Troubleshooting VFast broadband performance problems

Before you start troubleshooting the speed of your VFast broadband connection, we recommend that you run a VFast Internet Speed Test to measure your current internet speed.

It is a good idea to also confirm the minimum download speed you have subscribed to from VFast.

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

Likely causes of VFast’s slow broadband performance

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

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

The performance problem could be due to over-utilization of your device’s resources e.g Memory/CPU Processor and as opposed to a problem with VFast’s internet connection.

If you’re on a PC then you may use the task manager to see your CPU and Memory utilization.

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

Run the VFast Speed test on your personal computer and your phone to see how the results compare between the two devices.

Hopefully this should provide you with more info to work with in terms of if the problem is with your device or the VFast broadband connection.

• What does the VFast download and upload speed mean?
• Who is the best Broadband Service Provider in the UK?
• Five methods to improve your VFast broadband performance
• Simple DNS hack to improve internet browsing speed on VFast

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

The cause of the performance problem may be your Wifi and not the VFast broadband internet connection.

You can rule out the Wi-Fi network by simply connecting your computer directly into the VFast broadband router using a network cable and run the VFast Speed test again.

If the speed is better when you are connected using a network cable, this shows that the problem may be with your internal wireless network.

A number of things to check:

• Are the Wireless channels that you are using for your wireless network (SSID) overlapping with your neighbors?
• Is the Wifi signal from the wireless router obstructed?
• Does your speed improve when your are stood right infront of the VFast wireless router?

Who is connected to my Wifi network?

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

Others could be on your Wi-Fi network and using up all the VFast bandwidth by downloading, uploading or even streaming music or videos over your VFast broadband connection! Worse still, they may be conducting illegal activities on your VFast broadband connection.

There are three applications that you can potentially utlise to scan your wireless network to see who is connected:

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

The above software will scan your Wi-Fi network and display a list of the connected devices.

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

Should I get a wireless booster for my VFast broadband?

You may find that you have wireless black spots at your home, a Wi-Fi network extender aka a Wifi Booster may be the best solution to increase your Wifi signal to cover any black spots.

• Best Wifi Signal Extenders

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

Place the Wifi extender where your wireless network signal from the VFast internet router is becoming weaker.

Place it near where your Wifi signal is dropping down to less than two bars. Walk around your house with a tablet to determine where this is.

When was the last time you upgraded the VFast internet router?

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

Most VFast broadband routers will allow you to carry out the software upgrade by simply logging on the VFast broadband router and simply clicking on a button to perform the upgrade.

If you can’t do this, contact VFast and they will perform the upgrade for you or alternatively, talk you through performing the upgrade yourself.

As well as updating the software, if you have had router for a long time, it may be worth speaking to VFast to request for a hardware upgrade.

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

This is probably the most common reason for VFast broadband performance issues in your home and it’s more common with internet broadband connections that are delivered through copper phone lines.

If you’re unsure if this is relevant in your case, you should contact VFast who should be able to run the relevant line checks to check if there is a problem on the VFast internet connection.

Is the issue due to VFast Internet congestion?

If you are finding that the VFast internet connection speed in your area is slows down during certain times i.e. over weekends and evenings, then it may be due to congestion during peak hours.

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

You should contact VFast to find out your guaranteed speed.

Re-testing your VFast broadband connection

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

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