Practical Tips for Improving Your Broadband Speeds

There are many factors which can affect your Broadband Speed.

The distance your property is from the serving exchange or roadside node, the time of day you go online and the number of people in your home using the internet at the same time are just some of the factors which can play a part in slowing your Broadband connection.

Your router may not be set up correctly or there may be wireless signal problems in your home.
In any communications network, there are peak periods of use. Road networks are busiest when people travel to and from work; at these times traffic moves slower. The internet is no different; there are significantly more people online between 6pm and midnight, which impacts on data speed. Our networks are dimensioned to minimise this reduction in speed, but we can never guarantee you’ll achieve the same speed in peak times, as you do in off-peak periods. Using the same analogy, our ADSL service could be viewed as a major A road, VDSL as a dual carriageway and VDSL Plus as a four lane motorway, the latter two better able to cope with more traffic.

The following tips, however, could help bring your connection back up to speed:

Check your line connection speed compared to your Typical Speed Range
You can check your actual speed via our speed test application on our website - it is recommended to connect your computer via an Ethernet (network) cable with no other devices connected to your network. Always run a few tests, over a few days and vary the times of your tests.
Then, enter your telephone number on our Broadband Availability Checker which will show you the Typical Speed Range for your line: http://www.manxtelecom.com/speed
If the actual speed received is outside of the Typical Speed Range then read on for further tips to improve your Broadband speed.
Update your Computer and Router
You should check that your computer, internet browser and router are fully up to date with the latest software updates. Consult your computer manufacturer's website for update information. You can find support information on Manx Telecom routers, including how to update the firmware, here. Updated versions not only provide better security but can also work faster.
Some electrical devices can cause interference with your router
Halogen lamps, electrical dimmer switches, stereo or computer speakers, fairy lights, TV's and monitors and power cords have all been known to cause interference. Keep your router away from other electrical devices as well as those which emit wireless signals such as cordless phones, baby monitors etc. Try to place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor and keep it switched on.
Consider upgrading your router to the latest model
If you have an older router, or you have regular disconnections on your line, you may benefit from upgrading. Whilst your router may have been suitable when you purchased it, it is likely that you have added more devices to your network over the years, phones, tablets, SMART TVs etc, and there is more interference around with most households having a wireless router these days.
We offer free router when signing or resigning with many of our Broadband, Ultima and Ultima Plus services. Speak to our Sales team on 624624 for further advice.
Password Protect Your WiFi
If you do not password protect your WiFi signal, anyone nearby could log on to your router and use your broadband. Not only could this affect your Broadband speed but, if you are on a Capped Broadband service it could use your limited monthly allocation and also affect your online security.
When choosing a password you should always use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers. See our Password Security Information here for further information.
Also, see our guide for changing your WiFi password with Manx Telecom routers in the Initial Configuration documents here
Use a wired connection instead of wireless
If you are using a computer, and not a tablet or smartphone, you should use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to the router instead of using WiFi. An Ethernet cable is a networking cable which should give you a faster, more reliable connection.
Plug your router directly in to the main phone socket (ADSL only)
It is best to avoid using an extension lead to move your router as these can cause interference which can reduce your speed. If you need your router in another location consider a Manx Telecom installed socket the other location. If you have to use an extension lead, use a new, high quality one with the shortest possible length. Tangled and coiled leads can cause interference.
Ensure every socket in use has a filter (ADSL only)
If you are an ADSL customer check that every socket in use has an ADSL filter in place. The filter separates the Broadband signal from the phone signal to ensure there is no interference on either which can cause noise on the phone line and slow speeds or even disconnections on your Broadband service.
Do not double-filter (Ultima and Ultima Plus only)
If you are an Ultima or Ultima Plus customer, and a small number of ADSL installations, you will have a permanently wired socket for your Broadband service, ensure you do not have any plug-in ADSL filters in any other sockets. Double-filtering can cause interference on the line and slow speeds.
Call Manx Telecom's Service Centre on 624 624
If you still have problems or you have any questions please call our Service Centre on 624 624 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday or 10am to 5pm Sunday and Bank Holidays, our team can test your line and ensure it is free from faults.