If you think your internet connection is running slow, please do a speed test by following the instructions below.
First of all to establish that you are getting the speed to your modem please make sure your computer is DIRECTLY connected to the cable modem via the Ethernet connection so as to eliminate the problem being a WiFi issue for now. Secondly please stop all other applications running on your computer to allow your computer test the full available bandwidth (A simple restart of your computer in most cases will be the easiest way to ensure all applications are stopped). Finally, we recommend that you use the independent www.speedtest.net site and choosing a Irish server to test your connection. Record the results and do the exact same test with another known working computer connected directly to your cable modem. If both computers show similar slow results, please contact us and we will be happy to help you resolve your problem. Please make sure that the above test is performed on a Wired Connection directly to your device and NOT on WiFi.
Some items that can be affecting your speed –
- Virus on your tested device or another device on your network.
- Fire wall bottle necking you bandwidth.
- Devices including your in home network and switches are only 100Mb capable.
- Another device on your network with a virus consuming all of your available bandwidth.
Your speed test result will be dependant on the package you choose at to subscribe too. We currently provide speeds up to 180Mb connection. Not all test sites have enough available bandwidth to test a 180Mb or they may be experiencing heavy usage which are all outside our network and control. Other ISP speed test may give a incorrect reading as they are not impartial test sites. This may cause them to give inaccurate results. It is for this reason that we only recommend and trust www.speedtest.net. If you are still experiencing difficulty we are happy to visit your home or business to identify why you are not getting your full speed. You can report a fault here. You can also watch this helpful video on doing a speed test.
If the speed was only slow on one of the two computers, we would suggest that this slowness is due to this computer being infected with viruses or spyware. Your computer may freeze up or may be running slow. We recommend that you bring your computer to your local computer store and ask an engineer to look at it.
If you have subscribed to one of our packages that is higher than 100Mb please make sure that all your equipment including network switches and firewalls are Gb (1,000Mb) capable. All our modems we provide are DOCSIS 3 and are Gb capable.
Maybe your speed issue is due to WiFi issues. While connecting by Wired Connection is always better and we recommend connecting all non portable devices by a wire, we do understand that there are some devices that are more convenient to be connected by wireless. With wireless technology distance from the modem and adding extra obstacles of walls etc between your modem and the device will also reduce the speed of your internet connection. To test the speed of your wireless device you can download the speed test app for your IOS or Android device to check the speed of your WiFi. WiFi speeds will always be slower than connecting by Wired Connection cable. Congestion in the WiFi band, especially in the 2.4G band can also reduce the performance of your WiFi. Your modem may be competing on the same WiFi channel and degrading the speed of your connection. Sometimes by simply powering off and on your modem this forces your modem to search the WiFi band for a cleaner less congested WiFi channel to use an this may improve your WiFi performance. You can also watch our helpful video on rebooting your modem.