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fiosinternet_routersHave you ever wished your wireless internet were faster? Maybe it already is, but you just don’t know it. That’s the experience I just had in my home/office. We have Verizon FiOS for our internet service and they’ve been bragging in their marketing how they’ve upgraded their internet plan speeds so that the upload and download speeds match. We supposedly have pretty fast service at 50mbps (megabits per second) for both upload and download speeds. That said, my desktop computer, a MacMini, always seems to be faster than the connections on the wireless computers.
 
So, how can you test it?

My son was home for the holidays and we were trying to download some very big files (new software upgrade). It seemed to be taking a long time on the MacBook Pro so I suggested that we try using a wired connection. Boy did it make a difference. So, that got him thinking about the speed difference. We went to http://speedtest.net and ran a free download/upload speed test. Sure enough, on the desktop we were getting at least 50mbps for both upload and download speeds. But on the laptop we were getting 19mbps download and only 10mbps upload. A few years ago that would have been fine, but we’re so connected these days that it never seems to be fast enough. This is what some people call a “first-world problem”.
 
The search begins
I started looking at new wireless routers online and I was very surprised to see that almost any new wireless router has a rating faster than 50mbps. But which one to get? I also don’t want it to be outdated too quickly. So I checked Verizon’s website (since it is their router that I’m replacing) and ordered their Quantum Gateway – even the name sounds fast. It was on sale for only $99 and their fastest option. It has speed capabilities many times faster than my service. If you’re in the same situation but your contract has run out with your internet service provider (ISP) then you maybe lucky enough to not have to buy your own router as many ISP’s offer one of their routers when you take out a broadband contract with them, and it’s normally the latest one they have developed that you will receive. If it is the case that your contract has run out then visit the Usave website and you can compare prices and speeds of different broardband providers using their comparison feature, that way you’ll be sure that you’re getting the best broadband for the best price with hopefully the best router.

A couple of days later it arrived and I followed the easy instructions to replace my current Verizon router. Within 15 minutes we were back up and running, or I should say racing. Running a new speed test showed that we were now getting at least 50mbps download and upload on wireless as well as desktop! What a difference. That’s 5 times faster uploads and 2.5 times faster downloads. And to think that we could have had these faster speeds for months, maybe longer.

So the next time you complain about slow internet, run a speed test and then check your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to see what speed you’re paying for. It might be that you need to upgrade your service. Or, it just might be that a new wireless router, a $99 or less fix, will make all the difference for you, too. Happy web surfing.
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Join the discussion 2 Comments

  • We replace my parents router for Christmas. Like you, I was amazed at what a few years of technology change can make. On a side note make sure to give your new router a new name. If you don’t you might freak out your connecting gear that has saved passwords. You can ask my father about that one.
    Thanks for the tech post
    Derrick Perrin

    • Alan says:

      Thanks, Derrick. My son also noted that in Apple’s Yosemite OS if you turn off AidDrop and Bluetooth you can get a little more speed.

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