[Sponsored] Fixing Lag: How To Reduce Network Latency And Improve Download Speeds

Lag can be a big problem for people who are trying to make the most of the internet experience, especially those who play games over the internet. Due to lag, people may experience delays, as well as losing connection to their server repeatedly. Visit iiNets wireless broadband page today to find out more about their plans & availability.

To fix lag and improve your download speeds, you will need to reduce your network latency. Here are some easy ways to try to reduce your network latency, so you don’t have to worry about slow download speeds and lag:

1. Use a wired connection.

Since wireless network traffic is sent right through the air, it can occasionally become lost. If it does, your computer will have to resend the information, causing a noticeable delay. If you strengthen your wireless signal, lag may be reduced somewhat, but all wireless signals carry this problem to some extent. To improve your download speeds and reduce latency, consider using an Ethernet cable. This is one of the most effective investments you can make – in addition to being one of the cheapest – to improve your connection.

2. Reboot your network hardware.

Your network hardware will slow down a bit if it hasn’t been restarted in a while. While most modems or routers will only slow down after weeks or months of not being rebooted, some will slow down much more quickly. So, unplug both your router and modem for 30 minutes, reboot your modem and wait for it to load and then, start your router. It is also advisable to reboot your computer after completing this process.

3. Close bandwidth intensive programs.

Network connections all have limited bandwidth. The amount yours has depends on the plan you chose from your internet service provider. If you are using more than your maximum bandwidth, your network latency will drop. In addition, if you share your network with anyone else, any bandwidth intensive programs running on your network will affect performance on the network.

4. Disable your firewalls.

Firewalls filter all outgoing and incoming network traffic which takes up time. Often, this will not become a problem, but if your firewall program has become corrupted or misconfigured, it can noticeably add to your latency. In addition, if you are running more than one firewall program, it can also add to your latency, as each program will be working over your connection.

5. Bypass faulty network hardware.

Occasionally, lag can be due to faulty network hardware. To see if this might be the cause of lag, temporarily bypass hardware that you don’t need to use at the time. For example, you can try bypassing hubs, switches or routers and connect to your modem directly using an Ethernet cable. This might help you identify if a faulty piece of network hardware is the cause of the lag you’re experiencing.

6. Contact your internet service provider.

If none of these options seem to help you reduce lag, you might have to contact your internet service provider to find out what the cause is and if it requires a connection to fix it. You can see if a technician might be needed by running a speed test and checking for packet loss before you contact your service provider.

If these tips don’t work then the alternative is to change internet services, there are many ways to hunt around for the best deals, one of which i recommend is to check out this list of cheap internet providers.