How to troubleshoot GConnect internet speed problems

Before starting to troubleshoot the speed of your GConnect broadband connection, we suggest that you perform a GConnect Internet Speed Test to measure your current broadband speed.

Also confirm the guaranteed minimum download speed you on your broadband package from GConnect.

You can find this info by checking a GConnect broadband bill, your GConnect contract or by contacting GConnect.

Probable causes of GConnect’s slow broadband speed

Is it the GConnect internet connection that is running slow or could it be your device (PC/laptop/phone)?

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

The performance problem may be due to the over-utilization of your device’s resources e.g RAM/memory/CPU and not an issue with GConnect’s internet connection.

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

On any other device, you should try rebooting the device which should hopefully terminate all programs that may be hogging your systems resources.

Re-run the GConnect Speed test on your computer and your mobile to see how the speedtest results compare between the two devices.

Hopefully this should give you more info to work with in terms of whether the issue is with your device or the GConnect internet connection.

• What exactly does the GConnect download and upload speed mean?
• Who’s the best Internet Service Provider in the UK?
• Five ways to improve your GConnect Internet speed
• Simple DNS tip to speed up internet browsing speed on GConnect

Is your Wifi the problem?

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

You can rule out the Wi-Fi network by connecting your PC directly into the GConnect broadband router with an ethernet cable and run the GConnect Speed checker again.

If the performance is better when you are connected via an ethernet cable, this proves that the problem may be with your Wifi.

A few other things to investigate:

• Are the Wireless channels that you’re using for your wireless network network (SSID) overlapping with the neighbours?
• Is your Wi-Fi network signal from the wireless router obstructed?
• Does your speed get better when you’re stood directly in-front of the GConnect broadband router?

Who is connected to my Wifi network?

Have you checked that your Wi-Fi network password has not been hacked? Do you have an un-secured wireless network? How strong is your wireless network password? It may be time to change it.

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

There are 3 apps that you can use to analyse your Wi-Fi network to see who is connected:

• Microsoft 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 devices connected.

• How to see who’s on your GConnect Wifi network

Do I need a wireless booster for my GConnect broadband?

If you discover that there are Wifi black spots at your home, a wireless extender also known as a wireless Booster is the best solution to increase your Wifi signal to cover any coverage gaps.

• Cheapest Wi-Fi Signal Boosters

The Wifi network extender simply picks up the existing Wifi signal just as it is becoming weaker and re-transmits the Wi-Fi network signal to extend it’s reach.

Place the Wifi network extender near where your Wifi network signal from the GConnect internet router is becoming weaker.

Position it near where your Wifi network signal is dropping down to less than 2 bars. Walk around your property with a tablet to find where this location is.

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

The GConnect and broadband infrastructure, in general, are constantly upgraded to provide new features and improve reliability as technology evolves.  Ensure that the GConnect broadband internet router is running the latest software.

Most GConnect internet routers allow you to carry out the software upgrade by logging on the GConnect broadband router and simply clicking on a button to start the upgrade.

If you can’t do this, get in touch with GConnect and they will be able to perform the upgrade for you or alternatively, guide you through the process.

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

Is the root cause of the issue outside your property (at the exchange)?

This is probably the most likely cause for GConnect 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, you should contact GConnect who should be able to carry out the relevant line tests to see if there is a fault on the GConnect internet line.

Is the performance issue due to GConnect broadband congestion?

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

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

You should contact GConnect to find out your minimum speed.

Re-testing your GConnect broadband connection

After the issue has been resolved either by yourself or GConnect, re-test your broadband connection using  at least two separate Speedtests to ensure the issue is resolved:

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