What makes adsl slow

Weak signals mean slow or unreliable connections. Outdated or damaged modems and cables may not support fast signals. Outdated software or network drivers can lead to compatibility issues between your device and your hardware.

Internet data flowing to and from your house works a bit like a water pipe. The more people using your connection at once, the slower it will be for everyone. If 50Mbps of data gets pumped into your house and there are three people streaming video, they have to share that allowance between them, meaning each one only gets a fraction of it. The more data-intensive each user's activity is, the worse the impact on your bandwidth.

Background applications can act like another user and hog your bandwidth, slowing down your connection. Programs like Windows Update or game launchers may automatically download patches or updates without asking you, hurting your Internet speed. Having too many devices with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth all looking for the same signal can cause interference and prevent that signal properly reaching any of them. It can be caused by devices in your own home or even your neighbour's house if they have Wi-Fi on the same channel as yours.

While there are plenty of potential causes for slow Internet, you don't have to sit there and accept it. There are a lot of ways make your Internet faster , which we'll cover in detail down below. If you have an ADSL connection and are experiencing slow broadband, this might be due to the limits of your connection type. ADSL generally won't exceed 10 or 12Mbps no matter how good your hardware is. If you're already getting around that, these tips probably won't improve your connection.

To find out how fast your Internet connection is right now, you can run a speed test. This will give you an idea of your average download and upload speeds in Mbps. The next step is to compare this to the average or expected speed for your specific connection. If you know what NBN speed tier you're on, you can compare it to the ACCC averages or your provider's typical evening speed for your plan which should be published on its website or provided with your plan.

If you aren't sure what plan you're on, it should be listed on your most recent Internet bill or your online account with your provider. Once you have your actual connection speed and your expected plan speed, compare the two.

If your actual speed is significantly lower, try the steps in the next section to fix it. This table gives a rough idea of what can be considered good or bad speeds for different NBN speed tiers. Just as there are many causes for a slow connection, there are plenty of possible fixes. Here are six steps that might help:. Run a speed test on several devices in the same room to see if all of them have the same issue.

If only one of them is having problems, then the issue is likely with that device. See our device-specific fixes further down, though you could always try turning your modem on and off again as a hail mary. Quick resets help sometimes. If the Internet is slow on all your devices, the problem could be with your modem. First, look for any damaged cables or loose connections in need of replacement. Second, consider whether your modem might require an upgrade.

Older modems might not be capable of processing signals fast enough for modern connections. Similarly, not all NBN-capable modems support all speed tiers.

These days, most people connect to their modem via Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi can be a pain to deal with, so here are a few ways to improve your signal:. Move your modem or device Wi-Fi signals weaken rapidly with distance. The further you are away from your modem, the weaker your signal is. Make sure you position your modem as close to your devices as possible. You also want to make sure you have the clearest line of sight possible.

Walls, ceilings and doors will all weaken your Wi-Fi signal as it passes through them. Reduce interference Wi-Fi signals weaken rapidly with distance. Change your Wi-Fi channel Wi-Fi signals weaken rapidly with distance.

When all else fails, connecting your device with an ethernet cable will get around your Wi-Fi woes, since you'll be connected straight to the source of your connection rather than relying on Wi-Fi signals floating around. It'll also improve your connection's reliability. Game launchers, file torrents and system software updates can all download in the background without asking you.

While they're downloading, though, they'll slow down your browsing. Closing any programs that are using your Internet connection can speed up your other online activity. Malware and viruses can slow your computer down to a crawl. Running a virus scan with even free software like Windows Defender or Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can identify and remove malware from your system.

This sounds like the default advice you get on any official support forum, but it can still help. Drivers are the software responsible for making your hardware work properly. Newer network drivers will help your device cope better with Wi-Fi than outdated ones.

Sometimes, the problem isn't at your end but your provider's. Contact your provider and let it know what your issue is. It could be a faulty line running into your house or an issue with the way the network is configured at its end. Either way, it may be able to fix the issue, provide advice or at least identify the problem for you. If your provider's default DNS server is struggling or has been hacked, it can drastically slow or break your connection.

Select the radial option reading "Use the following DNS server addresses". You can enter any DNS server you want, but there are a couple reliable ones. Google's has a good reputation: enter 8. Cloudflare also has a decent DNS server at 1. If you feel like you've done all you can, consider upgrading to a higher speed tier on the NBN. If none of these steps work, you may need to upgrade to a newer or more powerful router. Internet tech advances rather quickly, and if your router is more than a few years old, it might be time to get yourself something more modern.

Wi-Fi problems can stem from multiple factors. Go to different areas of your house with a computer or smartphone and watch the Wi-Fi signal strength indicator.

If you notice a lot of dead zones, you may need to move your router again if they happen in areas where you normally need Wi-Fi or invest in something to boost your Wi-Fi signal to that particular area. You can also make a Wi-Fi heatmap if you want to get more precise with it. If you have more than a couple of issues with Wi-Fi dead zones, we recommend upgrading to a mesh networking kit. Moreover, devices seamlessly switch between nodes as you move about the home or office.

