I've noticed that while downloading files, my phone's LTE speed reaches up to 7.5 MB/s, but when I connect to my WiFi, it only gets around 2.8 MB/s. I ran a speed test, and my phone consistently performs better than the WiFi, even though the router is theoretically capable of 30 Mbps (which translates to about 3.75 MB/s). However, when I try to download games on Steam, my speeds drop significantly. My ping is also quite high at 400 ms. Can anyone suggest ways to improve my internet experience?
5 Answers
Have you checked if your router can handle higher speeds? It might be limited, especially if it's older. Sometimes updating firmware or rebooting can help, too.
You might be using the 2.4 GHz band, which can be slower than 5 GHz. Switching to 5 GHz can often improve speeds dramatically if you have that option. If not, reach out to your ISP and have them disable band steering; that can be a game changer!
You're spot on about the limitations. Your router's max speed could be affected by other devices using the network at the same time. Also, keep in mind the TCP overhead, which can lower your effective speed. You're unlikely to hit max speeds due to this and other network traffic. Try to ensure other devices aren't hogging the bandwidth while you're downloading.
You might want to look into getting fiber internet if it’s available in your area. It can significantly boost your speeds but expect to pay more for installation. It's a worthy investment if you stream or game a lot.
Funny thing is, my phone seems to be the best WiFi adapter around! I’ve tried USB sticks and internal cards, but they don’t pull in a signal as well as my smartphone does!
True, 2.4 GHz can definitely handle over 30 Mbps, but having a lot of interference or distance from the router can lower those speeds.