positioning your modem
Almost anything electrical can negatively affect the performance of your home wireless network; such as TVs, microwaves, radios, cordless phones, speakers, power cables and lighting. These can also interfere with your broadband signal coming through the phone line. It is recommended to position your modem away from any electrical power boxes, cabling and any other electrical appliances which emit interference. - Using ADSL filters (not including Fibre)
If your copper DSL connection is using devices other than your modem you will need to use an DSL filter (Also known as a Micro Filter). If it is only a modem in a jack point no filter is needed, the modem can go straight in. Filters are needed though for any other devices plugged into jack points around the home. If a jack point is using a modem and another device at once the modem will connect into the ADSL port on filter and the Phone into the Phone port of the filter. If this is around the wrong way it is likely to cause problems. You can also arrange for a dedicated jack point (or "Master Filter") to be installed. A Master Filter separates your broadband signal from your homeline signal to a dedicated jack point which can result in a more stable connection (and an easier time for troubleshooting!) - Out of date modem's/phone's and other hardware
Regardless of if you are connected to Fibre or ADSL, if you have older devices connected to your home network chances are your older devices are going to impact the overall stability and performance of your Fibre or Broadband connection. Any older device connected to your jack points or modem such as fax machines, answering machines, printers/copiers, medical and monitored alarms will hinder the performance of your phone and Copper broadband services if kept unchecked. If any appliances you use over your connection are 3 years old or more then you may consider replacing or removing them from your home network if you are experiencing issues with instability or poor performance. - Wireless interference
If you’re using wireless to access your broadband, make sure that there are no barriers affecting the quality of the signal. Large metal objects such as a fridge, bodies of water such as your hot water cylinder or fish tank, and thick walls and ceilings can all drastically affect the quality of your wireless signal. Consider where your wireless modem is now and take a few minutes to move it to avoid interference.
Another thing to consider is wireless channels and frequency’s. If neighbouring networks are using the same channel that yours is set to this may cause interference. It is best to try other channels if this is the case. To test this, you can download an app for your mobile phone to see what channels are in use around you, look for the channel range least in use and give that a try. - Other users
Keep in mind that every additional user and connected device on your home network will reduce the available bandwidth for the users already connected. If everyone wants to use the internet at the same time, you may find your speeds will drop significantly. Upgrading to VDSL or UFB if it's available will dramatically improve the speeds available to everyone. Otherwise, consider asking users to limit their online activity during peak times, and disconnect devices that don’t need to stay connected. - Old software and hardware
Old hardware may be unable to take full advantage of the faster speeds offered by your connection. It is always best to test the newest hardware possible when troubleshooting speed issues. Also to consider, is if any of your software is out of date; such as your operating system and internet browsers, as this can impact the performance of internet on that device. Software updates are typically free and should be done regularly.