How to troubleshoot MyFreeISP broadband performance issues

Before you begin troubleshooting the performance of your MyFreeISP internet connection, we suggest that you run a MyFreeISP Internet Speedtest to confirm your current internet speed.

It is a good idea to also confirm the guaranteed minimum download speed you on your broadband package from MyFreeISP.

You can get this information by checking a MyFreeISP broadband bill, your MyFreeISP contract or by contacting MyFreeISP.

Likely causes of MyFreeISP’s slow broadband speed

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

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

The performance problem may be due to the over-utilization of your system resources i.e Memory/CPU Processor and not a problem with MyFreeISP’s internet connection.

If you’re on a computer then you can use the task manager to check your CPU and Memory utilisation.

On any other device, you could try restarting the device which should hopefully shut down all applications that may have been using up your device resources.

Re-run the MyFreeISP Speed test on your computer and your 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 lies with your device or the MyFreeISP broadband connection.

• What does the MyFreeISP download and upload speed mean?
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• 5 methods to speed up your MyFreeISP Internet speed
• DNS hack to speed up internet browsing speed on MyFreeISP

Is your Wifi network the problem?

The root cause of the performance issue may be your Wi-Fi network and not the MyFreeISP broadband internet connection.

You could rule out the wireless by connecting your PC directly to the MyFreeISP broadband router with an ethernet cable and run the MyFreeISP Speedtest again.

If the speed test result is better when you are connected via an ethernet cable, this indicates that the issue could be with your wireless.

Possible things to investigate:

• Are the WiFi channels that you’re using for your wireless network (SSID) overlapping with the neighbors?
• Is your Wifi network signal from the internet router obstructed?
• Does your performance improve when your are standing right in-front of the MyFreeISP broadband router?

Exactly who’s connected to my Wi-Fi 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 Wi-Fi network password? It could be time to change it.

Neighbors could be on your Wi-Fi network and eating up all the MyFreeISP bandwidth by downloading, uploading or even streaming music or videos over your MyFreeISP internet connection! Worse than that, they could be carrying out illegal activities on your MyFreeISP internet connection.

Here are 3 apps that you can potentially use to analyse your Wi-Fi 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 scanning tool WiFi Analyzer

The above applications scan your Wi-Fi network and produce a list of the everything on your wifi.

• How to see who’s on your MyFreeISP wireless network

Do I need a wireless network booster for my MyFreeISP broadband?

You may discover that there are Wifi black holes at your house, a Wifi network extender also known as a Wi-Fi Booster may be the best fix to boost your Wi-Fi signal to cover any black holes.

• Cheapest Wireless Signal Boosters

The Wifi extender simply picks up your existing wireless signal just as it is starting to become weaker and re-transmits the Wi-Fi network signal to increase it’s coverage.

Place the Wi-Fi network booster/extender near the position where your wireless signal from your MyFreeISP internet router is becoming weaker.

Place it near where your wireless network signal drops down to 2 signal bars. Walk around your home with a smartphone to determine where this location is.

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

The MyFreeISP and broadband infrastructure, in general, are frequently upgraded to support new features and improve performance as technology evolves.  Ensure that the MyFreeISP broadband internet router is running on the most up to date software.

The majority of MyFreeISP broadband routers will allow you to carry out the software update by logging on the MyFreeISP broadband router and simply clicking on a button to do the upgrade.

If you can’t do this, contact MyFreeISP and they will be able to do this for you or alternatively, talk you through the process.

In addition to upgrading the software, if you have had the same router for a long time, it may be worth talking to MyFreeISP to ask for a router upgrade.

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

This is probably the most likely reason for MyFreeISP broadband performance problems in your area and it’s more common for broadband connections that are delivered via copper phone lines.

If you’re not sure if this is applicable to you, you should contact MyFreeISP who should be able to conduct the appropriate line tests to check if there is a fault on the MyFreeISP internet line.

Is the issue because of MyFreeISP Internet congestion?

If you are finding that the MyFreeISP broadband connection speed in your area is slow during certain periods i.e. weekends or during the evening, it may be due to congestion during peak times.

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

You should speak to MyFreeISP to check your minimum speed.

Find Best Alternatives to MyFreeISP Broadband

 

Test your MyFreeISP broadband connection

After the fault has been resolved either by yourself or MyFreeISP, retest your broadband connection using  at least 2 independent Speedtests to ensure the fault is resolved:

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