Is your home internet ready for September? Just a few steps will help you avoid disruptions
According to the Communications Regulatory Authority (RRT), last year 81.6% of fixed internet customers in Lithuania used fibre-optic internet, and more than 78% had a speed of at least 100 Mbps. Yet even a fast internet plan is no guarantee that, once the school year begins, the connection at home will work without disruptions.
In September the whole family is once again actively connected to the home network at the same time: one person is in a video meeting, another is watching a film or a live stream, a child is downloading learning material, and in the background a game or an application may still be updating.
When the connection starts to stutter, the first thought is often that the chosen internet speed is too low. However, the problem may be caused by a poorly placed router, outdated equipment, a weak „Wi-Fi“ signal or even the computer itself. Often it is enough to check just one or two things for the connection at home to run smoothly again.
As internet technology expert and head of „Etanetas“ – one of the first internet service providers in Lithuania – Artur Stefanovič notes, before looking for a new internet plan it is always worth first finding out where the problem really lies.
„When a video call starts to stutter or web pages load more slowly, many people immediately think they are short of speed. But first I would suggest looking at who is using the connection at that moment and testing it in different rooms and on different devices. Sometimes the problem can be solved simply by moving the router to a more suitable place or by dealing with a device that is slowing the connection down,“ he says.
Where to start the check?
If home internet starts to run slowly, the expert says it is worth finding out first what is happening on the home network at that moment.
„The simplest way to check this is to briefly pause large downloads and disconnect unnecessary devices connected to the internet. For example, if a video call or a stream starts running more smoothly, the problem may not be the internet connection itself, but the load on it at that time,“ explains the head of „Etanetas“.
The next step is an internet speed test, but it too must be done properly. A common mistake is to check internet speed on a phone in another room and compare the result directly with the speed stated in the internet plan. The result is affected by the strength of the „Wi-Fi“ signal, the distance to the router, walls and the capabilities of the device itself.
To pinpoint the problem more accurately, the first test is best carried out with the computer connected to the router by a network cable, and the result then compared with a test over „Wi-Fi“ next to the router and in the room where the connection stutters most often. If the internet works well over cable but the speed drops sharply as you move away from the router, the problem is likely to be wireless coverage.
The location of the router also matters. Walls and other physical barriers obstruct the „Wi-Fi“ signal, so a router placed in a cupboard, near the floor or at one end of the home will not necessarily cover all the rooms well.
„The router should be kept in as open a place as possible and, if feasible, in a central spot in the home. If the internet works smoothly next to it but starts to stutter a few rooms away, that is a sign that the trouble may not be internet speed, but „Wi-Fi“ signal coverage,“ advises A. Stefanovič.
It is also worth checking the „Wi-Fi“ password and the list of devices connected to the network. If the password is easy to guess, outsiders may be using the internet too, and extra devices add load to the connection. A. Stefanovič advises choosing a long, unique password and creating a separate network for guests.
It is worth checking the devices themselves
If the internet stutters only on one computer or phone, the cause of the problem is worth looking for in the device itself. According to A. Stefanovič, even with a fast fibre-optic connection you may fail to make the most of its capabilities because of an older computer, outdated software or an outdated router.
„A simple way to check this is to connect another device to the „Wi-Fi“ in the same place. If the internet runs slowly on one computer and smoothly on another, the problem is probably not the connection itself. An older router may also no longer keep up with the number of devices used at home today and their demands,“ the expert explains.
In addition, he says, as the school year approaches it is worth checking not only the connection of a child's computer but also its security: installing operating system and browser updates, running a malware scan and removing unknown or unused browser extensions. On younger children's devices, age-appropriate parental control measures can also be set up.
„Technical measures are only one part of security. Before September it is worth discussing and reminding a child of simple rules too: do not click on unclear links online, do not download applications or games from untrustworthy websites, and treat pages asking you to enter login details with caution. There is no shortage of attempts online to obtain login or other personal data, so it is always important to take care not only of the quality of the connection, but also of using it safely,“ says A. Stefanovič.