As if transitioning to working from home wasn’t already enough of a struggle, you’ve now got to deal with frustratingly slow internet speeds. If you don’t have the fastest internet connection at home because, well, you never thought you’d need to use it for much more than scrolling through social media and watching shows on Netflix, working from home might be harder than it needs to be.
Whether you’re working from home permanently or just for the foreseeable future, you’re probably wondering what you can do to improve your internet speeds. Hopefully this guide can help make working from home a little easier.
Check Your Internet Speed:
First you must make sure that your internet is running at the speed it is supposed to. There are various reasons as to why your computer or laptop might be going a little slower than usual. It could well be nothing to do with your internet at all. You can easily test your internet speed with a quick Google search and find out if there are any problems to be worried about.
If your internet speed is running normally, check your provider’s website to see if there are any reported issues in the area or essential maintenance being done that could slow things down. If not, it could be another issue, for example your laptop might need a RAM upgrade.
Consider Switching Your Broadband Provider:
If you’re coming to the end of your broadband contract, the easiest way to boost your internet speeds is to switch providers and go for a faster package. Even if you are still mid-way through your contract, you might still be able to enjoy faster speeds by getting an upgrade if you are eligible. Just get in touch with your current provider to find out.
Do some research into broadband deals to make sure that you are getting the right package for your needs at the best price. Running a quick broadband comparison will make it easier for you to see all the different offers side by side and compare broadband speeds and prices available to you.
You can compare broadband deals on this site - usave is a great place to start when looking for the best broadband deals. Simply enter your postcode and what you’re looking for, and it’ll find all the best options in your area.
Work Closer to Your Router:
If you’ve hidden your router out of sight or you are working right at the other end of the house, you’re probably not doing yourself any favours when it comes to your internet speeds. Make sure that your router is kept in an open location in your home, and avoid working in Wi-Fi dead spots by setting up your home office as close to the router as possible.
Switch off Unused Connected Devices:
Even if you’re working from home all alone, you might not be the only one connected to the internet. As our homes become smarter with more interconnected devices, it’s not uncommon for several different devices around the home to be constantly connected to the internet, even if you’re not actively using them. Even your Xbox in sleep mode, your smartphone in your pocket, or your Amazon Echo sitting on the table can eat up precious bandwidth when you’re not using them. You’ll probably notice a difference if you switch them all off.
Move Video Chats to Quieter Times:
Getting on a Zoom call for 9 AM sharp might not be the best idea if a lot of other people in your area are doing the same thing. And right now, with more people working from home than ever before, there’s a high possibility that your neighbours are video calling their workplaces too.
Instead, have a conversation with your boss, colleagues, clients, or anyone else that you are video calling to see if you can shift the schedule to a quieter time of day. Even calling just a few minutes ahead or behind the peak times can make it easier to connect, as less pressure is being put on the video calling service that you are using.
Upgrade Your Router:
Maybe your router has been fine so far for personal internet use, but when you’re working from home along with your partner and your kids are all accessing online classes, it might become obvious that your trusty old router is just not up for the job. When you have multiple people at home all using the same internet connection at the same time, things are bound to get slow if your router isn’t capable of handling all that traffic, so it’s worth considering an upgrade.
Slow internet can be really frustrating when you just want to get your work done from home. Keep these tips in mind, and you should hopefully enjoy a much better connection.