How to Maximize the Speed of Your Internet Connection

This article describes how to speed up your Internet connection without use of web accelerators,and is geared towards Windows and Internet Explorer.

Steps For Maximize the Speed Of Your Internet Connection

(1)Check to see if faster internet connections are in your area.

                                      Fiber optic and cable internet tend to be faster than DSL and Dial-Up.

(2)Do some basic maintenance on your PC.

 Run Disk Defrag, a scan disk, a virus scan, a Window Defender scan, and clear your recycle bin. An unusually slow Internet connection experience is often the only sign that your computer is infected with viruses or other malware. Delete old files and temporary files. Never allow the free space on your C: drive to be less than 10% of the total size or twice the installed RAM (which ever is larger). A well maintained PC will operate much better than a PC that has never had any maintenance. Google or your local computer repair store should be able to help you with this if you don't know how or you can use any good system cleaner and PC optimizer tool for free such as [ Registry Cleaner and Wise Disk Cleaner] or purchase something

                                                    

(3)Reset Your Home Network

Sometimes restarting (or unplugging and replugging the electric power on) your home network or your router -- if you have one -- will drastically increase the speed of your connection.          

                                                

(4)Check your home network equipment in general.

If you have multiple computers sharing a connection, make sure all the computers are physically connected to a router or switch, and not just to a hub. Hubs are "dumb", low-level equipment, while routers are capable of prioritizing and directing traffic effectively.

(5)Optimize your cache or temporary Internet files.

                         These files improve your Internet connection performance by not downloading the same file over and over. When a web site puts their logo graphic on every page your computer only downloads a new one when it changes.

(6)If you are using a Wireless router, make sure it doesn't conflict with a cordless phone or wireless camera.

 Wireless routers come in three varieties; 802.11 b, g, and n (2.4Ghz) or 802.11 a (5.8Ghz) If you are using a 2.4Ghz Cordless phone and 2.4Ghz Wireless router then your Internet connection speed will slow while you use the cordless phone. The same is true of wireless security cameras. Check on your phone and camera, if it's 900Mhz then it's fine. If it says 2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz then it could be the cause of your slow connection speed while they're in use

                         

(7)Upgrade your computer

If your computer is slow, it doesn't matter how fast your Internet connection is, the whole thing will just seem slow. You can only access the Internet as fast as your PC will allow you to.

(8)Upgrade your router/firewall equipment.

              

 Specifically, look into any speed specifications (many older routers are not capable of transmitting to/from the internet faster than 10 Mbps, even though the local ports   transmit in 100 Mbps). Also,   older routers may be underpowered, so that even though the theoretical speed is 10 Mbps, the processor on the router is too weak to reach maximum speed.

(9)Upgrade your router firmware.

Check the manufacturer's web site for firmware downloads for your router. Compare this with your version, and upgrade if necessary. Most routers have web interfaces for managing this, check for any labels on your router specifying default address, username and password.

                      

(10)Often your connection speed is slow because other programs are using it.

   if other programs, such as anti-virus and other updates, are accessing the Internet without your knowing, Click Start, Click Run. Type "cmd" (without quotes). Type "netstat -b 5 > activity.txt". After a minute or so, hold down Ctrl and press C. This has created a file with a list of all programs using your Internet connection. Type activity.txt to open the file and view the program list.

(11)Try pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete simultaneously and open up the Task Manager.

Go to the process menu and close those processes that may be stealing your valuable bandwidth. (NOTE: Closing processes with unknown filenames may cause known programs to not function properly). There is a column with the User Name, and if that is "System", you'd better leave it alone until you stop using the program that needs it. But if the User is your own login name, then it is not crucial to the operating system, but may be needed by other programs, however you may experiment. Often the system will not allow closing of -- or will reopen -- needed system programs.

(12)After you have tried some of this try your connection again and see if it's running any faster.

 If it is better you may need to close those extras each time you restart your system until you set the startup list to not open them anymore.

• Some Tips:-

            •Some times malware on your computer can eat up your bandwidth. Make sure you have an up-to-date malware protection program.

        •Don't expect dial up or moderate speed service to be fast. The Internet is primarily geared towards Broadband Connections, which is about 512kbs or higher Sometimes, you have to wait a little.

->Download programs that make browsing faster:

                                                                                                              • A good tool to increase internet speed is Internet Cyclone.

   •  Loband.org is a browser inside of a browser that loads web pages       without the images.

   •  Firefox and Opera both have options to disable images. In Firefox, you can also use extensions such as NoScript that let you block scripts and plug-ins that would otherwise slow things down a lot.

  •  If you are using Internet Explorer or Firefox, try downloading Google Web Accelerator. It is meant to speed up broadband connections but it can also slow your Internet connection.