Why is the Internet speed low? Or less than it should be! Internet speed over Wi-Fi is lower. Why does the router slow down?

Most likely, you pay attention to the fact that in any tariffs of almost any provider it is stated that the Internet speed will be “up to X megabits per second.” If you haven’t noticed, then you probably think that you are paying for 100 megabit Internet, while the actual Internet speed may be low, but within the scope of “up to 100 megabits per second.”

Differences between real Internet speed and advertised speed

In most cases, users' Internet access speed is slightly lower than that stated in their tariff. In order to find out the speed of the Internet, you can run a special test (the link at the beginning of the article is detailed instructions on how to accurately determine your network access speed) and compare it with what you pay for. As I already said, the actual speed will most likely differ to a lesser extent.

Why is my Internet speed low?

Now let’s look at the reasons why the access speed differs and, moreover, differs in a way that is unpleasant for the user and the factors that influence it:

Problems with end-user equipment - if you have an outdated or incorrectly configured router, an old network card or drivers that do not match it, the result may be low network access speed.
Problems with software - low Internet speed is very often associated with the presence of various kinds malicious software on the computer. In fact, this is one of the main reasons. Moreover, “malicious” in this case can include all kinds of panels Ask.com, Yandex.Bar, search and Mail.ru defender - sometimes, when you come to a user who complains that the Internet is slow, it’s enough to simply delete all these unnecessary, but installed programs from a computer.
Physical distance to the provider - the farther the provider’s server is located, the weaker the signal level in the network can be, the more often various kinds of packets with corrective information must pass through the network, which as a result leads to a decrease in speed.
Network congestion - what more people at the same time use a separate line from the provider, the more significant the impact this has on the connection speed. Thus, in the evening, when all your neighbors are using a torrent to download a movie, the speed will decrease. Also, low Internet speeds are typical in the evenings for providers providing Internet access over 3G networks, in which the influence of congestion affects the speed to an even greater extent (the effect of a breathing cell - the more people are connected via 3G, the shorter the network range from the base station) .
Traffic Restriction - Your ISP may deliberately restrict certain types of traffic, such as the use of file-sharing networks. This is due to the increased load on the provider’s network, as a result of which people who do not need the Internet to download torrents have difficulty accessing the Internet.
Problems on the server side - the speed with which you download files on the Internet, watch movies online or simply browse websites depends not only on the speed of your Internet, but also on the access speed of the server from which you download information, as well as its load . Thus, a 100 megabyte driver file sometimes takes a couple of hours to download, although, in theory, at a speed of 100 megabits per second it should take 8 seconds - the reason is that the server cannot serve the file at that speed. Also affects geographical location server. If the downloaded file is located on a server in Russia, and connected to the same communication channels as you, the speed, other things being equal, will be higher. If the server is located in the USA, the passage of packets may slow down, resulting in lower Internet speed.

Thus, the speed of Internet access can be influenced by numerous factors and it is not always easy to determine which one is the most important. However, in most cases, despite the fact that the Internet access speed is lower than stated, this difference is not significant and does not interfere with work. In cases where the differences are several times greater, you should look for problems in the software and hardware of your own computer, and also seek clarification from the provider if no problem was found on your side.

Long opening times of sites, freezing, low speed of downloading files, problems in online games, failures during video communication on Skype - these and similar things have to be faced with a slow Internet connection.

In this regard, users often have a question: why is the Internet speed low? How can this problem be solved in some cases?

We will consider the reasons that may result in a drop in Internet speed according to the following plan:

I note that a slow computer that “slows down” and slow internet- these are different things and are not directly related to each other.

1. Rush hours

A decrease in speed is a natural process during peak hours, when a huge number of users connect to the provider’s network. As a rule, this happens by 6-7 pm on weekdays.

This point completely depends on the provider: the more users it has, the greater the load placed on the network equipment, therefore, the slower the Internet connection will be.

The situation is the same with Wi-Fi zones in public places.

And if you go to a cafe specifically for web surfing, it is better to look for a less crowded place.

2. Provider equipment

The reason for low Internet speed may be a depleted resource of the provider's network equipment. Even changing the tariff plan to a more expensive one will not help. After the provider replaces the equipment, the Internet speed increases dramatically.

