Some reasons the internet can be slow

Companies who provide broadband services are under scrutiny, as it has become increasingly obvious that advertised speeds from Internet Service Providers, ISP’s. Do not match the actual speeds that customers are receiving.

Large numbers of customers are frustrated that the promised speeds are not actually materializing. Often these speeds seem little better than dialup connections. There are many factors that can affect broadband speeds for users.

These factors include the computers distance from the exchange where the signal originates. This may actually be the biggest problem with the slowdown of the broadband speed in the home.

The closer you live to the exchange the faster your internet speed will be relative to the package you have purchased. Only people living a short distance from an exchange will stand any chance of achieving the advertised maximum speed available.
Another important concern is the number of computers that are on the network. If you have two or three computers in your home, all connected to the same router. Each computer will get a share of the available signal, thus reducing the perceived speed on each PC.

You should have a good quality modem cables, with high capacity, supplied by your ISP. Unfortunately, many cables are inferior in their specifications. This can combine with low quality telephone lines within the home, to reduce the strength of the signal.

Bad weather, such as we have had recently, can have an effect on the ADSL signal, which will reduce broadband speeds.
Viruses can have a drastic effect on the speed you appear to be receiving. A virus that is running in the background on a computer, can hog a lot of your bandwidth, thus reducing your useable speed.

Peak usage times when the most people are surfing the net are between 6 and11pm. At these times, it can be common for internet speeds to slow down considerably.

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