Our reliance on a good stable internet connection has never been more in need and recent stories of users loosing connection when trying to submit an important report, school project or even buying tickets for concerts, with an example being fans reporting loss of connection when trying to buy Coldplay, Linkin Park and Oasis tickets, whilst waiting in the long Ticketmaster queues and missing out.
Here is a simple list of things you can do to maximise your internet connection to ensure the important events you wish to achieve online are not interrupted.
1. Consider the position of your internet router.
Choosing the router position in your home, whether using a wired or Wi-Fi connection, is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. The ideal position is either in the centre of your home or the closest to where most of your important devices need to access the internet.
It’s recommended that the router should not be on the floor and should be placed at a good height, parallel to where most devices will be in contact. Do not put your router on its side, it should always be flat and not surrounded by bulky items or even electrical items.
Avoid putting your router near a television of Wi-Fi / Bluetooth speakers.
2. Connect devices directly to the router with a wired connection (LAN cable)
Ideally connect your desktop or laptop to the router with a wired LAN (local Area Network) cable. This ensures you have a consistent connection to the internet via the router. Using a fixed cable device ensures any variation or interruptions in Wi-Fi frequency will not effect your needs.
3. Ensure your connection is not overloaded with other devices.
Internet connection speeds are effected by how many devices are connection and how much bandwidth they are using. If you choose to use a wired LAN connection direct to your router, remove any other unnecessary connections and consider turning off the Wi-Fi until you have completed your task.
If you cannot turn off your internal Wi-Fi, consider how may devices in your home have constant access, e.g. TVs, phones, speakers, cookers, doorbells and even watches. Work out how any of these devices are actually essential and then turn the ones that are not off, to ensure you have the best access to bandwidth.
4. Have multiple devices ready to use.
You may have a good running laptop, desktop or tablet but there is always a chance one device will not work when you most need it or even the device forces you to instal an important update, meaning you cannot complete your task.
Always have a backup device and ideally for both wired and Wi-Fi connections, this makes sure you have many options available.
5. Make sure you have a good connection speed before starting.
Ensure your connection speed is as you expect by using an online speed testing tool such as https://www.speedtest.net/ . This will show your exact speed before you commence your online task.
If you have a slow connection you can either restart your device, restart your router or check to see if there are devices using too much bandwidth on your home network.
6. Give your self plenty of time
Make sure you do all of the above items in advance of needing to complete an online task to save stress closer to the time.
If your are looking at buying tickets online then quite often ticket sites have a waiting room open 30 minutes before the advertised selling time, so be prepared!
