My Internet Was Terrible Until I Tried These 4 Simple Tricks

CNET

a day ago

Internet slowdowns are kind of inevitable -- and they're a major headache if you're streaming, gaming or working from home. I was surprised when I started experiencing laggy Wi-Fi at home: I'm on my provider's second-fastest speed tier -- 1 gigabit, the fastest available at my address -- and my family and I have typical internet usage habits.
While sometimes you can blame your internet provider or an outdated router, in other cases, there could be other minor issues that could be easily resolved in a few simple steps. As someone who writes about broadband daily, I've realized the value of a good internet connection and that troubleshooting your speeds doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what I learned.
I was on Verizon Fios' second-fastest plan, but was still getting insufferably slow speeds.
CNET/Tharon Green
'Enough is enough'
The red flags are there for a reason, so don't ignore them: the buffering, the slow downloads and the interrupted Zoom calls. I wouldn't usually have paid attention to these signs, since I had never had a problem with my internet before. A solid internet connection has become vital since I started working from home in 2024.
My family and I also noticed that streaming our favorite shows, like the newest season of Squid Game, had become a pain due to our fluctuating speeds. I finally gave in, said enough is enough and contacted my internet service provider, Verizon Fios. The Fios agent was shocked that I was experiencing internet issues since I was on the company's second-fastest tier, the gigabit plan.
"You shouldn't even be experiencing fluctuating speeds with your plan," the Verizon Fios agent said over the phone. I was stumped.
Locating local internet providers
I didn't want to make a hasty decisionswitching out my current provider or buying a new router. So I turned to CNET's advice for help.
What is gigabit internet?
Your internet speed is measured in megabits per second. In other words, your speed is measured by how much data can be processed over a network in a second. Gigabit internet refers to 1,000 megabits. The more data processed over your network, the better your connection performs.
Here are some of the top ISPs that offer gigabit service:
Top providers that offer gigabit internet
As of June 2024, data from the Federal Communications Commission show that over half of the US population has access to gigabit speeds. Service typically ranges anywhere between $50 to $90 monthly. You can find gigabit service from internet providers such as Frontier Fiber, Google Fiber, Optimum, , AT&T and more. Though cable providers like Spectrum and Astound Broadband's gigabit plans are more widely available nationwide than other ISPs, but might be pricier down the line. You could end up paying double your initial price after a year, since most cable providers are notorious for hiking up their prices after a year.
Depending on the connection type available at your address, most fiber ISPs like AT&T and Google Fiber won't increase your prices after a year and can offer symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1,000Mbps, whereas a cable connection may only top out at 35 to 50Mbps. To learn more about where you can sign up for gigabit service, read our review on gigabit internet and the best fiber internet providers for July 2025.
4 expert tips to boost your internet
At the start of this journey, I felt like a kid riding their first bike. It felt daunting because I didn't know where to start. Thankfully, one of our pages details how to boost your Wi-Fi connection in four simple steps. Here's how it went.
1. Take a speed test
These speeds were well below what I expected from my gigabit connection. Something was wrong.
Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET
Before you do anything else, conduct an internet speed test. I chose Ookla's speed test because this is the format I am most familiar with. CNET recommends Ookla for its consistency, and it also shows you your speed test history once you create an account. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
This step was fairly easy. I conducted a few speed tests online. The image above is a test I took near my workspace. Speeds of 248 to 275Mbps aren't bad, being on a gigabit plan supported by a fiber connection makes them surprising (and disappointing). I took it a step further and went to an area of my home where we experienced the most internet trouble.
I found a significant speed drop when I ran a speed test in my basement.
Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET
I avoid working in the basement most days because the internet is inconsistent. After conducting a speed test, I found our speed dipped to 76Mbps in downloads and 19Mbps in uploads. This area is the farthest from my router, so it only makes sense that the signal is weaker. According to the FCC, the minimum mark for broadband speeds is 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload. My speeds were missing that mark.
It should be noted that Ookla is not the only speed test you can try. Just recently, CNET broadband expert Cierra Noffke tested out the Orb internet speed test. Noffke writes that it doesn't just test your download and upload speeds. Orb, which was developed by the same creators of Ookla, measures the overall health of your home network using multiple metrics and continuous speed tests. On the other hand, if your household uses mostly streaming services, Fast.com is a solid option, as it measures your internet's capacity to stream Netflix. M-Lab is also at the top of my list, as it has an easy-to-use program. You can always keep it simple as well by turning to resources from your provider. My provider (and many other ISPs) also offers its own Verizon Fios speed test.
2. Move your router or your workspace
This next step requires you to experiment a bit with your router's location or your workspace. It wasn't easy to uproot my entire workspace, so I moved my router closer to my existing workspace area instead. This step wasn't a significant change because the router was already placed across the room from my workspace. You should ideally move your router to a central location. Using an Ethernet cable might be helpful, especially if the new location of your router is far from the modem.
In any case, moving your router too far from the modem might prove troublesome. You can try to raise your router instead and mount it to the wall, if possible. That way, you don't need to jump through all these hoops to install an Ethernet cable.
3. Add a Wi-Fi extender
If moving your router is not an option, try contacting your internet provider for additional equipment. After contacting my ISP, I discovered that a Fios Wi-Fi extender came with my plan at no extra cost to my monthly service bill. The extender came with a small guide, and at first glance, it seemed pretty simple.