The reason may also be a failure along any part of the path from the Internet provider to network card on the user's computer. The failure may occur in an apartment, in a hallway on a staircase, in the basement of a house, or in the attic where the provider’s equipment is located.

When someone cut off a piece of cable in our apartment building (perhaps due to apartment renovations), the provider had to replace 80 meters of cable. But in my opinion subjective feelings after that the Internet simply began to “fly”.

In both the first and second cases, little depends on the user. True, you can contact your provider with constant complaints.

But if in locality There are several companies operating in the Internet access market, why not get acquainted with the capabilities of other providers. You can return to the first one at any time if the Internet speed of other providers is also not satisfactory.

3. Router

Your router may be causing your internet speed to be slow. The router, regardless of the specific model and manufacturer, itself is a weak link in the chain of devices for high-speed data transfer on the network.

The situation is aggravated in the case of budget router models that have weak technical characteristics. Those in to a greater extent capable of reducing data transfer speeds due to constant freezes.

When complaining about slow Internet speeds to the support service, the provider’s employees first ask whether the connection is through the router, and if so, then the standard recommendation would be to turn off the router and then turn it on after 5 minutes.

When you reboot the router, the buffer is cleared of cached data that accumulates during the process of checking and assembling network packets.

Before purchasing a router, you should consult with your provider. Its specialists will tell you which models have proven themselves best in operation.

4. Number of Wi-Fi users

No matter how powerful the equipment that provides a Wi-Fi hotspot in your home or public place, it has a limit of connected devices.

And the closer the number of users is to the limit of possible clients of such equipment, the lower Internet speed each of them can count on.

Routers do not always distribute Internet connection speed evenly among all devices. It also happens that when one user downloads a large file from the Internet, the second has to wait a long time for even a basic web page to open.

To ensure that no one at home is deprived of Internet speed, you can purchase a router with a traffic distribution function.

An alternative option is to configure it in software file downloaders (download managers, torrent clients) limit value file download speed.

And, of course, you need password-protected access to Wi-Fi. For in apartment buildings there is a signal Wi-Fi router accessible to neighbors, as well as to all those who come to visit them.

5. Wi-Fi range

Each router is designed for a certain range of Wi-Fi zones.

In some cases, if the need for a larger range arose later than the purchase of a certain router model designed for a smaller radius, you can try to solve the problem using a wireless amplifier. This device is placed between the router and the computer device and serves to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal.

Metal barriers and water containers placed between the router and the mobile or computer device that receives the Wi-Fi signal can slow down the Internet speed. There may be interference from a neighbor’s router, from overheating of your own router, or from a malfunction of the router software.

It is advisable to place the router on an uncluttered surface and at a higher level.

You can try bringing your laptop as close to the router as possible to see if this increases your Internet speed.

6. Device processor

Internet connection mostly depends on network equipment, but sometimes the reason for low Internet speed can be a weak processor of your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

On the one hand, it is no longer uncommon for the Internet to high speed. On the other hand, many devices have appeared for accessing the Internet with “lightweight”, budget processors: netbooks, etc. Such a processor, alas, sometimes cannot cope with large data flows (for example, torrents).

If you want to check the load on your processor, press three keys at the same time: “Ctrl”, “Alt” and “Del”. In the window that appears after this, click on the “Open task manager” option.

Rice. 1 Check the CPU load in Windows Task Manager

If in a similar window as in Fig. 1 You will see the load at 100%, then the reason for the low Internet speed is not in the provider, but solely in your computer and the programs on it that it is so busy with.

7. Programs

A decrease in Internet speed can be caused by the activity of applications on the computer that work with the network.

These are programs that run in the background. For example, in the “background” they can be launched

Skype,
WebMoney,
other messengers,
software torrent clients,
programs for saving Internet traffic, for analyzing it, etc.,
any applications that support data synchronization (Yandex.Disk, Cloud Mail ru),
browser extensions,
antivirus update,
Windows updates,
music is playing from some website,
online toy launched
and who knows what else is running?

Unused applications should be closed, and best of all, removed from startup along with startup operating system.

Rarely used browser extensions can be left uninstalled, but disabled and activated only when necessary.

8. Malware

Slow Internet speeds can be caused by viruses and spyware.

