Slow Speeds - Simple Steps to Test Your Giganet Internet Connection

If you are experiencing slower broadband speeds than you expected, it might be down to several very common factors rather than a problem with the underlying connection.

The speeds we advertise are the speeds we deliver over a hard-cabled Ethernet connection to the router. We do not guarantee the speeds over Wi-Fi due to various factors outside of our control.

Here are the most common causes for reports of slow broadband. Fixing these issues will give you the most accurate speed test result.

Testing broadband speed on Wi-Fi

Giganet includes a high-end Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) router for all home broadband customers, and under ideal circumstances and with a supported device, you should be able to receive top-end speeds over Wi-Fi - but we do not recommend you test your service over Wi-Fi as there are many factors outside of our control that can make Wi-Fi speed tests inaccurate.

Speed tests over Wi-Fi are not very accurate due to a range of technical factors. Wi-Fi uses radio frequency waves to transit data from the router to your device, and everything from interference with your neighbours Wi-Fi router/microwave ovens etc & lack of device support the fastest Wi-Fi specification, to poor signal strength, can heavily weigh down on the measurements. So it is not our recommended way to test your service.

Therefore we always recommend that you hard cable a device into the router and test with an Ethernet connection wherever possible for the most accurate test.

If you have our UltraBEAM 1000 service, then please check this article for further advice to gain the top end speeds over Wi-Fi.

Testing broadband speed on a hard-cabled Ethernet connection

This is the most accurate and recommended way to test your broadband speeds.

Does your laptop or computer have a 1Gb/s network port?

Some older devices only support a 100Mb/s connection, so if you are hard cabled into the router and only receiving around 93-100Mb/s, then this is a tale-tale sign that something is running at 100Mb/s. Try connecting your device straight into our router without any switches/hubs in the middle. Our router has 4 x 1Gb/s ports.

Are other people using your connection when you are testing?

Be sure to disconnect every other device and person from the router to ensure that they are not taking some of the bandwidth (speed) away from your testing. Others may be download/streaming/gaming, and this all can make the test inaccurate.

Are you connecting via a powerline adapter or Ethernet over mains adapter?

Please directly connect your device into one of the 4 x 1Gb/s Ethernet LAN ports on the rear of our router. This way we can rule our any issues with your powerline/Ethernet over mains adapters which will all slow down and bottleneck your connection speeds.

• WiFi performance will be significantly reduced when distance between your device and the Giganet UltraHub is increased.
• The WiFi signal will be weaker if there are concrete walls between your device and the Giganet UltraHub. Your device should indicate WiFi strength with the WiFi icon. At least two bars are needed for reliability and be aware speed will be reduced. Reliable testing with WiFi should be performed near Giganet UltraHub - You'll notice WiFi strength is a full three bars when nearby.
• WiFi operates via the air waves just like many other devices in your home. You will be able to notice the difference between speed tests completed with household devices that emit frequencies turned on and with it switched off. If you identify one of the devices to be the cause of slow Internet, perhaps a slight relocation might be the answer! Household devices include:
• SkyQ or Previous Provider’s Routers
• Microwave Oven
• Wireless Speakers
• Baby Monitors
• LCD Monitors
• Cordless Phones
• Ensure your UltraHub is well located out of cupboards and not hiding behind other objects 
  that could block the signal.
• A lot of devices connected to the WiFi at the same time is likely to reduce performance. The Giganet speeds will be shared and allocated to each device that is connected. Try your test with only one device switched on. Perhaps a Giganet package upgrade is needed to support heavier Internet usage and multiple users.
• HD streaming demands a high throughput so will most certainly reduce other device’s performance. Ensure there is no streaming while you test your speed.
• Just slow on one application or website? Try the website or application later as it may be currently overloaded. If it is an app, try deleting and re-installing it.
• Only one device having problems? Ensure airplane mode is off and WiFi is enabled and connected. Also try restarting the device that you are using.

Now you have considered the above, it is time to test!

First, identify what package you are on to understand if your results match what you have opted for. Giganet UltraBEAM 100 package will deliver average download speeds of 100Mb/s and upload speeds of 20Mb/s.

Open a web browser on your PC, Phone, Tablet and shut all other applications. Enter the following website address http://speedtest.net or click here. When prompted, click GO.

As mentioned previously, the most accurate test would be performed on a device connected to the Giganet UltraHub via Ethernet cable, but we know that may not always possible.

If you have followed all the steps above and the speed test is considerably lower than what you opted for, please get in touch.

Since we proactively monitor our network 24/7, we will be working on any network issues as soon as they arise. To check out the status of our network, please click here or visit the Giganet website.