You may also be able to blame your slow Wi-Fi on something your internet service supplier is intentionally doing: bandwidth throttling.Yes, you read that. Basically, ISPs require to see your IP address to slow down your internet, and an excellent VPN will protect that identity– though it comes with some drawbacks and limitations, which Ill go over listed below. Well stroll you through how to tell if throttling is to blame and, if not, what to do about fixing your shabby Wi-Fi.
This story belongs to Home Tips, CNETs collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.
Action 1 First, fix your sluggish internet connection
So your Wi-Fi is sluggish and you believe your provider is throttling your connection. Before you jump to those conclusions, its important to go through the typical troubleshooting list: Check that your router is centrally located in your house, rearrange its antennas, confirm your network security and so on. If you wish to check out more ways to optimize your Wi-Fi, take a look at our suggestions.If youve gone through the shopping list and your Wi-Fi is still downing slowly, proceed to the next step.
Screenshot by David Priest/CNET
Step 2 Test your internet speed
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Step 3 Find a trusted VPN
Screenshot by David Priest/CNET.
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Measurement Lab provides a great resource for discovering information specific to your region, and that can guide you to a more reputable ISP.Use your VPN to keep more constant speeds. A VPN cant resolve a bad connection or other factors behind your slow service, but it can alleviate throttling from unscrupulous ISPs.Call your provider and threaten to switch suppliers if they do not stop throttling your web.
Step 4 Compare your speed with the VPN.
Correction, Feb. 10, 2020: This short article formerly misattributed 2019s net neutrality judgment to the Supreme Court, rather than the DC Circuit Court that chose the case. The Supreme Court decreased to hear the appeal.More house web and broadband resources.
OK, this is the tough part. Even if you learn your provider is throttling your internet, there may not be much you can really do. Lots of people in the US reside in regions with ISP monopolies or duopolies, so you may not be able to find a much better company. Here are a couple of helpful actions: If you do have alternatives, utilize the best service provider in your location. Measurement Lab supplies a good resource for discovering info particular to your region, which can direct you to a more reputable ISP.Use your VPN to maintain more consistent speeds. A VPN cant fix a bad connection or other factors behind your sluggish service, however it can mitigate throttling from deceitful ISPs.Call your provider and threaten to switch service providers if they do not stop throttling your internet. This may appear old-fashioned, and I cant guarantee lasting results, but companies have actually responded favorably to such methods when Ive utilized them.
Screenshot by David Priest/CNET.
Next, test your internet speed someplace like Fast.com or Speedtest.net. Compare the results with the very same test when your VPN is active. The usage of any VPN should cut your speed substantially, so the speed tests need to show an inconsistency, with the VPN-active speed being notably slower than the VPN-inactive speed. However a VPN also conceals the IP address that service providers utilize to identify you, so if your speed test with the VPN is faster than without the VPN, that might imply your ISP is targeting your IP address for throttling.
Basically, ISPs require to see your IP address to slow down your web, and an excellent VPN will protect that identity– though it comes with some downsides and constraints, which Ill discuss below. The use of any VPN need to cut your speed substantially, so the speed tests should show a disparity, with the VPN-active speed being notably slower than the VPN-inactive speed. A VPN also conceals the IP address that providers use to identify you, so if your speed test with the VPN is quicker than without the VPN, that might indicate your ISP is targeting your IP address for throttling.