Does your internet connection seem, slow? or at least slower than usual, allot of times you can trouble shoot the problem your self and identify the problem and take care of it. Several problems can slow down and internet connection. Your modem or computer may have a loose cable, communication between your modem and internet service provider could be bad, your ISP may be having problems with its system, your firewall software may be interfering with the data transfer, if you share a modem on a network the internet sharing system may causing the interference.
Here are some things you can do to trouble shoot your internet connection.
- Check all of your cables. The first step in diagnosing most PC problems is to ensure that your hardware is functional. Check the cable that leads from your modem to your PC to make sure that it is not damaged and that it connects properly to modem and the computer. Make sure that the power cable is not damaged or loose. A loose power connection can cause intermitting internet connectivity. If you have the usual standard dial-up modem plug a phone into the jack that your computer is using and make sure that you can here a dial tone. If you here static you may have a bad line, in that case call your local phone company and have it tested. If you have DSL you will need a DSL filter to test the line for a dial tone. If you have cable a modem disconnect the cable modem and connect it to a TV and check the picture quality, a week signal can also mean a week internet signal. If you have very bad picture call your cable company and have them come out a look at your cables that are going from the outside of your house going in.
- If you have more than one computer connected to the modem using a router and you are having problems here is what you need to do.
1) Turn off all of your devices. Turn off all of your computers unplug the electricity from your modem and router and your hub if you are using one.
2) Start with your modem first and power it back on.
3) Wait about 45 seconds for the modem to come back online.
4) Power up your router and hub, wait 45 seconds.
5) Turn your computers back on.
- Turn off or disable your firewall. Now this is only a test, without a firewall your computer is naked and unprotected. After you disable your firewall test a couple known safe web pages, if your internet is faster and pages are loading more efficiently you may want to take another more detailed look at your firewall to see if it is the reason behind your connectivity problems.
- Test your internet connection. If you can get internet but it is slow you can test it.
There are some free internet speed tests available search here.
After you have tried all of these trouble shooting techniques and you are still not getting a good solid internet connection you may have to contact your internet service provider, most ISP will have a help desk that will basically just walk through the steps mentioned above, or they may ask you connect directly to the modem if you are using a router. They can also test your internet connection from there end. They can test the response of the modem and determine weather or not the modem is functioning properly.
