By
November 07, 2019
Are your favourite TV shows being interrupted by the buffering wheel or do the kids keep complaining that the internet is too slow to finish their homework?
If this sounds familiar, it's time to consider your home broadband options. -What may have sufficed a few years ago, now needs to keep up with your ever increasing use and growing number of devices.
But what makes a good broadband connection, and how do the different speeds and connection types affect the overall quality and experience? In this blog, we find out.
Broadband speeds 101
When it comes to broadband basics, speed is an important factor as it signifies reliability - a slow connection can’t be trusted to keep you and your family securely online without interruption.
Broadband speeds are typically broken down into two different numbers, representing upload and download time taken. This might sound complicated, but all it really refers to is whether you're sending (uploading) or receiving (downloading) information.
For most of us, download speeds are the more important of the two, as they affect everything from streaming the big game to downloading your favourite movie, while upload speeds may only impact how quickly an email or files are sent.
How do broadband types affect speed?
Certain connections and cable types (copper, fibre, wireless) carry different volumes of data at different speeds. If you've found that your current connection can't cope with increased use a possible solution could be to upgrade to a different type of broadband. The four main options and their average download speeds are:
- ADSL (5-25 Mbps): Traditional copper cabling (like the old phone lines) and enough for the basics of internet usage (web browsing and emailing).
- VDSL (15-130 Mbps): A mix of copper and fibre, VDSL is available to 80 percent of New Zealand homes and can be fast enough for activities like high-definition streaming. Speeds are determined by proximity to the cabinet.
- Fibre (50-200 Mbps, and beyond): Pure fibre is faster and more reliable than VDSL and comes with dedicated capacity for multiple devices to connect at once - ideal for families.
- Fibre Pro (Up to 1000 Mbps, also known as 1 gigabit per second): If you need the very best broadband available Fibre Pro combines top-tier connection with the fastest speeds.
What else affects speed?
While the type of broadband connection you have determines your speed, there are many pieces to the puzzle. Here are some other things that can affect your experience:
- Your modem - the WiFi device that receives the internet signal and then dispenses it around your home. Just like any of your devices, your modem can slow down with age - especially if you’re introducing it to faster internet speeds.
- Proximity - the location of your device in relation to your modem can affect the strength of your WiFi signal and speed. The closer you are to the WiFi, and in direct line of sight, the stronger the signal and better the performance
- Plug in - you’ll get a more rock-solid experience when you connect your modem directly into your TV, computer or other device using an Ethernet cable rather than connecting via WiFi. An added benefit is this frees up your WiFi capacity.
- Up to date - make sure your software is downloaded and up-to-date as pending actions can significantly slow things down.
Testing home broadband speeds
If you’re thinking about upgrading your connection, the best way to work out the ideal speed option for you is to test the current broadband speed, usage and experience you have.
Before you test your speed, it's important to make sure only one computer or device is actively using the internet, so wait until the kids or flatmates have gone to bed.
If possible, you should also use an Ethernet cable to plug your device directly into your modem. This will give you a more accurate reading, helping you to make the very best decision when choosing the right connection for your home.
Learn more: how to test your broadband speed
Find out what broadband options are available in your area.
For more information on all things broadband subscribe to the Chorus blog.
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