Why is the speed of the Internet falling. Top 5 Causes of Slow Internet Speed

In most cases, the speed of Internet access for users is somewhat lower than that stated in their tariff.

And now let's consider the reasons why the access speed is different and, moreover, it differs in an unpleasant way for the user and the factors that affect it:

Problems with the equipment of the end user (subscriber)- if you have an outdated or incorrectly configured router, an old network card or drivers that do not correspond to it, the result is a low speed of network access. It is especially important to set correct drivers on the wifi adapter- at first glance, they can work, but not as it should be.
Problems with software - low Internet speed is very often associated with the presence of various kinds of "harmful for Internet speed" software on the computer. In fact, this is one of the main reasons. Moreover, “malicious” in this case includes all kinds of Ask.com panels, Yandex.Bar, Mail.ru search and protector, etc. - sometimes, it’s enough just to remove all these programs from the computer and the Internet will stop “slowing down”. Constant use of your computer, installing and uninstalling applications, and browsing the web result in corrupted and outdated registry entries that slow down your computer. Such entries from the registry must be deleted regularly.
Physical distance to provider- the farther the provider's server is located, the weaker the signal level in the network can be, the more often various packets with corrective information must pass through the network, which as a result leads to a decrease in speed.
Network congestion- the more people simultaneously use a separate provider line, the more significant the impact on the connection speed. Thus, in the evening, when all your neighbors use a torrent to download a movie, the speed will decrease. This factor is especially typical for providers providing Internet access over 3G networks, in which the effect of congestion affects speed to an even greater extent (the effect of a breathing cell - the more people are connected via 3G, the less the range of the network from the base station).
Traffic restriction- your ISP may deliberately restrict certain types of traffic, such as the use of file-sharing networks. This is due to the increased load on the provider's networks, as a result of which users who do not need the Internet to download torrents have difficulty accessing the Internet.
Issues on the remote server side- the speed with which you download files on the Internet, watch movies online or simply browse sites depends not only on the speed of your Internet, but also on the speed of access to it by the server from which you download information, as well as its workload. Thus, a 100 megabyte file sometimes has to be downloaded within a couple of hours, although, in theory, at a speed of 100 megabits per second, it should take 8 seconds - the reason is that the server cannot serve the file at this speed. The geographic location of the server also affects. If the downloaded file is located on a server in Russia, and connected to the same communication channels as you, the speed, other things being equal, will be higher. If the server is located, for example, in the USA, the packets may slow down, resulting in a lower Internet speed.

Thus, the speed of Internet access can be influenced by numerous factors and it is not always easy to determine which one is the main one.

However, in most cases, despite the fact that the speed of Internet access is lower than stated, this difference is not significant and does not interfere with work. In those cases where the differences are several times, first of all, you should look for problems in the software and hardware own computer, and also seek advice from the technical support of the provider if no problems were found on their side.

There are many services for self-checking the speed of your Internet connection in real time.

Important! Before you start the speed test, scan your PC for problems and improve its performance! One of the programs to fix your PC slowdown, eliminate system errors Windows Registry and computer performance improvements - RegClean Pro.

One of the most popular ways to test your connection speed- service speedtest.net. When you enter this site, on the page you will see a simple window with a button "Start test" or "Begin test". By pressing this button, you will be able to observe the process of analyzing the speed of sending and downloading data (It is worth noting that providers, indicating the speed at the rate, as a rule, mean the speed of downloading data from the Internet or Download speed - i.e. the speed with which you can download something from the Internet.Sending speed may vary downwards and in most cases this is not a problem).
Before proceeding directly to the speed test on speedtest.net, you can select the server on the map that will be used - as a rule, if you choose a server that is closer to you, the result will be faster and closer to the advertised speed.

It is worth noting that if during the test you are connected to the network via Wi-Fi using a router, then most likely the speed will be lower than that which would have been obtained with direct connection when the cable is connected directly to the computer's network card (read more about this later in this article).

For those who actively use the torrent, there is another way to more or less reliably find out what is the maximum possible speed downloading files from the Internet on your computer. To do this, find on the torrent tracker any file that has a significant number of distributors (1000 or more) and not too many leechers (downloaders). Put it on download. At the same time, do not forget to disable the download of all other files in your torrent client. Wait until the speed rises to its maximum threshold, which will not happen immediately, but after a few minutes. This is the approximate speed at which you can download something from the Internet. Usually it turns out to be close to the speed declared by the provider.
It is important to note here: in torrent clients, the speed is displayed in kilobytes and megabytes per second, and not in megabits and kilobits. Those. if the torrent client shows 1 MB/sec, then the download speed in megabits is 8 Mb/sec.