Most modern routers offer two or three Wi-Fi bands, which each create their own visible Wi-Fi network. These bands operate on two different frequencies: 2. The 2. Basically, you want to use the 5 GHz band for most bandwidth-heavy applications like streaming or gaming. Typically, you can change the Wi-Fi band each device uses by logging in to the correct Wi-Fi network on each device. However, some routers broadcast only one network name and automatically selects the best frequency band for your device.

This can be problematic if you really need the faster 5 GHz connection, but the router forces your device to use the 2. Both frequency bands split into multiple channels, similar to how analog and digital TV works over the air. Like any network dealing with lots of information, these Wi-Fi channels can get too crowded, which can cause slowdowns.

To find the best channel, you can use an app like NetSpot for Windows or use the Network Diagnostics function on a Mac. The only solution to this is to either use the internet less or get a faster internet plan. Check out every provider and plan in your area to see if you can get better speeds for a better deal. Before we dive in, take an internet speed test.

Measuring your internet speed and knowing how it compares to the speeds you pay for is an important part of diagnosing a slow connection. Run the Speed Test. Your modem and router work hard , and sometimes they need to refresh with a quick power cycle. Simply pull the plug on both units, wait 30 seconds, and then plug the modem back into the wall outlet. Once it properly boots, do the same with the router.

In the case of a wireless gateway, pull the plug, wait, and plug it back in. Draining both units of power allows them to cool down, clear the system memory, clear up any local communication issues, and reestablish fresh connections.

Overall, a power cycle can really give your internet speeds a boost on your side of the modem. Many people hide their routers or wireless gateways in closets, behind furniture , or down in basement s. Instead , put as few physical barriers between your router and your devices as possible. Walls, floors, ceilings , doors, large furniture, and similar obstructions can barricade your Wi-Fi signals and reduce connection speeds , especially over longer distances.

Certain signals from other devices can also interfere with your wireless speeds. These include microwaves, Bluetooth speakers, baby monitors, and cordless phones.

For the best Wi-Fi coverage, place your router in a central location, or at a location where you use Wi-Fi the most, like in a home office. For instance, if the antennas are positioned vertically, the Wi-Fi signals broadcast horizontally in all directions. That said, if you live in a one-story house, keep the antennas vertical. If you live in a multistory house, positional at least one antenna horizontally so the Wi-Fi signals reach the additional floors.

The early morning hours are ideal when everyone is asleep and no other downloads currently hog your bandwidth. Game updates, meanwhile, typically require you to manually start the download.

You may need a faster plan if more people live with you now, if you transitioned to working from home, or if you generally use the internet more than you did before. Author - Rebecca Lee Armstrong. Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing.

She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet. Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight.

She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span. Other factors that affect speed How to troubleshoot a slow connection Quick fixes Jump to : Why is your internet so slow?

Why is your internet so slow? Pro tip : If you need help figuring out how much bandwidth you need to prevent traffic jams, check out our How Much Speed Do You Need tool. Use QoS settings Nearly all routers have a quality of service or QoS component that allows you to control how your network prioritizes certain types of data. Prune your internet connections There may be some devices connected to your network that you rarely use—if at all. Pro tip: Our guide on how to set up guest Wi-Fi covers a few different ways to establish a second network.

Problem: You exceeded your data cap Many internet providers have data caps, and some slow your speeds to a crawl after you hit that cap. Problem: You have high latency Latency is the time data takes to make a round trip from your device to the destination and back. Problem: You have slow or outdated devices The problem might not be with your internet connection—it might be with the device you use.

Unfortunately, this depends on Demon recognising that the service is defective, and being willing to pay to have it fixed. The key question is whether you are getting more than the minimum speed. Test your connection using BT's Speedtester , which will tell you the configured upload and download speeds for your line. Check the results for a statement that reads, in my case: "For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 16,, Kbps".

For your line, the acceptable speeds might be 1,, Kbps, or even lower. If so, Demon could argue that if you're getting 1Mbps, the line is working normally.

I'll assume that you have rebooted your router by turning it off for three minutes then reconnecting, and that you have run speed tests with different PCs plugged directly into the router.

If you can run speed tests with a different Mac or a Windows PC — perhaps a friend can call round with a laptop — then you can make sure your machine is not part of the problem. You should also run Trace Route to a few remote sites to check that the backbone network is working correctly.

Next, log on to your router to see what is happening on your line. You may not understand the details I don't , but you can use them to get an estimated line speed.

You can also post the numbers in a Kitz forum or in the Demon forum at ThinkBroadband , where knowledgeable users will try to help. If everything else seems to be working correctly, then perhaps your slow speed is due to a fault in the "local loop" connection or in your local telephone exchange. Local loop problems are commonly caused by some use of aluminium instead of copper wire, badly soldered joints all connections reduce ADSL speeds , electromagnetic interference ie, noise or your house's internal wiring.

The best way to find out is to have an OpenReach engineer come to your house and perform an SFI test it stands for special faults investigation , including a PQ pair quality test. If the network is fine and the local loop passes the test, the fault may be at the exchange.

You could try asking for a "lift and shift".