How to troubleshoot Utility Warehouse broadband performance problems

Before you start troubleshooting the speed of your Utility Warehouse broadband connection, we suggest that you run a Utility Warehouse Broadband Speedtest to measure your current internet speed.

It is also a good idea confirm the minimum download speed that you on your broadband package from Utility Warehouse.

You can find this info by checking your Utility Warehouse broadband bill, your Utility Warehouse contract or by contacting Utility Warehouse.

Common causes of Utility Warehouse’s slow internet speed

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

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

The speed problem could be due to the over-utilization of your system resources e.g Memory/CPU Processor and as opposed to an issue with Utility Warehouse’s internet connection.

If you are on a laptop then you may use the task manager to see your CPU and Memory utilisation.

On any other device, you should try rebooting the device which should hopefully shut down all apps that may have been using up your systems resources.

Re-run the Utility Warehouse Speed test on your computer and your phone to check how the results differ between the two devices.

Hopefully this should provide you with more info to help determine if the issue lies with your PC/Smartphone or the Utility Warehouse internet connection.

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

Is the Wi-Fi network the issue?

The root cause of the performance problem could be your wireless and not the Utility Warehouse broadband connection.

You could rule out the Wi-Fi network by connecting your PC directly to the Utility Warehouse broadband router using a network cable and run the Utility Warehouse Speedtest again.

If the speed test result is better when you are connected via an ethernet cable, this proves that the issue could be with the Wifi network.

Possible things to check:

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

Who is connected to my wireless network?

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

Others could be using your wireless network and using up all your Utility Warehouse bandwidth by downloading, uploading or even streaming music or videos over your Utility Warehouse internet connection! Worse still, they could be conducting illegal activities using your Utility Warehouse internet connection.

Here are three applications that you can utlise to scan your Wifi network to see who is connected:

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

The above software analyse your Wi-Fi network and show you a list of the everything on your wifi.

• How to see who is on your Utility Warehouse Wifi network

Do I need a Wifi network booster for my Utility Warehouse broadband?

If you find that you have Wi-Fi black holes at your house, a Wifi network extender aka a Wifi Booster is the best fix to strengthen your Wifi signal to cover any black spots.

• Best Wireless Signal Boosters

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

Place the Wi-Fi network booster near where your Wifi signal from the Utility Warehouse broadband router is becoming weaker.

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

When did you last upgrade the Utility Warehouse broadband router?

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

The majority of Utility Warehouse internet routers will allow you to perform the software update by simply logging on the Utility Warehouse broadband router and simply clicking a button to start the update.

If you cannot do this, contact Utility Warehouse and they will do this for you or talk you through the process.

In addition to upgrading the software, if you have had hardware for a long time, it may be worth talking to Utility Warehouse to request for a hardware upgrade.

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

This is probably the most likely reason for Utility Warehouse broadband performance problems in your property and is more common for internet broadband connections that are delivered through copper phone lines.

If you’re not sure if this is relevant in your case, you should contact Utility Warehouse who should be able to run the relevant line tests to see if there is a problem on the Utility Warehouse internet line.

Is the issue because of Utility Warehouse broadband congestion?

If you’re finding that the Utility Warehouse internet connection speed in your area is slows down during certain periods e.g weekends and evenings, it may be because of congestion during peak times.

• What is Broadband Contention Ratio and does Utility Warehouse have contention?

You should speak to Utility Warehouse to check your minimum speed.

Find Best Alternatives to Utility Warehouse Broadband

 

Test your Utility Warehouse internet connection

After the issue has been fixed either by yourself or Utility Warehouse, retest your internet connection using  at least two separate Speedtests to ensure the fault is resolved:

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