| Internet service providers (ISPs for short) | | | | 3. Simplify your test. |
| sometimes over-sell their rated speed and you, | | | | Unplug everything except for one cable coming |
| the consumer, ends up coming up short in the | | | | out from the back of the modem to the |
| process. Over time, you notice a slowing of | | | | computer; you can live without your router for a |
| connection speed, especially during peak times and | | | | few minutes. This will eliminate the router as being |
| you begin to wonder if you are really getting your | | | | a possible speed bottleneck. Turn off the wireless |
| money's worth. Broadband service is light years | | | | on the router (or better yet turn off the router |
| ahead of dial-up and you should expect very good | | | | completely). Unplug cordless phones and move |
| performance from your network. There are two | | | | your cell phone to another room. All electronic |
| types of broadband service; DSL, which comes in | | | | devices emit electronic radiation and this will help |
| on your house phone line (also known as a land | | | | to make your testing process simpler. |
| line) and cable, which is fed by a coaxial cable and | | | | 4. After you have done all the above tuning, then, |
| is in conjunction with television service. Here are | | | | and only then, are you ready to perform the |
| some things to know about testing your internet | | | | actual speed test. |
| connection speed and how to maximize it. | | | | Make sure that no applications that use the |
| 1. Update your computer and tune it. | | | | internet are running. Use an online speed test tool. |
| A computer must be running at peak efficiency | | | | There are several good broadband speed test |
| and speed in order to speedily process internet | | | | options available online. A good one will |
| data. Make sure you have all your operating | | | | automatically find the server closest to you based |
| system updates in place. XP users should be | | | | on your country and locale. Perform this test |
| running Service Pack 3 and have all updates in | | | | several times a day and write down your results; |
| place. Vista and Windows 7 should also be fully | | | | they may prove to be very revealing. You will |
| updated. Make sure you have fully de-fragmented | | | | want to report the results of these tests to your |
| your hard drive; a fragmented drive runs slowly | | | | broadband provider (ISP) |
| and processes slowly. Also run a program such as | | | | 5. If all else fails, ask your internet provider to run |
| Spybot to weed out spyware then run a | | | | a speed test from their end. |
| thorough virus check on your system. You may | | | | They should be more than happy to do so. If not, |
| want to tune your browser also. Firefox users | | | | remind them that you are paying them and that |
| can use a program called Firetune. Vista, Linux and | | | | there are plenty of other internet providers |
| most other modern operating systems already | | | | besides them that will be more than happy to |
| are designed to work well with fast connections. | | | | serve you. If you are noticing a slowdown during |
| 2. Update your modem and router firmware. | | | | peak hours, ask them why they can't provide |
| Once you have thoroughly tuned your computer, | | | | their rated speed during those times. |
| it's time to turn your attention to your modem | | | | 6. Put it all back together one piece at time. |
| and router (hopefully you are using a router or it | | | | If everything looks good at this point, put your |
| is built into your modem). Check you modem and | | | | system back together one piece at a time. If you |
| router for the correct firmware version. Firmware | | | | notice one piece of the puzzle that is slowing you |
| is the built-in software that controls how these | | | | down (the router, a cell phone, etc.), perhaps a |
| items operate. Manufacturers are constantly | | | | relocation of that item may help. It may not be |
| updating their firmware revisions, so it is | | | | possible to have your cell phone in close proximity |
| important that you have the latest version. The | | | | to your system. Perhaps you need to change the |
| benefits of updating are great; You'll probably gain | | | | frequency on your router, etc. |
| greater speed as well as increased security. Note: | | | | In conclusion, most network speed slowdowns |
| if you try to install a version that is not for your | | | | are caused by relatively simple things and are well |
| hardware, you could cause it to become | | | | within the reach of most computer owners to |
| non-functional (break it). If you don't feel | | | | test and repair. If not, a small expenditure for an |
| competent in doing this yourself, you may want | | | | expert may be well worth it in the end. Even one |
| to take it to a professional and pay them to do it; | | | | house call from a trained technician, although at |
| it's better than messing up your hardware. | | | | higher cost, may be worth it also. |