Obtaining equipment from your ISP is not the only option — many Wi-Fi extenders currently on the market support Wi-Fi 6. CNET previously named the TP-Link RE605X as the top pick for the best Wi-Fi extender due to its affordability and easy-to-use controls. Note: TP-Link routers could be banned sometime this year due to a recent government investigation. That said, the next best thing is the Linksys RE7310, currently priced at $90, which tied in performance with the TP-Link RE605X when we tested them. Check out our other top picks for the best Wi-Fi Extenders.
Pair your extender to the router
The extender came with a coax cable, a coax splitter and a small set-up guide that outlined four steps: confirm the internet connection, plug it in, pair it and finally move the extender to a designated spot in your home. Seems simple enough, right? I went through the first three steps without running into any issues. I paired my extender to my router using the coax cable.
Placing your extender
Things took a turn with the final step. After pairing, I unplugged my extender and moved it to the basement, where the signal was weaker. The light from the extender wasn't the solid white it should have been. Instead, it was a yellow color, meaning the extender was disconnected from the router. Solving this problem took some time as I went back through the set-up guide and covered my bases again.
During this process, I also discovered Verizon Fios' complete Wi-Fi extender set-up guide online. Some ISPs offer customers the option of self-installation.
Here are some of the top internet providers nationwide that have how-to pages and guides dedicated to installing devices that boost your internet:
The complete set-up guide mentioned an Ethernet cable, but I was not provided one, so I wondered if that prevented my extender from connecting to the router. I contacted Verizon Fios to make sure I was not missing any parts. Per our conversation, Verizon Fios confirmed that an Ethernet cable is recommended but not necessary. The coax cable works just as well.
Ethernet offers a wired connection through cables, which you can plug directly into the router, and should provide faster speeds than Wi-Fi. CNET's own Hallie Seltzer tested this at her home.
After pairing, place your extender in an area not too far from the router.
Trisha Jandoc/CNET
I decided to pivot my approach and placed the extender a bit closer to the router, near my workspace. After a few minutes, I saw a solid white color -- the sign of success.
4. Prioritize your traffic
Manage your work traffic at home by tweaking your router settings.
Trisha Jandoc/CNET
After installing the extender, my internet speeds surged, making this step optional for me. If you cannot obtain a Wi-Fi extender, you can try managing how much bandwidth your household consumes through your router settings. For instance, Verizon Fios allows customers to set up parental controls, which can eliminate access to certain websites. Other routers can even schedule access to the network for certain devices. This process will look different depending on your internet provider and your equipment.
How much speed do you need for your home?
High-speed internet may be enticing, but you may not even need it. According to OpenVault's first quarter 2024 report, over a third of Americans use the internet at gigabit speeds, a 20% increase from 2023. In addition, its fourth quarter 2024 report shows that the average American household uses 569Mbps in downstream speeds and 32Mbps in upstream. In other words, if you can access gigabit speeds, it should be plenty fast for your household. Finding the right speed will also boil down to your household's activities. Check out our speed recommendations below.
Our speed recommendations
1Mbps: Sending emails
Sending emails 5 to 10Mbps: Web browsing
Web browsing 10Mbps: Using social media
Using social media 10 to 20Mbps (or 35Mbps in 4K): Streaming in HD
Streaming in HD 25 to 35Mbps: Online gaming
For more information, read our comprehensive internet speed guide.
Why you might not be seeing the speeds you're paying for
Even if you are on your provider's fastest plan, there is no guarantee you will see the exact speeds promised. What's advertised by your ISP may not be the actual speeds you get. Many conditions can impact your internet speeds. According to AT&T's website, certain materials, dense walls and even furniture can obstruct your Wi-Fi signal. Other common factors contributing to a weaker signal include outdated equipment, poor router settings, bad weather and extreme cases like hacking or malware. In addition, finding the right Wi-Fi band for your router or investing in a network switch can also help optimize your internet connection at home. To ensure you're making the most of your internet, read our guides on how to weatherproof your internet and secure your connection from hackers.
My main takeaways
Speeds in my basement increased after installing the extender.
Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET
Once I successfully installed my extender, I conducted another speed test in my basement and I saw a surge in my internet connection, coming in at 598Mbps in download and 187Mbps in upload.
What I discovered about optimizing my speeds at home
Router and Wi-Fi extender placement are key . The location of your router and extender is directly proportional to optimizing your speeds. Give it a few tries and place your extender in different areas of your home. Ensure you don't place the extender too far or close to the router.
. The location of your router and extender is directly proportional to optimizing your speeds. Give it a few tries and place your extender in different areas of your home. Ensure you don't place the extender too far or close to the router. Conduct a series of speed tests after every step , monitoring any changes in your internet connection.
, monitoring any changes in your internet connection. Seek out self-installation guides . Many ISPs, including AT&T Cox Spectrum Xfinity
. Many ISPs, including Consider buying a Wi-Fi extender. While your ISP might recommend using its equipment, many Wi-Fi extenders support Wi-Fi 6 and should do the trick. Check out our top picks for the best Wi-Fi extenders
While your ISP might recommend using its equipment, many Wi-Fi extenders support Wi-Fi 6 and should do the trick. A coax cable works just as well as an ethernet cable . Your ISP might recommend an Ethernet cable for pairing your extender to the router, but a coax cable also works.
. Your ISP might recommend an Ethernet cable for pairing your extender to the router, but a coax cable also works. When in doubt, contact your ISP for support and discuss your options. You can also try
negotiating with your ISP
What's the bottom line?
Since completing this experiment, I've seen a drastic change in my internet connection. My family and I can stream our shows without problems and my Zoom calls are running more smoothly than ever. I outlined four steps on this page, but you might need to do a few extra steps to ensure you cover all your bases. Fixing your internet doesn't have to be complex. This is my first time experimenting with this, and I've discovered a new comfort level with my internet connection and how it works.