In conclusion, let's dwell on the problems associated with routers and wireless WI-FI networks.

The router is not less than common problem decrease in the speed of Internet access, along with problems in the software.
To determine whether the router is the cause of the low speed, it is enough to measure the Internet speed when connecting through the router, and then connect network cable directly to a computer or laptop. If the speed is normal without a router, then the reason is in it. At the same time, you need to make sure that there are no more connections to this router (be sure to check the password for Wi-Fi or even change it, since possible reason Internet brakes is that someone else has connected to your wireless network, and uses your Internet channel). Be sure to check all other computers in your home network. Another computer may need to be checked for "malware" or errors system registry.

If you are convinced that the problem of speed reduction lies precisely in your router, then do not rush to throw it away. You should know the following:

1. All Wi-Fi routers have software and hardware limitations. This is due to existing communication standards for wireless communication in certain frequency areas (IEEE 802.11). Simply put, the problem with the fact that the router cuts the speed most often occurs among owners of the most common inexpensive (1000-1500 rubles) routers - D-Link, ASUS, TP-Link and others. Just because the box says 150 Mbps doesn't mean you'll get given speed transmission over Wi-Fi. You can approach it using a Static IP connection, over an unencrypted wireless network, and preferably, the intermediate and final equipment should be from the same manufacturer, such as Asus. Such ideal conditions do not exist in the case of most ISPs.

If we talk about the software part, then, probably, everyone has heard about the firmware of the router: indeed, changing the firmware often allows you to solve problems with speed. The new firmware fixes errors made in the old ones, optimizes the operation of those same hardware components for various conditions, and therefore, if you experience problems with Wi-Fi communication, you should try flashing the router with a different, newer firmware.

2. Influence of external factors. Often the reason for the low speed is home electronic equipment and the location of the router itself (someone has it in a pantry with reinforced concrete walls, some have it in a metal box). All this, and especially everything related to metal and electricity, can seriously damage the quality of receiving and transmitting a Wi-Fi signal. The list of the most well-known jammers includes devices used for remote monitoring of infants (the so-called "baby monitors"), surveillance cameras, microwave ovens, equipment for relaying a television signal, and much more.
The ideal option is to provide direct visibility between the router and client devices.

An equally important problem is that Wi-Fi routers have become very widely used and your housemates have also installed them. Now the Internet is available in almost every apartment and it is very likely that the apartments have WiFi routers. These WiFi networks are located close enough, overlap each other and often work on the frequency channels set by the manufacturer by default, creating excessive congestion and interference with each other.

You can improve the performance of your Wi-Fi network by changing the channels in the router or its installation location in the room. How to do this, you can read, for example

Hello! Today I will share with you my thoughts on how to be and what to do if your Internet speed is lower than declared by the operator. But first things first. Many netizens, however, do not think about some points when they ask: “Why is my Internet speed slow?”. Therefore, to begin with, let's define the terminology in order to correctly understand the essence of what is happening. As a rule, everyone talks about speeds as something abstract. Or they simply claim that “there is no speed”, that there should be speed and that’s it, without going into technical details.

The concept of Internet speed. What is speed?

Speed is the number of megabits that the Internet provider gives to the subscriber within the selected tariff. The more of them, the faster the Internet should work, many will say, but not everything is so simple. Indeed, in the past (in times of slow internet), loading heavy internet pages could be slow due to low internet speeds. But when the tariffs of operators have crossed the line of 2-3 megabits, you will no longer see a difference in the speed of loading web pages. Whether you have 3 megabits at a rate or 100 megabits, the pages will load approximately the same. Therefore, the only objective definition of speed is the time it takes to download any files to your computer from the Internet. In simpler terms, this is the speed of downloading files. The more megabits you have at the rate, the faster you can download your favorite movie, music album, games, etc. to your computer. It is very important to understand this. Firstly, by reading this information, you increase your level of literacy, and secondly, you may not bother conscientious operators over trifles that you can figure out on your own.

