There are many factors which can affect your internet connection speed.
Is the device you are using running wirelessly or hardwired?
A hardwired connection tends to work better and is faster than a wireless connection because it is not subject to wireless interference. If it is at all possible to hardwire a device like a desktop or TV or gaming system it is best to do so.
Do you have a lot of wireless interference?
It is sometimes hard to figure out just how much wireless interference you have in your home. There are many devices on the market now which produce their own wireless signals which can interfere and slow down your WiFi connection. Such devices are wireless stereo speakers, baby monitors, portable phones, wireless security cameras with their own base station, wireless printers, any device with “WiFi direct” enabled, self propelled floor vacuums, stove tops, fridges and many more.
What is WiFi-direct?
WiFi direct is much like the WiFi coming off your modem only its being broadcast from another device like a wireless printer. It enables you to connect directly to the wireless printer to send documents but if you have an internet connection with a modem producing wifi and the printer you are sending the document to is already on the same wifi connection wifi direct doesn’t need to be enabled. It is suggested to turn off wifi direct on most devices to eliminate any interference. For information on how to disable wifi direct on a device refer to the owner's manual, the manufacturer's website or do a search online.
Is the device connected to a 2.4Ghz wireless signal or a 5Ghz wireless signal?
There are several key differences between a 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz wireless signal. Some modems only produce a 2.4Ghz signal and others do both. It will depend on the model of the modem. The newest modems Tbaytel uses broadcast on both frequencies and the modem will automatically hand the connection off to the frequency that will offer the best connection. Some modems will allow you to separate the frequencies so the end user can pick which one to use. The downside to having to select is your device won’t automatically connect to a different frequency until it completely loses the connection to the previous one.
Key differences between the frequencies:
2.4 GHz
The signal travels further and does a better job of penetrating through surfaces. The downside is limited speed which will max out around 50mbps.
5 GHz
The signal allows for much faster speeds so you will see speed tests between 100-400mbps depending on how close to the modem you are. In an open concept home 5Ghz will perform well. The downside to 5Ghz is it doesn’t do nearly as well of a job at getting through surfaces and will degrade more than 2.4Ghz when going through walls and floors.
How many surfaces like floors, walls and objects does the signal have to go through what is each surface made out of?
WiFi tends to travel in a generally straight line until it hits a surface it would reflect off of such as metal, which it cannot go through. Metal ducting for heating and air conditioning in your home can greatly affect wifi depending on where the modem is located. Even things like appliances because the outer shell is usually metal will do the same thing.
With each surface WiFi tries to pass through it will lose signal strength. Things like insulation, foam and drywall tend to let WiFi pass through more easily but do affect the signal to some degree. The denser the surface the more it will affect the signal. Any wood surface will affect the signal to a moderate degree. The thicker the wood surface the more it will affect it. Tile flooring or back splashes will affect the signal to a great degree and may not allow the WiFi to pass through. In some homes you will almost certainly need WiFi extenders.
It is always best to keep the modem out in the open and not tucked behind a TV, in a cabinet or under a couch. While you may not like the flashing lights or its appearance, making the WiFi signal start by going through a surface will degrade it from its start.
How many devices are using the connection at any given time?
The more devices you have connected to your modem, wired or wirelessly, the more you are splitting the connection. Much like a pie if you are the only one eating it then it’s all yours. If there is one other person then it's 50/50, three would be a third each and so on. Even a device that isn’t actively being used could be using up a portion of your connection performing updates or a backup.
Is there a device backing up or syncing to a cloud service?
A lot of the time you will not know if there are any devices currently syncing to a cloud service or doing a backup.
Many devices, once connected to a source of power to recharge, will start syncing to a cloud to backup while charging. Backing up your devices is an excellent idea to protect your pictures and data but can affect the overall performance at important times such as working from home when you want the connection to work as fast as possible. Disabling WiFi on a device that is set to do backups when charging will stop the device from slowing the overall connection down and then re-enable WiFi once it is charged.