Malicious software (software) works in the background and uses the Internet connection without the user's knowledge to send spam, download junk files to the user's computer, and sometimes it can even block access to the Internet.

It’s good if the virus ends up only inside the computer and does not interfere with the launch of anti-virus tools. Because if a virus gets inside the router’s firmware, you will have to reset the settings to factory settings and configure it again.

9. Internet provider tariff

There are tariffs from providers that when the user reaches a certain threshold (which is probably specified in the agreement with the provider), the Internet speed is sharply reduced. And this can continue until the beginning of next month, for example.

At the beginning of the month, the Internet speed will be high again, then, as soon as the permissible threshold has been crossed, the speed will sharply decrease again. Here you need to either change the tariff, or change the provider, or “stretch your legs according to clothes,” that is, live with the tariff that is.

10. The site or server is overloaded

Internet speed may drop sharply if you try to go to a site in your browser that has been imposed a corresponding speed limit by its owner. Although the site may take a long time to load due to other problems with or on the site.

If you and many, many other users simultaneously start downloading files from a certain server or from a certain site, then it may well happen that the server or site “falls” and becomes unavailable.

11. Dust in the computer

The reason is rare, but everything happens in life. Sometimes an almost “new” computer manages to collect a huge layer of dust from animal hair, from using the laptop “on a pillow,” etc.

It is clear that this amount of dust must be eliminated.

How to measure Internet speed

There are many sites that are created specifically to measure your Internet speed. Below I offer you two options for this purpose: a special website and a Yandex service.

1. Website for measuring speed:

To start measuring, you need to go to the website indicated above and then click on the “BEGIN TEST” button:

Rice. 2 Special program for measuring Internet speed speedtest.net

All programs on the computer are closed, all windows are closed, only one website for measuring Internet speed is working.
It is better to take measurements not once, but several times and different times days.

2. Internet meter from Yandex:

Rice. 3 Measuring speed using Yandex Internetometer

If you measure the Internet speed on your computer and compare it with the speed specified in your contract with your provider, then it is important to pay attention not only to the numbers, but also to the units of measurement.

Megabits per second - these units of measurement are indicated in the provider’s tariff.
Megabytes per second - this is how some program measures the speed.

There are 8 bits in one byte, so the difference between a megabyte and a megabit differs by 8 (eight) times. Keep this in mind before calling your provider and blaming him for the fact that your Internet speed is 8 times less than that specified in the contract.

And one last thing. Your contract with your provider specifies the upper, maximum possible Internet speed, which I would call “ideal.” It may vary depending on the time of day, and is often less than stated in the contract.

Please vote!

Please take part in the survey “Do you measure the speed of your Internet?” You can choose 1, 2 or 3 answer options.

Today there are practically no people who do not constantly use the Internet. Through the Internet, people communicate, play and get a lot useful information. Therefore, it becomes very disappointing when, for no apparent reason, the Internet connection starts to work too slowly.

In this case, any person begins to panic. However, not everyone knows that there are many options that can help solve the problem of too low data transfer. First of all, it’s worth finding out why the Internet speed via WiFi is dropping.

Reasons

A number of faults can affect your connection speed. First of all, you need to check that your computer or laptop is in close proximity to the router itself.

Also, sometimes low Internet speed over WiFi is due to too low throughput router. And it often happens that several people use the network at the same time, each from their own computer. In this case, the volume of traffic increases too much, and accordingly, the data transfer speed drops noticeably.

In addition, such problems may be related to the operation of the router itself. Not everyone checks which WiFi router is best for their home before purchasing it. This is a big mistake, since a lot will depend on the quality of the device. The best models D-Link, TP-Link and ZyXel are considered.

Before you move on to fixing your troubles, it is recommended that you take an Internet speed test at speedtest.net. This independent service has existed on the Internet for a long time. There is no need to register on the site, just click Start and wait for the results to be displayed. You must first close all applications and sites. If checking the Internet speed on speedtest.net showed that everything is in order, then the reason is large quantities running processes.

There are several ways that can help solve the problem of low Internet speed.