How to check speed?

There is nothing complicated about this, the long-standing service http://www.speedtest.net/ is great for measuring the speed of your Internet. Many ISPs post a link to this service on their websites so that any user who wants to test their speed can do so. I recommend measuring the speed to the server of your operator, and / or to another operator closest to you on the map. For example, if the subscriber's place of residence is the Perm Territory, then it is logical to perform a speed test to Perm, Yekaterinburg. In this case, you get an objective test result, which for conscientious operators will not differ from the speed according to the tariff. Why is it important to measure the speed of only the node at your own/nearest neighbor point on the map? Yes, because within the network of your operator and up to the provider upstream of it, your operator is able to provide speed at a rate. But then the speed of your Internet cannot be guaranteed. And this is not the fault of the operator, this is how the worldwide network called the Internet works. Imagine the situation, you go to a site from your computer and download some file from it. In this case, you are the client and the site is the server. And a data transmission channel is established between the client and the server. The bottom line is - if the site is located within your operator (in your city, region), then you will download the file VERY quickly. But if the site is located somewhere in Japan, then the download speed can be simply negligible. Why it happens? It all depends on the number of intermediate communication nodes through which data is transmitted, and as a rule, the greater the number of intermediate nodes, the worse and slower the connection to the final resource (site). The entire internet is made up of ISPs. Small providers border on larger ones, and larger ones border on even bigger ones. Therefore, if you are downloading from a site that is geographically far away, then the packets of information passing from you to the site and from the site to you will have to go through the networks of many Internet operators. And this is a loss of speed, and in the case of game servers, an increase in ping.

Or maybe it's the computer?

No matter how strange it may sound, but the problem of low speed may be in the computer itself. Yes Yes exactly. One often hears such words: “I have the maximum tariff, I don’t understand why everything is so slow…”. You need to understand that the Internet is a connection that is already processed at the computer level. And the more productive and faster the computer itself, the faster web pages will load, applications will launch faster, etc. On a slow and old computer, the Internet, in principle, will not work quickly. The minimum computer configuration to use the Internet relatively comfortably is at least a dual-core processor and at least 2 GB random access memory . A funny case: the owner of a 12-year-old computer was sincerely surprised at the constant “brakes and freezes”. At the same time, she claimed that “once” this computer worked normally on the Internet. Just “once upon a time” the Internet itself was different, there were few pictures in it, the sites were mostly text information, minimal animations. What do we see now? Everything has changed a lot, sites began to be filled with a huge number of pictures, graphics, animations everywhere and other fat flash technologies. Modern Internet old computers digest, as they say, "with a scratch."

Software

Your favorite computer may have many programs installed for a variety of tasks. However, not all of them are equally useful. Please be careful when installing programs on your computer, there may be hidden checkboxes and other tricks, thanks to which completely unnecessary and even harmful software can get onto your computer. I have personally seen programs that are offered as an anti-virus solution, Internet defender, system optimizer, etc. So all these are potentially dangerous programs that, once they get into your computer, can greatly affect its operation. Can cause "glitches", freezes, slow application launch. Due to one such malware, the speed of the Internet can easily drop. I can give a very good recommendation for such a case: keep only those programs on your computer that you really need. Get rid of various managers, optimizers, toolbars and so on. By doing this, you will put things in order in the system and get rid of unnecessary system resource eaters, and as a result, the speed and responsiveness of your computer will increase.

Viruses do not sleep

Viruses can be one of the reasons slow work computer. By executing their algorithms, some viruses can use 100% of the resources available to the computer. For example, bitcoin mining. As a result, the computer will work extremely slowly, and the user will be perplexed what happened. No need to neglect anti-virus protection, it is needed. Without decent antivirus program your computer will be absolutely defenseless against any danger. In order not to practice reinstalling windows every month and lose installed programs and valuable information, your computer should have an antivirus that can protect you in any situation. In Russia, the top three anti-virus protection includes: Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Dr. Web and ESET NOD32. Any of them will provide a sufficient level of security.

I tried to describe the main situations in which it may seem that the Internet is slow. But often, the problem is not in it, but in the computer itself. You need to keep track of what is installed, downloaded, etc. to prevent system clutter and other infections. I wish you all a fast Internet, and the pleasure of using a computer See you soon!

