can i make my internet faster?

okay i live in an apartment complex which has like other apartment buildings and stuff. It is mostly college kids who live there and my internet is really really slow it sometimes takes like 10 min to load a 1 min video from youtube. The thing is some people use wireless which some dont lock or whatever but even i am using ethernet cable and i was wondering if i can make my internet faster. Also my rent is all inclusive so everything is included.

 

Are you using an ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to the modem? If so and you're spending 10 min waiting for a tiny Youtube vid, you should contact your internet service provider or whoever arranges your lease & contract with them. Also check that you've got the modem hooked up correctly. Sounds stupid, but could be the problem.

The wireless networks in your area won't have any effect at all on your ethernet connection. Go to Speedtest, click 'Begin Test', let it do its thing and post your results. Since the landlord includes the internet with the rent, they may likely have the crappiest, slowest ISP and package available.

The short answer to your question is..no, you can't really make your internet faster. If you're wired (ethernet) then it's a pretty simple equation. You've got your computer, the modem, the wall socket and your service provider. You want it to go faster, you need to upgrade your package.

 

Sounds like you are sharing bandwidth with all your neighbors, so I'd say no. But your description left room for interpretation.

If you can get your own separate line to your apartment with your own modem and router, then you could get faster internet.

Correct me if I've made a false assumption. If your neighbors all have their own modems and routers and you do too then there's something else going on.

 

it is probably sharing same bandwith or wathever but i did go to speedtest i only got like 1 or 2 mbps haha

 

You can try different DNS addresses. That could help speed up name resolves and make things generally more snappy.

OpenDNS:
208.67.220.220
208.67.222.222

GoogleDNS:
8.8.4.4
8.8.8.8

 

I've actually found I like using L3'a DNS servers:

4.2.2.1-4.2.2.6, choose any pair.

 

Yes I have a 1mbps connection too. It sucks, but I live with it. It's better than dial-up. DNS numbers help a little. They can't give you speed but you might get a lower latency between your laptop and the isp.

Ask your landlord for an upgraded package. They might have gotten a good deal way back when, but things have changed. They should upgrade. I bet they can get a similarly priced package with more speed now. Do your research and go into the meeting prepared.

If you go to Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test you can find out who your ISP is and then you could bring pricing for other packages from that ISP or look at the competition. If your landlord sees you know what you're talking about maybe they will listen.

 

I've never played around with DNS address before but holy crap! This puts my speedtest dl speed up 100Mb/s. My ISP connection obviously can't reflect that but things do seem a little quicker. For torrents it doesn't really show anything though and I'm on Youtube maybe once a week, if that so I wouldn't know better but sites like NBR and Newegg, browsing seems a little quicker.

 

Ok, if you're sure the laggy videos has to do with your internet speed, then the best choice is to get a new ISP (internet service provider) or upgrade your current deal.

If a lot of recent web applications lag on your computer, then it's probably a better idea to upgrade your computer too.

 

I was getting 2 mbps with a wireless modem before Verizon got greedy. I have DSL from DSL Extreme and the service is much better.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1196048139.png

 

So did you get the Actiontec reb1?

 

My wife or the boss as is in this case put her foot down about over spending and I had to go with what they sent me. It is made by D-Link. I have kept the Verizon wireless modem account by allowing a relative to use it. It is still faster than dial up.

 

Are you telling me 1mbps is bad?

 

For using three computers with two of them looking at you tube or hulu at the same time it is not enough. I was getting over 1.5 mega bits per second with the Verizon dongle until they started throttling the signal down below .5 mega bits per second. My son also uses a wii to watch Netflix and it is a signal hog. When I download an audio book for my daughter it was not to bad at around 200 to 250 Kb/s but when they started throttling it down 50 or under Kb/s became unbearable. With DSL extreme I can download an audo book at around 800 Kb/s.

 

OpenDNS seem to be best out of the three that were suggested for crappy clearwire aka clear WiMax...

 

Use a browser with tweakable settings such as firefox, it has many network speed settings that will make life better. Also if you go the firefox route there is also ad-block and no-script which help loading pages faster.

Are you just plugging into the wall or using a router?

If you are doing the latter turning an older desktop PC into a router with 2 cheap gigabit NICs makes a world of difference.

 

Using someone else’s wireless network without their approval is illegal- please do not discuss anything like that here.