Can you imagine spending a single day without hopping on the web? No, right? That’s because the internet has become the primary driving force behind the modern lifestyle. Without internet connectivity, you cannot hope to accomplish your day-to-day tasks with as much efficiency or productivity as you already do. This is why having a high-speed internet connection like Cox internet that is fast, reliable, and affordable is a pure blessing for conscious consumers. However, since the internet technology isn’t particularly perfect yet, so, as an internet user, you can expect to face some connectivity issues every once in a while, despite the kind of subscription you have at hand. These issues exist across all internet types, including cable internet. Therefore, if you have a cable internet connection that’s acting up nowadays, then you can surely fix it up and restore its speeds by implementing the following simple yet effective tips. Check them out.
Inspect Your Cable Connections
A cable internet connection transmits data signals through coaxial wires, which are either buried underground or fixated on poles. These cables can undergo wear and tear of some sort over time. So, if you are experiencing slow cable internet speeds, then head to the root of the problem and inspect the cables coming into your home. Look out for signs of breakage or moisture seepage. In case you find a vulnerability, then call in a technician to repair the cables or install the replacements. Another thing you should verify at this point is whether the cables have been plugged in correctly and tightly into the right slots. A loose wire can also reduce your internet speed.
Give Your Network Hardware a Quick Reset
Your cable internet hardware, i.e. a modem and/or a router, is responsible for circulating the wired/wireless data signals throughout your house. If your network hardware is malfunctioning due to overburden or some other reason, then it won’t be able to transmit bandwidth as speedily as it can. So, what should you do? Reboot your equipment. There are two ways you can go about this. One, you can do a soft reset of the modem/router by turning off the network devices, waiting for about 30 seconds, and then turning the equipment back on again. Or, two, you can do a hard reboot by heading into the configuration settings of the modem/router and resetting the equipment back to its default factory mode, which will remove all personal adjustments but speed up the network hardware for sure, thereby, increase the performance of your cable internet.
Update Your Underperforming Router
An old router cannot translate cable internet speeds well, sending choked-up signals your way and leaving you frustrated with a lot of lag. If this is occurring on your network, then we recommend you first, update your current router’s firmware, and second, upgrade it. Updating your router’s firmware will supply it with new specs and the latest bug fixes released by the manufacturer, making it function better than before. If updating firmware doesn’t work, you can always replace your old router with a brand new one, which is compatible with your subscribed speeds and verified by your ISP.
Fix Your Slow Wi-Fi Speeds
Chances are that there are several dead spots in your house, which is why you are facing slow cable internet speeds. Repositioning your router will fix this issue in a jiffy. A general rule of thumb for router placement is that you should position your network device in an open, centralized area, which is free from obstructions of any kind. You should never place your router inside a cabinet, next to a wall, near a window, or alongside an electric appliance such as a microwave, which runs on the same frequency as your Wi-Fi signals. In case the dead spots don’t go away, you can also invest in an affordable Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal range and cover the no-network zones. Bonus tip: Change your router’s wireless band to 5 GHz, which is less crowded, broader, and comes across minimal congestion.
Close Bandwidth-Eating Programs
Too many devices, applications, programs, or downloads soaring the web at the same time can slow down your cable internet connection. Therefore, we suggest you close all the unnecessary programs, apps, downloads, or updates happening in the background to speed up your Wi-Fi. Moreover, pop-up ads on your browser also hog your bandwidth, sending a flux of irrelevant traffic to your router, and depriving your primary devices of their fair share of internet signals. You can make use of extensions like AdBlock Plus to block such ads that eat up your monthly data.
Wrapping Up
Internet access is a proper necessity in these times when almost everyone is stuck at home. Your internet connection needs to be fast and reliable for you to meet your daily goals proactively. Using the aforementioned tips, you can speed up your cable internet in no time and smartly avert all the connectivity issues to resume your work or other online activities like a pro.