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Reference number: CH000986
Why is my Internet connection so slow?
Question:
Why is my Internet connection so slow?
Answer:
A slow Internet connection
could be caused by any number of reasons. Below is a short list of
some of the more common reasons your Internet connection may be
slow.
Slow Internet connection
If you're using a
dial-up connection or a modem
this will be much slower than any type of
broadband connection or a
connection you may be used to at work or school. If you're using a
modem no mater how fast your computer is the speed of the Internet
will remain the same or very close and can cause some users to
believe their computer is slow.
If broadband is available in your area and you would
like a much more enjoyable experience on the Internet we highly
recommend getting it.
Type of site or download
Depending on the type of
site you're visiting or the
download you're receiving your Internet connection may appear to be
slow. A site such as Computer Hope, which is 90% composed of text
documents will load much faster than a website such as
YouTube, which is composed of
movie files.
Downloading while browsing
If you're doing more than one thing while on the
Internet you'll notice browsing the Internet is slower. For example,
if you or your kids are downloading a game, movie, music, or other
type of file. While the computer is getting that data all other
browsing will be slower.
Time of day or day
The time of day or what day it is can often affect
the overall speed of the Internet as well as your individual
connection. When more people are online
servers and Internet
connections can become overloaded and cause delays in the response.
In addition users who are using broadband cable to connect to the
Internet share an individual cable with neighbors who are also
subscribed. If all your neighbors are on at the same time you will
notice a decrease in your speed.
Times when people are at home, e.g. off from work or
school (after 3PM) or weekends (Saturday / Sunday) are often slow
times. Sites like Internet
Traffic Report actually report the flow of data around the
world. This type of site can give you a rough idea of busy
times.
Server or website location
The location of the web page you're visiting can also
determine the speed of the Internet. If you're accessing a web page
that is n a different part of the world it will be much slower than
a page that is hosted closer to you.
Visitors on site
A server or web site can often only handle so many
people at once. If hundreds, thousands, or millions of people are
trying to visit the site at once that page will be much slower and
in some cases pages may not even respond.
Network or site maintenance
If your Internet service provider or the host of the
web site is performing maintenance on their network, computers, or
network equipment this can cause speed related issues.
Other major event
If a major event is occurring around
the world, it may cause speed related issues. For example,
during the tragic events of September 11, 2001, where
terrorists attacked United States many of the news sites were
so overwhelmed with visitors that they would either take
several minutes to load or not load at all.
Additional information:
- Information about how you can test your Internet connection
can be found on document CH000539.
- Additional information about why your online game may be
slow can also be found on document
CH000620.
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