Using the accelerated WiFi standard

Until recently, there was only one router data transfer rate, which was 2.4 GHz. The corresponding standards for this were written as 802.N. However, today there are dual-band Wi-Fi routers that can support more speed limit data transmission, which is 5 GHz. In this case, you need to make sure that the 802.AC standard is activated. To make the appropriate settings, as a rule, it is enough to go to the basic parameters of the module.

When you log into the control panel of a dual-band Wi-Fi router, you need to go to the “Wireless Mode” tab and change the settings. However, it is worth considering that if the router itself supports the fast WiFi standard, but the computer does not, then nothing will work. Both devices must operate in the same mode.

Therefore, when deciding which WiFi router is best for your home, it doesn’t always make sense to give preference to dual-band models.

Router channel width

In this case everything is simple. As a rule, the Internet works much faster if the frequency is set to 40 megahertz on the 2.4 GHz band. If the router operates in the 5 GHz band, then you can use 40 MHz or 80 MHz.

As a rule, after changing these parameters, you will immediately notice how much faster the system starts to work. However, it is worth considering that it is recommended to set the maximum channel width of the router only if the signal quality is very good. Otherwise, you may lose the connection completely.

This is not the only way to increase Internet speed (WiFi).

Non-overlapping channels

As a rule, in the standard 2.4 GHz range, the radio channel whose number is used can affect the connection speed. To switch to non-overlapping channels in a given range, you must select the first, sixth or eleventh. In this case, Internet distribution via WiFi should increase.

If you are using a router that operates at a frequency of 5 GHz, then in this case the number of non-overlapping channels will be more than 22. There is no point in choosing another channel, since the probability of intersection is completely absent.

WMM mode

As a rule, ensuring high-quality service when using a wireless network is called traffic prioritization. In short, you can replace this word with the abbreviation WMM.

In order to have low Internet speed via WiFi, simply enable this option. To do this, you need to go to the parameters of the radio module and connect the appropriate standard to it.

Wi-Fi signal strength

It is quite possible that the router’s transmitter power is simply not enough to ensure a high-quality and long-lasting connection. The fact is that these parameters depend on how close the computer or laptop is to the router. Accordingly, if you get closer to the router, the power of the transmitters should increase. However, in this case, there is a possibility that the problem of low Internet speed via WiFi will not be solved.

On the other hand, getting closer to the router than one and a half meters is also not recommended. In this case, the opposite effect will occur. Therefore, it is recommended to experiment while moving around the apartment.

Protection

As a rule, encryption systems are used to protect the network from hacking. They are constantly updated, but in some situations old data remains. In this case, a security hole may appear. It should be borne in mind that standards such as WPA and WPE have long been outdated. Refusing them would be the right decision, since such systems can be hacked in a few minutes even by people who know almost nothing about it.

If you use WPA, then there is no point in expecting speeds of more than 54 megabits per second. The best solution to the problem of low Internet speed over WiFi is to use WPA2 encryption.

Reflashing the router

In some situations this method really helps speed up your internet connection. The fact is that firmware that is installed on a device at the factory very often has a number of errors or is completely crude. For example, similar problems have repeatedly occurred on Asus routers.

Don’t be afraid of the process of flashing the router itself, as it’s quite easy to deal with. Most models already have a function that allows you to automatic update. However, it is better to perform this operation manually. To do this, just go to the manufacturer’s website and download the corresponding files with the firmware. After this, you need to go to the control panel of the router itself and find a tab that says something about updates. In this case, it is enough to specify the path to the file and perform the simple manipulation of reinstalling the program.

Driver Update

The fact is that in some cases the software of the router itself may not be correctly recognized by the computer's operating system. In order to correct this oversight, just open the device manager on your laptop and find the “Network adapters” tab. In the list that opens, you need to find the router and right-click on it. After this, just click the “Update” button and wait a few minutes until the drivers are updated.

Changing tariff plan

First of all, it is worth considering that each Internet provider has several programs for connecting to the Internet. If the video is loading the slowest, then it is quite possible that the problem is that the data transfer is too low. For example, if the maximum resolution of an online video is no more than 720x480 pixels, then this indicates that the tariff plan implies a speed of 512 kilobits per second. In this case, the problem is solved by changing the tariff.

