Tips To Optimize Your Internet for Working from Home

Thu, Nov 11, 2021 10:00 PM Internet Bundles Safety

The internet connection you'll need at home is likely to have different requirements than the internet connection you'll need at work. Making sure you have a fast and dependable internet connection is an important part of preparing your house for remote work. These tips will assist you in determining what internet speeds you now have, what you require, and what you can do if the two do not coincide.

Test your current speed

It's possible that the speeds you get at home aren't the same as the ones indicated on your internet bill. Many factors between the internet provider and your computer can affect your connection: the type of router and its position, the infrastructure in your neighborhood, local internet congestion, and so on.

With our Speedtest Tool, you can see what speeds you're getting. To capture the different peak hours you may be working, we recommend evaluating your speed at different times of the day.

Calculate the required speed.

The amount of internet speed you require is determined by the number of devices connected and how they use the internet. The way you utilize the internet will be the most crucial element.

Uploading and downloading huge files, HD video conferencing, and streaming will all necessitate a more advanced connection. If you'll be attending video conferences frequently, you'll need a connection that can handle high-definition video. Similarly, jobs that require a lot of file exchange, particularly huge visual or audio assets, should be avoided.

Related : How Do I Review My Internet Speed At Home?

If your job only requires you to use the internet for email and occasional online browsing, you can get by with a slower connection. Find the activities that are the most similar to your day-to-day tasks and determine how much speed they will likely necessitate. If you have a choice between two rows, go for the faster one.

If you live with others, it's possible that you'll have numerous people working from home. Increase the required speed by around 50% for each extra person. These suggestions are not prescriptive and are intended to give you a broad notion of the speed that might be appropriate in your situation.

Tips To Optimize Your Internet for Working from Home

Take action now

Once you've determined your current internet speed and the speed you require, there are a few options for action if the two numbers aren't in sync.

Reposition your router. Your wireless router's location, as well as your distance from it, can affect your speed. Your internet connection will suffer if your router is in the basement and you work upstairs in a bedroom with thick walls. Move your router to the same room where you work to see if your connection improves. If you can't get your router to relocate, try working closer to it. Learn more: Choosing the Best Wi-Fi Router for Your Home

Purchase a router or WiFi extension on your own. If you rent a router from your internet provider, it will most likely be on the same radio frequency as all of your neighbors who also rented a router. During high internet hours, this may result in increased congestion. You may improve your internet speed and security by purchasing your own router. It will also save you money in the long run.

Upgrading your internet package is a good idea. Look for a faster internet plan with a new provider or with your current service. If fiber-optic internet is accessible and within your price, it provides the most reliable connection. Satellite internet should only be used as a last choice because it is less dependable and has limited speeds and data limits.

The HR and IT departments at your company are your best resources for making the move to remote work. They'll almost certainly be able to provide you with useful equipment and technical guidance, and they may ask you to connect to the internet via your company's virtual private network (VPN).

Don't be concerned

If you're concerned about being able to afford internet access during the pandemic, know that several organizations are attempting to assist you. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released The Keep Americans Connected Pledge, which will compel providers to undertake the following for 60 days in order to address internet difficulties and serve customers during this time:

Will waive any late fees incurred by any residential or small business clients as a result of the coronavirus pandemic's economic impact.

Will make its Wi-Fi hotspots available to any American in need.
Will does not terminate service to any household or small business customers who are unable to pay their bills owing to the coronavirus pandemic's interruptions.

The majority of businesses have already committed to implementing these measures. Additional customer assistance initiatives have been announced by some companies. Cox has announced plans to improve internet speeds for a limited number of residential customers. Comcast is providing two free months of the internet to low-income customers who have the Internet Essentials service, as well as increasing speeds to 25 Mbps. Comcast is also pausing data constraints to accommodate the surge in-home use and has introduced educational content to their on-demand TV service for children.