Troubleshooting Netserve internet speed problems

Before you start troubleshooting the speed of your Netserve internet connection, we suggest that you run a Netserve Internet Speed Test to confirm your current connection speed.

You may also want to find out the minimum download speed that you are paying for from Netserve.

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

Common causes of Netserve’s slow internet performance

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

You need to consider the number of applications are currently running on your device.

The performance problem may be due to over-utilization of your system resources e.g RAM/memory/CPU Processor and not a problem with Netserve’s internet connection.

If you are on a computer then you can use the task manager to see your Processor and Memory utilization.

On other device, you could try rebooting the device which hopefully will terminate all programs that may have been hogging system resources.

Re-run the Netserve Speed checker on your computer and your mobile phone to check how the speedtest results differ between the two devices.

Hopefully this should give you some information to help determine if the problem lies with your device or the Netserve internet connection.

• What exactly does the Netserve download and upload speed mean?
• Who is the best Broadband Service Provider in the UK?
• 5 tips to improve your Netserve broadband speed
• Simple DNS hack to improve internet browsing speed on Netserve

Is your Wi-Fi network the cause of the slowness?

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

You can rule out the Wifi by connecting your computer directly to the Netserve broadband router using an ethernet cable and then run the Netserve Speed checker again.

If the speed test result is better when you’re connected via a network cable, this shows that the problem may be with your wireless network.

A few other things to investigate:

• Are the Wireless channels that you’re using for your wireless network network (SSID) overlapping with your neighbours?
• Is the Wifi signal from the wireless router obstructed?
• Does your performance improve when you’re stood right infront of the Netserve broadband router?

Exactly who’s connected to my wireless network?

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

Neighbors could be on your Wifi network and eating up all the Netserve speed by downloading, uploading or even streaming music or video on your Netserve broadband connection! Worse than that, they may be conducting illegal activities on your Netserve broadband connection.

Here are three apps that you can potentially use to analyse your wireless network to see who’s connected:

• Microsoft Windows users can use Wireless network watcher
• IOS users can use whoFi (who is on my Wifi)
• Wireless scanning tool WiFi Analyzer

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

• How to check who’s on your Netserve Wifi network

Do I need a Wifi network booster for my Netserve broadband?

If you find that you have wireless coverage holes at your property, a Wifi extender aka a Wifi Booster is the best solution to increase your Wi-Fi signal to cover any coverage gaps.

• Cheapest Wireless Signal Boosters

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

Position the Wifi network booster/extender where your Wifi signal from your Netserve broadband router is starting to become weaker.

Place it approximately where your Wifi network signal drops down to less than two bars. Walk around your property with a mobile phone to determine where this is.

When did you last upgrade the Netserve broadband router?

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

Most Netserve broadband routers allow you to perform the software upgrade by simply logging into the Netserve broadband router and simply clicking on a button to start the update.

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

In addition to upgrading the software, if you have had router for a long period, it’s worth talking to Netserve to request for a router upgrade.

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

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

If you are not sure if this is applicable to you, you should contact Netserve who will be able to conduct the relevant line checks to check if there is a fault on the Netserve internet line.

Is it due to Netserve Internet congestion?

If you’re finding that the Netserve broadband connection speed in your area is slow during certain times i.e. weekends or during the evening, then it may be because of congestion during peak times.

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

You should speak to Netserve to check your minimum speed.

Re-testing your Netserve broadband connection

After the issue has been resolved either by yourself or Netserve, retest the broadband connection using  at least 2 separate Speedtests to ensure the issue is fixed:

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