How to troubleshoot Tesco broadband performance problems

Before starting to troubleshoot the performance of your Tesco internet connection, we recommend that you perform a Tesco Internet Speedtest to benchmark your current broadband speed.

Also confirm the minimum download speed that you have subscribed to from Tesco.

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

Common causes of Tesco’s slow broadband speed

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

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

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

If you are on a PC then you can use the task manager to see your CPU and RAM utilisation.

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

Re-run the Tesco Speed test on your personal computer and your mobile to check how the speedtest results compare between the 2 devices.

This should hopefully give you more info to work with in terms of whether the issue is with your PC/Smartphone or the Tesco internet connection.

• What does the Tesco download and upload speed mean?
• Who’s the best Broadband Service Provider in the UK?
• 5 methods to improve your Tesco broadband speed
• Simple DNS tip to improve internet browsing speed on Tesco

Is the wireless network the issue?

The root cause of the performance problem may be your wireless network as opposed to the Tesco broadband connection.

You could rule out the Wifi network by connecting your PC directly into the Tesco broadband router using a network cable and then run the Tesco Speed checker again.

If the speed test result is better when you are connected by an ethernet cable, this proves that the problem may be with the wireless network.

Possible things to investigate:

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

Exactly who’s connected to my Wifi network?

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

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

There are 3 applications that you can potentially use to analyse your Wifi network to see who is connected:

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

The above software will scan your wireless network and show you a list of the devices connected.

• How to check who is on your Tesco wireless network

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

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

• Best Wifi Signal Boosters

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

Place the Wifi network booster/extender near the position where your Wifi signal from the Tesco broadband router is becoming weaker.

Place it near where your wireless network signal is dropping down to 2 bars. Walk around your home with a smartphone to try and establish where this location is.

When did you last upgrade the Tesco broadband router?

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

Most Tesco broadband routers allow you to perform the software update by simply logging on the Tesco broadband router and simply clicking a button to do the update.

If you can’t do this, contact Tesco and they will be able to perform the upgrade for you or talk you through performing the upgrade yourself.

In addition to upgrading the software, if you have had hardware for a long period, it’s probably worth speaking to Tesco to request for a hardware upgrade.

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

This is probably the most common reason for Tesco broadband performance issues in your property and is more common with broadband connections that are delivered via copper phone lines.

If you are not sure if this is applicable to you, contact Tesco who will be able to carry out the relevant line checks to see if there is a fault on the Tesco broadband line.

Is the issue because of Tesco Internet congestion?

If you’re finding that the Tesco broadband connection speed in your area is slows down during certain times e.g over weekends or during the evening, it may be because of congestion during peak times.

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

You should contact Tesco to find out your guaranteed speed.

Test your Tesco broadband connection

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

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