ELI5: Why does my Internet speed spike at the start of any Download? When I download something, or use Speedtest my Internet spikes to an incredibly high speed (160Mbps). Then it drops back down to around 60Mbps.
In such instances, it may appear that your transfer starts much faster than your rated speed until it settles down to the actual available bandwidth. Internet Speed Fluctuations. Connection Drops when Playing Games Hello, thank you for taking the time to help me out with this problem. A few days ago my internet started really acting up. Not the connection to the router, the speed would slow dramatically at random points and then come back up to normal speed. Feb 05, 2003 Whenever I'm downloading something (like from Fileplanet), it always starts off at pretty high speeds, like around 300k per second. But it slowly drops down to around 200k and hovers around there. Think of your rated internet speed the same way you think of a speed limit sign. Even though the freeway sign says you can go 75 mph, you’ve got no shot of going that fast during rush hour.
You're browsing the Web. It's smooth, fast sailing, with pages loading in a snap. Then you start a download -- and what was formerly a fast Internet connection turns into a slower-than-dialup experience. What happened?
Why Web browsing slows down when downloading files
Believe it or not, this is common. If you're like me, you have a fast fiber, DSL or cable modem hookup to the Internet, directly hooked to your computer. You're probably using file sharing applications all the time, as well. This causes terrible Web browsing -- and you can easily figure that out, because as soon as you stop any file sharing applications, Web browsing speed returns back to normal.
The slowdown is caused by the queues at your ISP (or your modem). The ISP limits your Internet speed either at the modem, or at the router assigned to your modem. Since information can't come in as fast as possible, long queues of pending information build up in your router/modem.
The effect? After you click on a link in your Web browser, quite a lot of information (usually, your download) needs to be dispatched before you get to see the new Web page.
The solution: rate-limiting (odd, isn't it?)
Counterintuitive as it may sound, the solution to the queues is to limit the rate at which information reaches your computer, directly on your computer. By using a clever combination of bandwidth limiting and priorization of outbound packages, you can have almost-normal Web browsing speeds, combined with fast downloads.
In other words:
- Anything your computer sends to the Internet will be given priorities, and important information will jump the queue. Sends of acknowledgements and interactive traffic (remote desktops, shells) will get priority.
- If any computer attempts to send data to your computer too quickly, your computer will tell it to slow down. This will avoid the buildup in the queue at your ISP.
Basically, you'll be executing a tradeoff: decreasing latency at the expense of a bit (5% to 10%) of bandwidth, but the cost is certainly worth it.
Now, you may balk because this technique requires you to actually scale back (a bit) your connection speed. Do not -- if you follow through, your effective download speed will go up, because TCP acknowledgements arrive to their destination faster. If you're using BitTorrent (which requires uploading), you'll see a stable, maxed-out, download speed, instead of seeing dips in download speed when uploading.
As usual, the solution is a clever script that does everything for you, instead of you having to do it manually.
The script that solves the speed problem
Further below, you'll find instructions on how to use it.
This is a heavily tuned version of the Wonder Shaper script that roams the Linux advanced routing and traffic control Web site.
Keep reading to find out how to install and use this script on your computer.
How to use the script
To use this script, you need to:
Install it to your computer
Copy the contents to your clipboard, then save it to a file named
rc.wshaperin your/etcdirectory. You may need to do this task as the root user, because the/etcdirectory is off-limits for unprivileged users.Configure it. It's easy to set up.
- The line that starts with
DOWNLINK=should be followed by your download bandwidth in kilobits per second, minus 5% to 10%. For example: if you have a 1000 Kbps link, you should set it between900and950. - The line that starts with
UPLINK=should be followed by your upload speed minus 5% to 10%. - The line that starts with
DEV=should contain the name of your network interface (typicallyeth0-- check your computer's network configuration). Optional: set low- and high-priority ports.
The lines that start with
NOPRIOPORTSRC=andHIPRIOPORTSRC=can contain a quoted list of low- and high-priority ports (whose traffic will take a back seat in the face of regular traffic). The script already ships configured with ports for VNC (as high-priority), BitTorrent, Direct Connect and Gnutella.
- The line that starts with
Set it to run during startup.
In the file named
/etc/rc.localon your computer, add a line that calls this script:Take note: in some Linux variants, the file is named
/etc/rc.d/rc.local.Reboot. Or run the command directly, if you know how to.
Internet Speed Starts High Then Drops Generic
How do I know if it's doing anything?
Simple. You call it (with administrative privileges) using the status argument on your favorite terminal program:
As you can deduce from the output of the script, there are four classes:
- 1:10: acknowledgements and interactive traffic (type of service
Minimize-Delay) go here - 1:20: high-priority traffic get classified there
- 1:20: normal traffic goes here
- 1:30: low-priority traffic and bulk traffic (type of service
Maximize-Throughput) goes here, and gets trumped by the first two classes
Lower classes trump higher classes.
You can see how many bytes have been sent in each class, and the speed (rate) at which each class is operating.
How good is it?
Very good.
