I’ve lived in several places in Los Angeles over the past decade, each with its own unique internet access issues. Struggles with varying speeds and service reliability have opened my eyes to ways to improve connectivity, no matter my zip code.
the story is Crossing the broadband divideCNET reports on how the country is working to achieve universal broadband access.
I’ve lived in everything from a Faraday Cage concrete building in downtown Los Angeles to a Santa Monica oceanfront condo with an exclusive deal with a depressed ISP. Things are only going to get better where I am now in Hollywood – there are no indestructible building materials, and I have to choose my internet service provider.
I’m very lucky. Most of my LA friends and family suffer from terrible internet – which is crazy because you’d think a metropolis like LA would have easy access to high-quality internet citywide, not just in one location some communities. I can only imagine what smaller communities across the United States are going through when it comes to internet service.
Through all my initiatives, I’ve built a toolkit of free methods to maximize my internet connection, no matter how bad it is. While you can spend money to fix things (like adding a Wi-Fi extender), most methods don’t require you to spend any money, which is always a good place to start.
Here are my tips for increasing your internet speed that you can use before you move, after you move, or where you live now, and they can be used for free or very little money.
read more: My journey with home internet: What I learned from testing my Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections
There are a lot of things you can do to improve your chances of getting a good internet connection before moving.
Get better internet service before moving
If you are moving to a new place, first of all congratulations. Second, I’m sorry. Even if you plan well, moving can be a headache (ask me about my big move in 2023). You can start packing weeks in advance, create a change of address checklist and hire movers – but there are still some things that won’t go according to your plans.
An often overlooked part of the moving process, especially when you’re evaluating locations, is considering your internet service provider. Unlike the number of square feet, bathrooms, or local schools, many of us don’t give much thought to an internet service provider before actually signing a lease/mortgage and moving.
When looking for a new place, do your homework online and talk to a real estate agent or landlord. It’s a good idea to ask your potential neighbors about nearby internet options and whether they are affordable, fast, and reliable. Check if they have any workarounds or strategies for improving your internet.
You can also view any location using your state’s broadband map website (if available) to see all of your internet options. In California, we have the California Interactive Broadband Map. Once you enter an address, you can filter to show only the ISP’s fixed broadband and mobile options. Some websites indicate upload and download speeds, please note that the map may not be up to date. Although it doesn’t show reviews of ISPs in the area, sites like this do provide a good picture of what you can choose from.
As you can see, there are only two fixed broadband options available in this location, but there are many mobile alternatives.
If you need more guidance from us, CNET has a comprehensive directory of all the best internet service providers across the country, with each story sorted by state, city, or town, with informative reviews and comparisons to help you find yours The best ISP in your area.
Check:Internet provider comparison
Another thing to do before moving is to check out the construction materials of your future home. Routers transmit wireless radio waves that connect your various devices to your home’s Internet network. But materials in your home may interfere with these signals (as I found in my previous concrete and brick loft apartment).
Wi-Fi signals have difficulty penetrating materials like metal, concrete, and brick, which means that even if your internet connection is fast and reliable, your physical residence may interfere with your signal and limit your connection at home. Common building materials like plywood, drywall, and glass don’t affect Wi-Fi signals as much as denser materials.
Get better internet service immediately after moving
You’ve finally moved into your new home, and now it’s time to choose an ISP. If you don’t know the options in your area yet, use a site like Broadband Now or All Connect to check out available ISPs. You can also enter your new address into AT&T, Spectrum or Xfinity’s websites to see similar information.
When deciding which ISP to choose, consider your estimated requirements. This will give you a quick idea of what fast internet is, how much internet you use, upload and download speeds, data caps, and more.
do not miss it:Internet speed: How much do you really need?
Unfortunately, you may still experience issues with connection strength and speed after installation and once you start using your new service.
Most ISPs have a 30-day money-back guarantee, offered by Spectrum, Verizon, Cox, and others. Typically this means you can cancel your internet within 30 days and receive a full refund without paying an early termination fee (minus any possible installation or restocking fees). Other ISPs, such as AT&T (2 weeks), have different money-back guarantee policies, or none at all (Frontier).
Before choosing an Internet service provider, read up on the 30-day money-back guarantee and see if you apply.
I took this opportunity to try the services of three ISPs in my new home, only to find that after the service was connected, the speeds promised by the three were different.
Another thing you can do to get faster internet speeds is not to use your ISP’s equipment – just use the modem they provide. Renting a router from an ISP is convenient, but it can become more expensive in the long run, and with limited router options, it may not be the best choice for your home.
It can be frustrating when you realize that you’ve been paying for higher speeds that the router provided by your ISP doesn’t even offer. Also be sure to use the correct cables to connect the modem to the router and the router to the device, as Cat5 and older cables may not provide faster speeds (Cat6e and newer cables generally support consumer Internet speeds).
do not miss it: Should you buy or rent a router?Bad decision cost me nearly $1,000
Get better internet service in your current home
Maybe you haven’t moved and you’ve been experiencing poor internet service in your current home for a while. No matter how long you live there, you can still increase your internet speed.
I want to stick with the theme of not spending money to get faster internet, but if you live long-term with slower internet, you may want to consider paying more.
One relatively cheap thing you can do is check your internet service contract to see if you can cancel early without paying any early termination fees. You can then shop around and try different ISPs that might work better.
However, if you’re under a contract, or want to keep your existing ISP working, one of the easiest ways to improve your speeds is to upgrade your router, which does cost money but can solve your internet problems – versus monthly plans that cost more. Unlike multiple fees, it is a one-time purchase.
For a long time I’ve been using a Nighthawk R66700 router from Netgear, which is considered a generally good brand, but despite having a high-speed plan, I didn’t get very fast speeds at home.
Now read: The Best Wi-Fi Routers of 2024
After consulting with several CNET colleagues, I decided to upgrade my home setup to a mesh router system (more specifically, the Eero 6 Plus) that would work fine in larger homes or homes with dead zones (where ) provides more reliable Wi-Fi coverage. This is a problem in my current apartment compared to a typical standalone router.
The Eero 6 Plus mesh router has been a godsend for my nearly 1800 square foot apartment.
Depending on the mesh router system, you’ll have multiple routers placed in your home that all work as one unit to keep you connected no matter which room you’re in. A mesh network is an investment, but there are affordable options like Google’s Nest WiFi, Netgear’s Orbi AC1200, or the TP-Link Deco W7200.
do not miss it: The Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems of 2024 : The Top-Rated Whole-Home Wi-Fi Routers
I know Wi-Fi extenders seem to be the answer to getting better speeds around the home, especially since they’re fairly cheap, but extenders don’t perform as well as mesh networks, and they generally don’t work as a cohesive network. The unit opposite your home.
Unfortunately, mesh networking won’t solve everyone’s problems because, as I mentioned before, every home has its own unique problems. The fix could ultimately be a faulty Ethernet cable or updating the modem’s firmware. It can even be as simple as restarting your router. We all know this works occasionally.
Without spending any money, the best thing you can do is perform some diagnostic tests to pinpoint the weaknesses of your setup, such as running speed tests, connecting to different devices, using Wi-Fi close to the router, and restarting various internet equipment.
Of course, you might look through all of these suggestions and find that none of them solve your specific situation. As unfortunate as it is, there’s always a last resort: increase your service level and pay more to get faster internet speeds.
For better or worse, it’s a modern necessity.