Broadband Guide

Boost your internet speed

Although many people think that their slow internet speeds are all down to their provider, your computer’s settings, the hardware you’re using or a really old PC can all slow you down.

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So if you’re frustrated with your slow connection speed, try these tricks to see if you can speed things up before you switch to a faster, more expensive broadband package.

Download our complete guide to speeding up your broadband

• 1. Adjust your browser settings
• 2. Talk to your provider
• 3. Tweak your router settings
• 4. Hate thy neighbour
• 5. Reduce your bandwidth overhead
• 6. Get an iPlate
• 7. Get a better router
• 8. Speed up your wifi
• 9. Ditch your wireless
• 10. Get closer to the faceplate
• 11. Monitor download programmes
• 12. Switch

1. Adjust your browser settings

Most people use Internet Explorer, the Microsoft package that’s already installed on your PC. Version 6, which many people are still using, downloads all files on a web page in sequential order. This is inefficient and means that a page with lots of pictures will take longer to download.

By upgrading to the latest version - or using a different browser, such as Mozilla Firefox - you could reduce the time it takes to download a page. However, you should always be careful when making any changes to the settings on your computer.

Use our Broadband Download Monitor to keep track of your downloading.

2. Talk to your provider

Many people think that by choosing an up to 8Mb package they will get an 8Mb speed, but distance from the exchange, congestion and traffic shaping all slow your connection down and very few people will ever hit their advertised speed.

The average speed from 462,000 speed tests on BroadbandChoices.co.uk was 3.59Mb so why not run your own speed test to see how fast your line really is. Install our free Speed Tester software to see how your ISP performs.

If the speed is exceptionally slow, you might be able to boost your connection simply by asking your ISP if there’s anything they can do to speed things up.

If you’ve been on the same package for a long time, it’s probably outdated too, so ask your provider if you can be upgraded if you agree to re-contract. You could find yourself moved to a faster package for more or less the same price.

3. Tweak your router settings

With so many different routers available, it would be impossible to tell you how to adjust all of them. However, most routers are like your car’s onboard computer and can be tweaked and adjusted to open up ports and increase speeds.

Read your router’s manual for details on how to improve performance.

4. Hate thy neighbour

Make sure that you’re not sharing your wireless internet connection with other people on your street or in nearby flats. Set up a WPA encryption if your hardware is compatible, but at the very least you should have a WEP password to stop unauthorised users connecting to your internet.

Click here to read more on Securing your wireless broadband or use our free Wireless Key Generator to create unique, hard to crack codes.

5. Reduce your bandwidth overhead

There are a whole range of applications that will discretely use your internet connection. Most of these are set to automatically start up when you log into your computer, so while you might just be checking your emails, these programs will still be running in the background and slowing you down.

Applications such as Windows updates, security suite updates, Real Player pop-ups, MSN, Skype and the BBC iPlayer could all be running at the same time without you even knowing.

While some of these are silent, others do ask permission before using up your bandwidth, and almost all can be set so that they don’t start up automatically. If you only spend short periods of time online, these programs will be opening as you log in and could make a noticeable difference to your speed.

To find out which applications are running, go to your task manager (right click on the Task bar). You can see what’s running in the Applications tab, and also see if anything is running secretly by clicking on the Processes tab.

You should always opt to give permission before an application runs, or set things to run at more convenient times - like only downloading podcasts at night.

6. Get an iPlate

BT's (www.BT.com) new iPlate basically gets rid of the bell wire that was used to make old telephones ring. Now that the bell wire isn’t needed, it often just acts as a conductor for electrical interference, so anything from a microwave to a dodgy light fitting can mess with your broadband connection.

Recent research showed that the device could boost speeds by up to 60 per cent in some cases, with one user reporting a jump from 1.9Mb to 3.1Mb within a couple of days.

Although all users won’t necessarily see the same level of improvements, BroadbandBuyer.co.uk, which sells the devices, estimates that around 70 per cent of homes with an ADSL connection could benefit from an iPlate.

iPlates are easy to install and cost from around £9.99.

7. Get a better router

If you’re using the router that you got free from your ISP, you could benefit from getting a higher range one that will give you a stronger signal if you’re connecting wirelessly. A better modem or router will also have better features, such as allowing you to select ports for gaming, or giving you a better firewall.

You should also bear in mind that the less things blocking the signal from your router to your computer, such as doors and walls, the better.

8. Speed up your wifi

If you use wireless and are having problems with the signal, rather than moving your PC closer to the router, you could just replace the aerial. Standard router aerials are usually 2dBi (indicating how long it is), and logically, the longer the aerial, the better the signal and the further its reach. For around £10 you can buy an aerial of 9dBi, which can increase signal strength by 30-50 per cent.

You can also buy a wireless access point, which acts as a second router, sending your signal further. You simply connect the access point to your router using a Wireless Distribution System (WDS), extending the reach of your wireless signal without reducing its strength. Check the specifications of your router to see if it has WDS.

9. Ditch your wireless

Whether you’re using a wireless router or connecting via a cable will make a difference to your speed too. For people who have generally reliable, fast connections, this shouldn’t be a big issue. However, if you’re having speed problems and are using a wireless router you should try connecting directly via a cable to see if it speeds things up. Even the type of cable that you use to connect can make a speed difference - connecting to your router via an ethernet cable will be more efficient than using a USB cable.

10. Get closer to the faceplate

The further your modem is from the faceplate (the socket your modem connects to), the weaker your connection will be. This is because the standard wires used to connect it to the faceplate are usually quite poor.

To reduce quality loss, your modem should be as close to the broadband entry point in your home as possible. If you're on an ADSL connection up to 8Mb, moving your modem closer to the faceplate can increase your internet speed by up to 3Mb. Then, if your computer is on another floor or in a different room, you should invest in a good quality ethernet cable to connect your wireless router or PC to the modem.

11. Monitor download programmes

The new breed of TV download programmes such as the BBC iPlayer and Channel 4’s 4oD continue to run in the background of your PC even after you’ve closed them. Because they continually upload and download data using a legal peer-to-peer system, they are constantly using your internet connection and will not only slow you down - they’ll also use up your download allowance. Make sure you quit them fully when you close them.

With programmes like BBC's iPlayer on your computer, remember to check the settings. Make sure that the boxes marked “peer-to-peer network participation” and “run Download Manager on Windows startup” are both unchecked so that it doesn’t remain on the peer-to-peer network once you’ve exited the programme and doesn’t automatically start up when you turn your PC on.

12. Switch

If you still find that your connection is slow, it might mean that your package just doesn’t support your needs. Use our Broadband comparison service to compare prices and to find a more suitable package.

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