INTERNET INTERFERENCES

BROADBAND

The term broadband commonly refers to high-speed Internet access that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up access. Broadband includes several high-speed transmission technologies such as:

• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
• Cable Modem
• Fiber
• Wireless
• Satellite
• Broadband over Powerlines (BPL)

A television antenna may be described as "broadband" because it is capable of receiving a wide range of channels.

The broadband technology you choose will depend on a number of factors. These may include whether you are located in an urban or rural area, how broadband Internet access is packaged with other services (such as voice telephone and home entertainment), price, and availability.

WIRELESS

• Wireless broadband connects a home or business to the Internet using a radio link between the customer’s location and the service provider’s facility. Wireless broadband can be mobile or fixed.
• Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) provide wireless broadband access over shorter distances and are often used to extend the reach of a "last-mile" wireline or fixed wireless broadband connection within a home, building, or campus environment.
• Wi-Fi networks use unlicensed devices and can be designed for private access within a home or business, or be used for public Internet access at "hot spots" such as restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, airports, convention centers, and city parks.
• Mobile wireless broadband services are also becoming available from mobile telephone service providers and others. These services are generally appropriate for highly-mobile customers and require a special PC card with a built in antenna that plugs into a user’s laptop computer. Generally, they provide lower speeds, in the range of several hundred Kbps.

 

FACTORS THAT INTERFERE WITH INTERNET CONNECTIONS

WALLS AND FLOORS:

The construction of your home can greatly affect wireless communication speed and range. Some common types of materials, such as wood and glass, don't have much of an effect. However, denser materials such as concrete, brick and metal can make it difficult to connect, slow network speeds or even completely block wireless signals from reaching certain parts of your home.

INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER ELECTRONICS:

Interference can also come from other electronics and appliances that aren't connected to your wireless network, but use the same 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequencies to communicate. Cordless phones, bluetooth devices, baby monitors and wireless video security systems are some examples.

Some electronics and appliances, like microwave ovens, generate radio frequency noise as a byproduct, so you may notice a network slowdown or get disconnected only when you're reheating dinner. Some larger electronics, such as TVs, can affect Wi-Fi signals even when they're asleep or turned off since their power supplies may generate short range interference.

PRESENCE OF VIRUSES AND MALICIOUS PROGRAMS:

Malware uses up your bandwidth allocation, causing your computer and your network to slow down. Run a regularly updated antivirus program and enable its auto-update feature.

MULTI-TASKING:

Downloading while browsing can definitely bog down your internet connection. Close all unneeded programs.

OTHER WIRELESS NETWORKS:

Wireless networks are susceptible to interference. To address this, place your router in the same room as your computer, eliminate physical obstructions around the router, use a microfilter connector, or simply connect to your router via an Ethernet cable.

PEAK HOURS OF INTERNET TRAFFIC:

Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may be congested. This happens during peak times when many people access the internet in your area at the same time. High-speed cable networks are prone to congestion because cable internet lines are shared with other subscribers in a given locality. Traffic throttling is also a possibility, especially if you download heavily. Your ISP will restrict your bandwidth allocation so that you don’t compromise the online experience of other subscribers in your area.

INAPPROPRIATE ROUTER CONFIGURATIONS:

The router configurations must be set for the bandwidth that’s available to you. For instance, your Quality of Service (QoS) parameters may not be properly set for your available internet connection speed. QoS parameters are needed to use real-time programs, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps. They need to be properly configured with your router.

OUTDATED OR DAMAGED HARDWARE:

Slow internet connections can result from using an outdated or damaged wireless router. Invest on the latest technology to get the best performance. Bad cabling can also affect your connection speed, so replace any worn-out wiring and loose connections.

INTEROPERABILITY:

Even a slight incompatibility between your operating system and your router can potentially hamper the speed by which you connect to the internet. Read your router’s manual to check if it supports your computer’s operating system.

LOCATION OF THE WEBPAGE YOU ARE VISITING AND THE VOLUME OF ONLINE TRAFFIC THERE:

A webpage hosted in a part of the world close to your location loads much faster than one that is hosted in a faraway geographical area. In addition, if you access a website or a server on the internet that is also simultaneously being viewed by thousands or millions of people, then the webpage loads much slower than a similar page with low online traffic. The type of website you visit also influences how fast the webpage loads. Websites composed of text documents, for example, load much faster than websites that host movie files.

SITE MAINTENANCE ISSUES:

Your ISP or the host of the website you are visiting may be doing maintenance on their computers, network, and other network-related equipment. These forms of site or network maintenance can lead to slow connection.

Is your broadband network (including mobile) plagued by sluggish internet connection speed? Avoid the above instances and enjoy your internet connection.