If you’re like most Australians, you probably have a home internet plan that you’re paying for month-to-month. But are you really getting as much out of your internet connection as you could be? From slow internet speeds to insufficient data allowances, there are a number of things that could be giving you a sub-optimal online experience. In this blog, we walk you through a few things you can do to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth from your current nbn plan. 

Are you getting the internet speed you should be?

Depending on which nbn speed tier you have and what your internet service provider has indicated about your typical evening speeds, you should be getting a certain minimum download speed. 

Run a speed test

To check whether you’re actually hitting those speeds, you can use an internet speed test tool like Ookla’s Speedtest. Simply connect to the internet and run the test𑁋it only takes a minute or so. 

Just be sure to pause or cancel any downloads or other tasks that may be running in the background. You should also disconnect any other connected devices (e.g. mobiles, tablets) that may be using the Wi-Fi signal. This will help you get a more accurate reading. It’s best to run two or three tests to get a reliable result. 

How to get faster internet? 

If you’ve run a few speed tests and found that you have a consistently slow internet connection, there are a number of things that you can do to pump the gas on our Wi-Fi connection.

Place your router in a central location

If you have your wireless router tucked away in a corner of your house, chances are you’re not getting the strongest possible Wi-Fi connections. For best results, place your router in a central, elevated location𑁋the more open and unobstructed the better.

Update your router’s firmware

If you’ve had your router for a while, it might be running on outdated firmware. Firmware is the software that tells your router how to do its job𑁋and like any software, it can always be improved. Luckily, most routers these days will update their firmware automatically. But if yours isn’t, you can usually do it manually by logging into your router settings and downloading the latest firmware from the manufacturer’s website.

Switch to a wired connection

An easy way to bypass the hassle of a slow wireless connection is to opt for the wired alternative. If you really want to achieve the fastest possible speeds, it’s a good idea to connect your computer directly to your router with an Ethernet cable.

Buy a new router 

At the end of the day, the only surefire way to guarantee that your router is doing your broadband connection justice is to have an up-to-date model. Buying a brand new router with more (or bigger) antennas often means greater internet bandwidth, extended Wi-Fi range and of course faster internet speeds. For the best results, we recommend considering a mesh WiFi router.

Change your Wi-Fi frequency/Wi-Fi channel

If you’re consistently clocking slow internet speeds, it might be because you’re connected to the 2.4GHz band on your Wi-Fi network. While this band is good for going through walls and spanning longer distances, the 5GHz band will also give your greater max speeds𑁋you’ll just have to move closer to your router.

Taking an even more granular approach, you could also change which Wi-Fi channel you’re connected to. Each frequency band is made up of a number of channels (2.4GHz has 11, while 5GHz has 45), which can experience interference from household appliances and neighbouring routers. This is often the cause of diminished internet speed. So, using a tool like Microsoft’s Wi-Fi Analyzer to pinpoint the best channel can be an easy solution. 

Are you on the right internet plan? 

A big part of ensuring that you’re getting the most out of your internet is to make sure that your internet plan is in line with your online habits. 

Data allowance

If you find that you’re regularly exceeding your monthly data allowance, it might be time to switch to an unlimited data nbn plan. That way you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you can stream, browse and download to your heart’s content without the worry of having your connection slowed down to a snail’s pace by your internet provider. 

Internet speed tiers

While an nbn 25/10 plan may be suitable for a few people, if you’re in a household of heavy internet users all streaming and gaming at the same time, then you’re going to need an nbn speed tier that can keep up.

Get the internet plan that’s right for you with MATE

In need of an nbn plan that can meet the internet needs of your household? At MATE we have a range of affordable nbn plans𑁋all with unlimited data! So you never have to worry about going over your monthly allowance again. With five different packages spanning a range of speed tiers, MATE is an internet provider that is sure to have an nbn plan that’s right for you.