There are two kinds of reasons for low internet speed, first- these are user dependent reasons, second- reasons depending on the Internet provider.

Reasons depending on the user:

1. Operating system

This problem is solved by reinstalling the system. It is especially worth considering for those who have different assemblies - animals, extreme sports and others. The best option is to install a clean operating system, deliver all the necessary software and use it to your health.

2. Viruses

Trojans And spyware (Spyware), can significantly slow down the Internet. Programs such as keylogger can track your activities and transmit various information over the Internet. Some viruses can completely block your access to the Internet.

3. Antiviruses and firewalls

Another reason that the Internet has become slower is the antivirus and its firewall. With its help, the antivirus checks the information on the fly, which, of course, will affect the speed of the Internet and, in general, the operation of your computer. Disable antivirus firewall or firewall and measure the speed, if the problem is gone, you will have to choose or good protection or internet speed. One of the solutions to this problem is to replace the antivirus.

4. Technical limitations of routers

If you have a router installed at home, then you need to carefully read it specifications(Remember, the manufacturer always overestimates the capabilities of their devices by 10-15 percent). Another option if you have wireless router and was not in the right mood, maybe someone other than you in this moment pozitsya your internet.

Turn off the router and try to access the Internet without additional equipment.

5. The problem with the cable in the apartment

One of the most common misconceptions is that a cable either works or it doesn't! But in reality, the quality of the connections and the condition of the cable have a big role in the speed of the Internet.

The main thing that needs to be done is to visually assess whether the cable is broken, whether the legs of a chair or other furniture are on it.

6. Malfunctions of the network card

In most cases, the failure of the network card will be implicit, your network card will be perfectly detected in the system, respond to the included cable, show that the cable is connected.

If possible, then connect another computer, if not, take another network card and try to connect through it.

Reasons not dependent on the subscriber:

On the part of the provider, there can be many reasons for the low speed, ranging from a malfunction of the equipment to which you are connected, to the congestion of both external and internal channels.

In this case, it is worth calling those support.

So let's start by defining what operating system is on our computer. And that our computer meets the requirements for the normal operation of this operating system. To do this, hover over the shortcut Computer, click right button mouse and open properties.

If you have an operating room windows system 7, the following computer parameters are required for its normal operation.

Processor with a clock frequency of 1GHz (GHz) or higher.
RAM (RAM) - from 1GB (gigabytes) and above, but preferably, of course, starting with two.
Free space on the hard disk is at least 20 GB, but preferably 50, because when updating the OS (operating system) it will increase in size and eat up disk space.
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver version 1.0 or higher.
From my experience windows usage 7 as an OS, I will say that these are the minimum tactical and technical data under which it is impossible to achieve a high speed of the computer. Seven compared to XP requires a lot of system resources for its functioning.

Five Possible Causes of Slow Internet Speed

We always follow the path of least resistance:

We determine the parameters of the computer. To do this, we are guided by the foregoing. The processor may not be able to handle the data stream, especially when downloading files from torrent trackers.
If you use Internet browser Explorer, then try this by replacing it with Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, I assure you it helps a lot.
Check if the computer is running automatic update windows, anti-virus system, whether there is a jump of resources from the Internet, or some programs are open. This can be peeped by opening the task manager: CTRL + ALT + DEL, where, having removed all tasks, it is advisable to restart the web browser. Also check in task manager mode processor load, if it is loaded under 100%, then this indicates an overload of the OS (on stationary computers this can be seen from the constantly burning indicator of the OS work processes), which means that the provider has nothing to do with it.
Install (if not) a utility on the computer to check the temperature of the main components of the computer. When the processor, motherboard, video card is heated above acceptable standards, the computer freezes completely or partially. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly monitor the processes occurring inside the system unit. I think a small AIDA64 program will be enough to monitor our iron.
The computer is infected with a trojan virus, spam bot, or some other spyware. Which, secretly from you, turned off the protection and launched processes invisible to us.
It can send spam, transfer your confidential data, e-mail passwords to its owner, upload any files to the system and thus occupy part of the access channel. The best advice for me was to download Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool, from the official website and, scanning all local drives for viruses.

Thus, dear PC users, in my opinion, the above may be Top 5 Reasons for Slow Internet Speed. But what you say about this, I think in the near future I will read it in the comments.

And for those who forgot to get useful information