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Home Internet
Your online connection in your home is more important than ever. Over 75% of Issaquah residents have reported that they plan to work remotely at least part of the time.
In October 2022, the City surveyed residents on their home internet satisfaction and quality of service. Results collected which internet service providers (ISPs) they used, where they lived in Issaquah, how many devices they generally had connected, and what level of service they had purchased. In March 2023, a Broadband Assessment Report was delivered to the City Council.
While there are some limiting factors for residents like the number of ISPs in your neighborhood to choose from, there remain additional things you can do to improve your internet speeds within your home.
Tips to Boost Broadband Performance
- If possible, use an ethernet cable: A wired connection can be faster and more stable than a Wi-Fi signal. If there’s an opportunity for using a cable for stationary devices like gaming consoles or televisions, you should consider doing so.
- Consider your router placement: Wi-Fi is affected by factors like distance to devices, obstacles, electronic interference and the number of users. For the best signal, place the router in the open, elevated off the floor, on the main floor of your house, away from any walls and obstacles.
- Restart your router: Although it may not require regular resetting, if your internet connection is particularly problematic, restarting the router may help resolve the issue.
- Protect your network with a password: If your network is open, you may have other devices nearby using your network and slowing down your network’s performance.
- Change the wireless channel or band on your router: Your Wi-Fi may be impacted by the signals from other nearby networks as well as interference from microwaves, baby monitors and other electronic devices. While most newer routers will automatically find the least congested channel, older routers may need to be told which channel to prioritize.
- Update your router’s firmware: Manufacturers will generally offer free updates for their devices. While newer devices may automatically perform these updates, check to confirm that your router is being updated to improve the router’s performance and reliability.
- Consider the number of devices on the network: The network’s performance will slow with each additional device in use. Consider timing your access to optimize the performance or determine if there are “smart devices” that are on your network that connected but aren’t being used.
- Consider the number of applications and programs on your device that are accessing the internet or backing themselves up: Your device may be using your connection in multiple ways at the same time and slowing down performance.
- Consider buying a new router: Routers that are five years old or older tend to have fairly low bandwidth caps and shorter ranges for supporting devices. A newer router may support faster speeds and additional coverage for your network.
- Consider a new antenna for your router: Most routers have omnidirectional antennas that provide coverage in all directions. A directional antenna, pointed at a weak spot in your network’s coverage, may improve the network signal.
- Consider buying a Wi-Fi range extender or repeater: Investing in an extender or repeater may be another way to get rid of Wi-Fi dead zones in your network.
- Consider upgrading your device: Older computers and mobile devices tend to have slower processing speeds or less capacity for high internet speeds, which contribute to slower network performance. A newer device may be a way to improve performance.
- Call your internet service provider: If simple troubleshooting doesn’t improve your network performance, it may be time to talk with your internet provider. Some providers will help with advanced troubleshooting.
- Upgrade your internet service plan: After exhausting all other troubleshooting options, paying for additional internet speed may be a solution to improve your performance.