Troubleshooting W3Z internet performance issues

Before you begin troubleshooting the performance of your W3Z broadband connection, we recommend that you perform a W3Z Broadband Speed Test to confirm your current internet speed.

Also find out the minimum download speed you have subscribed to from W3Z.

You can get this info by checking your W3Z broadband bill, your W3Z contract or by contacting W3Z.

Potential causes of W3Z’s slow broadband performance

Is it the W3Z internet connection that is slow or could it be your device (laptop/smartphone/PC)?

You need to check how many apps are currently running on your device.

The performance issue could be due to over-utilisation of your device’s resources i.e RAM/memory/CPU Processor and not a problem with W3Z’s internet connection.

If you’re on a computer then you may use the task manager to see your Processor and RAM utilization.

On other device, you should try restarting the device which hopefully will shutdown all programs that may have been using up system resources.

Run the W3Z Speed test on your computer and your mobile phone to check how the speedtest results compare between the two devices.

This should hopefully provide you with some info to work with in terms of whether the issue is with your PC/Smartphone or the W3Z internet connection.

• What exactly does the W3Z download and upload speed mean?
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• 5 tips to speed up your W3Z broadband performance
• DNS hack to speed up internet browsing speed on W3Z

Is your Wifi network the problem?

The root cause of the performance problem may be your wireless network and not the W3Z broadband connection.

You could rule out the wireless by simply connecting your computer directly into the W3Z broadband router using an ethernet cable and run the W3Z Speed checker again.

If the result improves when you’re connected using a network cable, this shows that the issue may be with the wireless network.

Possible things to investigate:

• Are the WiFi channels that you’re using for your wireless network (SSID) overlapping with the neighbors?
• Is your wireless signal from the wireless router obstructed?
• Does the speed get better when you’re stood directly in-front of the W3Z wireless router?

Exactly who’s connected to my wireless network?

Have you checked that your wireless network password has not been hacked? Do you have an open wireless network? How secure is your Wifi network password? It may be time to update it.

Neighbours could be using your wireless network and using up all the W3Z bandwidth by downloading, uploading or even streaming music or video on your W3Z internet connection! Worse still, they may be carrying out illegal activities on your W3Z broadband connection.

Here are 3 apps that you can use to analyze your wireless network to check who’s connected:

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

The above software scan your Wifi network and produce a list of the everything on your wifi.

• How to check who is on your W3Z Wifi network

Should I get a wireless booster for my W3Z broadband?

You may find that there are wireless coverage gaps in your home, a wireless extender also known as a Wi-Fi Booster may be the best fix to increase your Wifi signal to cover any coverage holes.

• Cheapest Wi-Fi Signal Extenders

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

Position the wireless booster/extender near the position where your Wifi signal from the W3Z internet router is becoming weaker.

Place it near where your Wifi network signal is dropping down to less than 2 signal bars. Walk around your house with a mobile phone to determine where this location is.

When was the last time you upgraded the W3Z broadband router?

The W3Z and broadband infrastructure, in general, are constantly updated to provide new features and improve performance as technology evolves.  Always ensure that your W3Z broadband internet router is running on the most up-to-date software.

Most W3Z broadband routers will allow you to carry out the software upgrade by simply logging into the W3Z broadband router and simply clicking a button to start the update.

If you cannot do this, get in touch with W3Z and they will be able to do this for you or alternatively, guide you through the process.

As well as updating the software, if you have had hardware for a long period, it’s probably worth talking to W3Z to ask for a router upgrade.

Is the fault outside your property (at the exchange)?

This is probably the most likely cause for W3Z broadband performance problems in your property and it’s more common for broadband connections that are delivered using copper phone lines.

If you are not sure if this is relevant in your case, contact W3Z who will be able to run the relevant line tests to check if there is a issue on the W3Z internet connection.

Is it due to W3Z broadband congestion?

If you’re finding that the W3Z broadband connection speed in your area is slow during certain times i.e. over weekends and evenings, then it may be due to congestion during peak times.

• What’s Broadband Contention Ratio and does W3Z have contention?

You should contact W3Z to find out your guaranteed speed.

Find Best Alternatives to W3Z Broadband

 

Test your W3Z broadband connection

After the issue has been fixed either by yourself or W3Z, re-test the broadband connection using  at least two independent Speedtests to ensure the problem is fixed:

• • Use the ookla internet broadband speed test to test your W3Z connection
  • Check your W3Z broadband speed using Ookla Offical Speed Test
  • Test your W3Z broadbandspeed using fast.com speed test
  • Check My Broadband Speed Checker W3Z internet speed checker
  • • 0845UK Broadband Speedtest and troubleshooting