Unscrupulous provider

This option should also not be excluded. It is quite possible that at the time the Internet was connected, the client was actually provided with the maximum possible speed. However, some unscrupulous providers begin to reduce the volume of data transfer over time. In this case, the speed no longer matches the selected tariff plan. It is quite easy to check the integrity of a provider. To do this, just try using a different router and a third-party computer. If the work is just as slow, then in this case all questions should be asked exactly to the company with which the service agreement was concluded.

It is also worth checking the Internet via cable. To do this, you need to connect it directly to the computer and try to access the network. If the speed is still low, then you should ask your provider a question.

What can affect the speed of downloading files via torrents?

Today, almost everyone uses this service. However, some people notice that sometimes when downloading certain files, the transfer speed of data packets decreases noticeably.

In this case, everything may also depend on the provider. For example, if a tariff plan of 16 megabits per second was selected, then in this case the maximum speed for downloading documents cannot exceed 2 megabits per second. It is also worth considering that this service is a file exchanger, so it works according to slightly different principles. In order to get faster downloads, you must also upload files and documents to torrents.

It is also worth considering that the router could simply fail. As a rule, after 5-6 years of using a router, it begins to work much worse. Fortunately, new appliances are not that expensive, so replacements can be found quickly. Now a high-quality router costs from 1 thousand rubles. For 3-4 thousand rubles you can buy a high-quality device.

A WiFi connection may not always provide the same speed as a cable connection. Among the main reasons are incorrect settings router, conflicts with neighbors' access points and incorrect choice of router location. Speed is also reduced when using outdated equipment or old firmware versions.

How to determine that WiFi speed is being cut

Internet providers indicate in the contract the maximum possible access speed. The actual bandwidth of the channel is usually lower than the declared one. At home, it’s easy to check whether this is due to restrictions on the provider’s side or to the use of WiFi. To do this, connect the Ethernet cable directly to the device from which you are accessing the Internet.

Open the Speedtest online service in any browser and click “Begin Test”. The site will automatically detect the nearest server through which the speed check will be performed. The computer will communicate with the selected server to determine the current Internet speed. Wait until the operation is completed, and then remember or write down the result.

Then connect the Internet cable to the router, turn it on and connect to WiFi from the same device on which you tested the speed. Open the site again and repeat the measurement. If the results of the first and second tests differ significantly, the speed is reduced precisely because of the use of wireless Internet.

Interference from neighbors' wireless equipment

Most often this reason manifests itself in apartment buildings with a large number installed WiFi access points. The wireless network can operate in one of two bands: 2.4 or 5 GHz. The first option is more common. In this case, the actual frequency can be from 2.412 to 2.484 GHz in steps of 0.005 GHz, depending on the selected channel.

The 2.4 GHz band is divided into 14 bands, but not all of them may be available for legal use in a particular country. For example, in the USA only channels 1-11 are used, in Russia: 1-13, in Japan: 1-14. Choice wrong value may lead to a violation of the laws of the state in which the equipment is operated.

If your neighbors' access points use the same channel as your router, interference (radio wave overlap) occurs. As a result, the speed of the Internet via WiFi is reduced. It is recommended to analyze the current frequency congestion. The most popular software tool used for these purposes is the inSSIDer utility developed by MetaGeek.

Install the program, run the executable file and click the “Start Scan” button in the upper left corner of the program window. The graph on the right will display the detected WiFi networks and the channels on which they operate. Find the range that contains the fewest networks with high reception levels, and then select it in the router control panel.

Pay attention! The width of each channel can be 20 or 40 MHz. The only channels that do not overlap are channels 1, 6, and 11. Use one of these values for optimal network configuration. You can also select automatic detection of the least loaded frequencies in the router settings.

High range utilization

In large cities, the number of available 2.4 GHz networks may be so high that changing the WiFi channel does not lead to the desired result. The data transfer rate is reduced even after selecting the freest part of the frequency range. Optimal solution This problem is the transition to the 5 GHz band, which has not yet received sufficient distribution.

Its use is possible on dual-band routers. Such routers create two networks at once, which have various names, encryption and authorization parameters. Client devices whose radio module supports 5 GHz will be able to connect to WiFi in this range. Legacy models will connect to the second network. With this scheme of work, a number of disadvantages should be taken into account, the main of which are:

Smaller coverage area in the presence of obstacles due to physical properties radio waves of this length.
Lack of compatibility with older devices.
High cost of dual-band equipment.

