Troubleshooting AOL internet performance issues

Before you begin troubleshooting the speed of your AOL broadband connection, we suggest that you perform a AOL Internet Speedtest to benchmark your current connection speed.

It is also a good idea confirm the minimum download speed that you on your broadband package from AOL.

You can find this information by checking your AOL broadband bill, your AOL contract or by contacting AOL.

Possible causes of AOL’s slow broadband speed

Is it the AOL broadband that is running slow or could it be your device (PC/laptop/phone)?

You may need to check the number of apps are running on your device.

The speed issue could be due to over-utilisation of your device’s resources e.g RAM/CPU Processor and as opposed to a problem with AOL’s internet connection.

If you are on a computer then you can use the task manager to check your Processor and RAM utilisation.

On any other device, you could try restarting the device which should hopefully kill all apps that may have been hogging your systems resources.

Re-run the AOL Speedtest on your personal computer and your mobile phone to check how the speed test results differ between the two devices.

This should hopefully give you more info to help determine if the issue lies with your PC/Smartphone or the AOL internet connection.

• What does the AOL download and upload speed mean?
• Who’s the best Broadband Service Provider in the UK?
• Five tips to improve your AOL broadband performance
• Simple DNS tip to speed up internet browsing speed on AOL

Is your Wifi the cause of the issue?

The root cause of the performance issue may be your wireless as opposed to the AOL broadband internet connection.

You could rule out the wireless network by connecting your computer directly to the AOL broadband router using an ethernet cable and run the AOL Speedtest again.

If the result is better when you’re connected using an ethernet cable, this indicates that the issue could be with your internal wireless network.

Possible things to check:

• Are the WiFi channels that you’re using for your Wi-Fi network network (SSID) overlapping with the neighbours?
• Is your Wifi network signal from the wireless router obstructed?
• Does the performance improve when you’re standing directly infront of the AOL internet router?

Who’s connected to my Wifi network?

Have you checked that your wireless network password has not been shared? Do you have an un-secured Wifi network? How complex is your wireless network password? It could be time to update it.

Others could be using your Wi-Fi network and using up all your AOL speed by downloading, uploading or even streaming music or video on your AOL internet connection! Worse than that, they could be carrying out illegal activities over your AOL internet connection.

There are 3 applications to utlise to analyze your Wi-Fi network to see who is connected:

• Microsoft users can use Wireless network watcher
• Apple users can use whoFi (who is on my Wifi)
• wifi network troubleshooting application WiFi Analyzer

The above software analyse your Wi-Fi network and produce a list of the devices connected.

• How to see who is on your AOL Wi-Fi network

Should I get a Wifi booster for my AOL broadband?

If you find that there are wireless coverage holes at your property, a Wifi network extender also known as a Wifi Booster may be the best fix to increase your Wi-Fi signal to cover any coverage holes.

• Best Wifi Signal Extenders

The wireless network booster picks up the existing Wifi signal as it is becoming weaker and re-transmits the wireless signal to extend it’s coverage.

Position the Wifi extender near where your wireless signal from your AOL broadband router is starting to become weaker.

Place it approximately where your wireless signal drops down to less than two signal bars. Walk around your property with a mobile phone to try and establish where this location is.

When did you last upgrade the AOL broadband router?

The AOL and broadband infrastructure, in general, are constantly updated to support new features and improve reliability as technology evolves.  Ensure that your AOL broadband router is running on the most up to date software.

The majority of AOL broadband routers allow you to perform the software update by simply logging into the AOL broadband router and simply clicking a button to start the upgrade.

If you cannot do this, get in touch with AOL and they will be able to do this for you or alternatively, guide you through the process.

In addition to upgrading the software, if you have had router for a long time, it’s probably worth talking to AOL to ask for a hardware upgrade.

Is the cause of the problem external to your home (at the exchange)?

This is probably the most common cause for AOL broadband performance problems in your home and it’s more common with broadband connections that are delivered through phone lines.

If you’re not sure if this is relevant in your case, contact AOL who will be able to carry out the appropriate line checks to see if there is a issue on the AOL broadband line.

Is the issue because of AOL Internet congestion?

If you’re finding that the AOL broadband connection speed in your area is slows down during certain periods e.g over weekends or evenings, it may be due to congestion during peak hours.

• What is Broadband Contention Ratio and does AOL have contention?

You should contact AOL to find out your guaranteed speed.

Find Best Alternatives to AOL Broadband

 

Re-testing your AOL internet connection

After the issue has been fixed either by yourself or AOL, re-test the internet connection using  at least two independent Speedtests to ensure the fault is fixed:

• • Use the ookla internet broadband speed test to test your AOL connection
  • Test your AOL connection speed using Ookla Offical Speed Test
  • Test your AOL internet connectionspeed using fast.com speed test
  • Check My Broadband Speed Checker AOL internet speed checker
  • • 0845UK Internet Speed test and troubleshooting