Useful Tips To Speed Up Your Broadband

Mon 03 April, 2017

There is nothing more frustrating than slow broadband for everyone in your school, and beyond the “turn off, turn back on” approach, many people feel like there is nothing more they can do beyond completely changing broadband providers. To the contrary, there are many things that could be slowing down your school’s Internet speed. To help you carry out a broadband check and help speed up your school’s broadband, here are some useful tips.

  • Speed check

Start your broadband check online. You can do this through your Internet provider or a number of free websites that offer the service. This will give you an idea of where your broadband speed sits on the spectrum.

  • Try changing the location of your router

There are many things in your school that can affect the strength of your wireless broadband signal, from walls to interferences from other electrical appliances. If your broadband is slow, try moving your routers. The best place for routers is somewhere high up and central. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to put routers in a classroom cupboard, but this can often slow down the broadband speed significantly.

  • Take a look at your school’s online activity

You’d be surprised how many applications on your school computers are using the Internet, often running in the background using large amounts of bandwidth to install updates or load data. The digital classroom of today is placing unprecedented demands on broadband in schools. Try to determine which applications or resources are affecting your broadband speed the most. Deleting old files and clearing browser history can also help.

  • Check your broadband width

It’s crucial to have a fast, reliable and robust broadband width in schools. With so many devices (including the many mobile phones in schools today), it’s possible that large amounts of bandwidth are being used for downloads or content updates, slowing down the overall broadband speed in the meanwhile. While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to reduce the amount of devices in your school, it’s essential to have a broadband width that can handle the load.

  • Consider upgrading

If all else fails, sometimes it’s simply that the router is past its day and it’s time to upgrade your broadband. Make sure to look at your provider’s range of options, in order to find a broadband that is best suited to schools.

  • Seek the help of a professional school IT management company

Having a dedicated computer support specialist at your school will help ensure the fastest and most reliable service, as well as the smooth running of your broadband. Read more about what a school computer support specialist can do for your school.