Problems with the router

The main mistake made by users when organizing a home WiFi network is the wrong choice of router location. It leads to poor signal reception on client devices, which slows down the Internet speed. You can check the signal level by the number of marks on the WiFi icon located in the tray (lower right corner) of the Windows operating system. On mobile devices, the Internet connection status and signal strength can be checked at the top of the screen, in the notification panel.

It is recommended to install the router in the central room of the room in which it will be used. This arrangement provides high level WiFi reception in all rooms of the apartment or office. When installed in a corner of a room, distant rooms will not be able to connect to the wireless network or will receive Internet at low speeds.

Important! The quality of communication with the router is also affected by the transmitter power, the number of installed antennas and the distance from operating sources. electromagnetic radiation. To avoid slowdowns in Internet speed, try to install the router away from microwave ovens, refrigerators and other household appliances.

Also check that the WiFi mode is selected correctly in the router settings. It is responsible for maximum data transfer speeds and backward compatibility with older devices. For example, if "11b Only" is selected, WiFi speed will be cut to 11 Mbit/s, and the “11g Only” value limits the bandwidth to 54 Mbit/s.

You can log into the router’s web interface using the address indicated on its bottom panel. For TP-Link models, select the required parameters in the “Wireless mode -> Wireless mode settings” section. Recommended values if there are old models on the network are “11bgn mixed” and “11bg mixed”. If all home or office devices support the “802.11n” standard, check the “11n only” checkbox.

In the “Wireless Security” menu, set the security type to WPA/WPA2, since using the outdated WEP method reduces WiFi speed. Change the automatic encryption type selection to Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). It provides greater network security with less impact on data transfer rates.

Go to the advanced wireless settings tab. On TP-Link it is “Wireless Mode -> Advanced Settings”. Find and activate the "WiFi Multimedia" (WMM) option. This protocol allows you to set a high priority for multimedia traffic, thereby speeding up its transmission.

This function must also be activated in the settings of connected devices. Open Device Manager in the Control Panel of your Windows operating system. Find your network adapter and go to its properties. On the "Advanced" tab, select the "WMM" line from the list on the left. On the right, specify the value “Enabled” or “Enabled”. Save the configuration by clicking the "OK" button.

Another parameter that you should pay attention to when setting up your router is the transmitter power or “Tx Power”. This value is indicated as a percentage of the maximum power of the equipment. If the access point is at a long distance, set it to "100%" to improve WiFi reception.

Outdated device firmware

Manufacturers of routers and other wireless devices regularly optimize software to receive maximum speed work. Download new version Firmware can be found on the Internet, on the developer’s website. The update is performed by downloading the file to the device through the admin panel. Path to the menu of various routers brands different:

TP-Link: “System Tools -> Firmware Update”;
D-Link: “System -> Software Update”;
ASUS: “Administration -> Firmware update”;
Zyxel: “System Information -> Updates”;

Advice! When installing software, take into account the hardware version of the router. It is indicated on the sticker or in the documentation for the device.

On client equipment (laptops, computers and other equipment connected to WiFi), you should check the versions of network drivers. Windows OS allows you to update firmware through the Control Panel, in the “Device Manager” section. Open the Network Adapters tab and select the radio module you are using. In the "Driver" section, click "Update" and select automatic search software on the Internet. After that, restart your computer and connect to the wireless Internet again.

Training video: How and why Internet speed decreases over WiFi

Using additional equipment

If, after fixing all the problems, the Internet speed in remote rooms continues to slow down, use additional equipment to strengthen the signal. This includes: external antennas for routers, high-power wireless adapters for computers, WiFi repeaters.

When choosing an antenna, consider the gain and the type of connector with which it is connected to the access point. Manufacturers usually provide a list of equipment recommended for use with certain device models. If you connect third-party antennas that have not been tested for compatibility, you may experience difficulties with further warranty service.

The repeater allows you to increase coverage and get high speed Internet even at a considerable distance from the router. Thanks to the built-in power supply, such devices have a compact size. To use them, just plug the device into a power outlet and press the “WiFi Protected Setup” (WPS) button on the case. After this, you need to press the same button on the router itself or activate a quick connection via the web interface.