Obviously, if you're downloading twenty files simultaneously (which is the case with BitTorrent download managers), it won't give you a huge speedup, but you'll notice quite the difference in Web browsing speeds.
Perhaps the biggest speedup will be felt when using remote control applications, such as SSH or VNC.
Flaws in the script?
Yeah :-(. There's no easy way to classify and give priorities to incoming traffic, so only outbound traffic (uploads and the like) is prioritized. If you have a solution to this problem, contact me immediately -- I want to send you a case of beer.
However, the inbound traffic rate is policed by the script. Thus, no queues build up at your ISP, which means that you'll enjoy faster interactivity (Web browsing comes ti mind ;-))
In today’s world, the reliability of your home WiFi network can feel as crucial as running water and electricity. And just like we’ve grown accustomed to lights coming on at the flip of a switch and clean water readily flowing from our faucets, we want to be able to count on our internet connection whenever and wherever we need it in the house.
Reality can be quite different. Who hasn’t been in their bedroom trying to watch a short video on social media before bed, and encountered frustrating buffering? It’s almost midnight, so you just know it can’t be mere bandwidth issues. Anyone who has found themselves standing in the kitchen for a video conference, because it’s the only place they can depend on an hourlong solid connection, knows that WiFi isn’t always reliable.
Have you ever wondered what the deal is in your home? What makes some parts of the house great for web surfing and others totally frustrating? And why do the dead zones sometimes change?
It turns out that because WiFi signals are radio waves, a variety of elements can obstruct them or interfere with them. Without a mesh network to efficiently rebroadcast the signal so that it reaches around corners and other obstacles, your home’s dead zones may be due to some things that may surprise you.
Bad router placement
A lot of people just leave their router where the connecting wires come into the house. If that’s the case, the signal ends up being generated far from where you actually use the Internet. The farther from the router, the weaker the signal, even without any other interference.
Your home is old or has solid walls
It turns out, the more solidly your home is built, the more likely the interior walls are blocking your WiFi signal. Some old homes with walls made of plaster often have metal supports (sometimes made of chicken wire!) that can prevent your router’s signal from reaching your device. Concrete and brickare other materials that can block radio waves.
Your home is too big
The average router can only broadcast the WiFi signal so far, so with a sprawling, spread-out house, you will experience a weaker signal the farther you get from the router and possibly be unable to detect any signal at all at the farthest points. And if your place covers multiple stories, the combination of distance from the router and the materials in the floors and ceilings between the router and your device will cause dead zones.
Internet Speed Drops Suddenly
You have large solid pieces of furniture
From that massive credenza that you scored at that sample sale to the metal shelves you use to house your collection of design books, large pieces of furniture like metal desks, solid wood slabs, and other barriers can prevent your WiFi signal from passing.
Your other electronic devices
Maybe that crazy old uncle was onto something when we accused the microwave of futzing with the TV and the phone. Small household devices as varied as baby monitors, wireless sound systems, microwave ovens, baby monitors and old cordless phones actually can interfere with router signals.
Other people’s WiFi
If you are in an apartment, overlapping WiFi networks could be to blame. When each residence has its own WiFi network and neighbors use the same wireless channel, there is often interference. This type of impact on network strength can also occur in closely grouped single-family homes and townhouses. (Easy fix: change the wireless channel your own router uses. Let the rest of them hang out on the same band.)
Other people in your home
Your housemates, related or not, do more than just use up all the hot water! There is limited bandwidth on your WiFi connection and if someone is using it in ways that hog it all up, it will slow down the signal for everyone else. Online games, streaming video, torrents and video chat are all common culprits for a household’s seemingly weak WiFi.
Your beautiful things including fish tanks
Did you know that water in a large fish tank can negatively influence your WiFi? All sorts of gorgeous things that reflect visible light also reflect radio waves and can lead to WiFi dead zones. We’re talking water, ceramic, mirrors and things like that. And speaking of things that we love to look at but that can put a damper on your network, we sadly report that Christmas lights can be a seasonal WiFi-fritzing surprise! (This is one thing we can safely blame on electromagnetic radiation, without risking controversy.)
Your old router or old router settings
It may be time to upgrade to a new router, one that can use both 2.4GHz and 5GH bands. And if you’re using old WEP security or *GASP* your network is Open with no security, WiFi theft and unauthorized use could be slowing down your speeds. An upgrade to an intelligent, more modern router system is a suggestion growing more common for people who want to make sure they have strong WiFi in every corner of their home.
Your router needs a reboot
When your router hasn’t been rebooted in a long time, expect performance to suffer. Much like our phones and laptops, our routers need regular restarts. This often-neglected fix is a leading reason for WiFi issues. Some new router systems, like eero, include timed reboots, meaning you can solve a few of these WiFi dead zone causes with an equipment upgrade.
It’s frustrating and sometimes it doesn’t seem to make sense, but as the dependability of your WiFi becomes even more important to your daily life, it’s worth taking a look at what might be slowing things down and consider making some small changes and even updating your system to keep your signal flowing with ease.