From a website that just won’t load to a streaming television show that keeps buffering at all the best moments, noticeable gaps in a normally seamless internet experience are hard to ignore. If you’ve been having less-than-stellar experiences lately and are wondering how to fix slow internet, here are a few possible culpritsand solutions.
Find the "sweet spot" for your gateway device
If you're utilizing an advanced wireless 5G Gateway device like the one offered by T-Mobile Home Internet, the fix is often simple. Just place your gateway close to a window or high up on an upper floor or bookshelf facing the nearest T-Mobile cell tower. You can even use the T-Mobile Internet app to help find the ideal location for your device, check signal strength, monitor connected devices, update your network name/password, and more—so you can stay easily connected at home.
Adding a mesh coverage device can also boost your home’s connectivity. Instead of relying on a single gateway device, mesh coverage uses multiple access points to help bring internet to every corner of your home and even outdoors.
Reposition your router
If your internet service provider (ISP) utilizes a standard routerand there are areas in your home where slow Wi-Fi seems to be the norm, it might help to move your router around until you find an ideal spot. It can be tempting to hide wired, unsightly equipment like modems and routers behind a sofa or push them to the back of a bookshelf, but they really need to be in the clear to work their best, as certain barriers, like bookcases or metal, can make your signal weaker.
See if you’ve hit a data cap
Just like when yourcar runs out of gas, your home internet can burn through allotted data on some plans as well. If you suspect this might be the case, the best thing to do is to conduct a speed test. A speed test will tell you what your internet speeds are, and a quick look at your plan will tell you what they normally should be. If your speeds are as promised but you've outgrown your plan—it may be time to upgrade.
Use of VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) creates a secure connection between your device and the internet by sending your data through servers located in faraway states and countries before sending it to its final destination. This masks your IP address and allows you to browse the internet anonymously. However, the problem with using a VPN for privacy is the fact that all those extra steps can seriously slow down your downloads. If you’re always using a VPN instead of reserving them for risky situations, such as public Wi-Fi, it’s possible you’re slowing things down for yourself. If you’re on your private Wi-Fi network, consider disabling your VPN for faster speeds.
Malware
Spyware, viruses, and other malware can seriously affect your speeds as well—especially on your home computer or laptop. Spyware is sometimes used on computers to monitor actions like keystrokes and internet use, which adds delays to everything from website loading times to how quickly you can type an email. For computers, viruses act just like they do in the human body: lines of code attempt to propagate themselves over and over, usually sending copies through email. Viruses can send hundreds of emails a minute, which leaves little room for your computer to do anything else, slowing down both computer functions and internet speeds. To combat spyware, run regular antispyware checks on your computer, and to prevent and monitor for viruses, install antivirus software and make sure it’s always up to date.
Outdated equipment
It's possible that your modem and router are simply outdated, especially if you've purchased your own and haven't updated in a long time. While modems need to be replaced less frequently than routers, modems should be replaced at least every four or five years. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi technology changes at a more rapid pace, and if you have connected devices that support Wi-Fi 6, for example, but don’t have a Wi-Fi 6 router, it might be time to consider investing in newer technology.
T-Mobile Home Internet utilizes a wireless 5G Gateway device in tandem with the next generation of Wi-Fi 6 technology to keep you connected at home. See if it's available in your area now and then find a plan that's right for you.
Signal strength and interference play a significant role in the performance of your 5G home internet. Physical obstructions like buildings, trees, and even certain weather conditions can affect the quality of the 5G signal reaching your home. Symptoms: Fluctuating speeds and frequent disconnections.
Slow Internet: On your T-Mobile account, check that you haven't used all of your high-speed data bucket. Refer to Data speeds for more information. If you used 50 GB of data this bill cycle, you're subject to lower network prioritization during times of local congestion.
Tips for how to make your T-Mobile Internet faster
Turn off equipment from your previous provider. Before you turn on your gateway and set up your T-Mobile Internet network, turn off any equipment you have from a previous provider to avoid interference.
To get faster WiFi speed, just simply switch the frequency band to 5 GHz, and don't forget to get close to your router. A router can broadcast multiple channels. Try to avoid the most utilized channel in your area, and use the less overlapping channel if possible.
In 4G LTE and 5G networks, signal quality is measured as SINR. Increasing your SINR can have a dramatic impact on your connection speeds. The best way to improve SINR is to use a directional outdoor antenna, either connected to a signal booster or directly to an LTE or 5G hotspot.
If your router is placed too far from your devices, or if there are obstructions like walls, metal objects, or electronics between your router and your devices, the 5G signal will be weakened, reducing speed and reliability.
You may be able to increase your T-Mobile 5G Home Internet speeds by relocating the gateway to a more optimal location, restarting your T-Mobile gateway, moving your device closer to your T-Mobile gateway, or connecting your computer to the gateway using an Ethernet cable.
A slow internet connection may be due to a variety of reasons. It could be your inefficient router, internet service provider (ISP) bandwidth throttling, outdated devices, or even malware. While speeding up your internet connection on your computer is not always easy, there are ways to optimize it.
Slow download speed may be caused by various issues, including a slow internet plan, a busy network, problems with your modem or router or a bad Wi-Fi connection.
For the best signal, put the wireless router out in the open on the main floor of your house, away from walls and obstructions. Ideally, you'll want to position it off the floor, above the furniture. Keep it away from other electronics that might cause interference, like microwaves, baby monitors, and cordless phones.
5ghz wifi band has considerably less range then 2.4ghz band. You can google it up. So if you test your speed at the same place then 2.4 ghz will obviously have better speed and coverage than 5ghz band. Try standing just in the line of sight of the router and try again.
But weak, inconsistent, or poor-quality signals can happen for a number of reasons. Adverse weather, interference from building materials or terrain, distance from your nearest cell tower, or network overload can all contribute to poor signal.
Run speed tests with your Verizon Internet Gateway at the windows closest to each nearby tower (If you have multiple floors, perform this process on each floor).
Place your Verizon Internet Gateway at the location with the fastest data speeds.
Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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