Overview
If your speed test shows lower speeds than your package, don't panic. In most cases, the issue is on your local network (Wi-Fi, router, device) rather than Triangle's infrastructure. This article walks you through the most common causes and fixes.
Wi-Fi vs Ethernet
Wi-Fi is almost always the number one cause of lower-than-expected speeds. Walls, distance, interference from neighboring networks, and router limitations all reduce Wi-Fi throughput significantly.
- 1Plug an Ethernet cable directly from your router to your computer.
- 2Run the speed test again.
- 3If Ethernet gives full speed but Wi-Fi is slow, the issue is your local Wi-Fi, not Triangle's network.
Router Age and Firmware
Older routers bottleneck fast connections. An 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) router maxes out at 50–70 Mbps in practice. Outdated firmware can also cause speed and stability problems.
- Check if your router has a firmware update (log in to 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.254, 192.168.0.254, 192.168.88.1, routerlogin.net, or netic.cc → Administration → Firmware)
- If your router is 4+ years old and your plan is 100 Mbps+, consider upgrading to Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6
- Ensure the router is in an open area with airflow — overheating throttles performance
Device Limitations
The device running the test may be the bottleneck. Old laptops with 100 Mbps ethernet cards cannot test above 100 Mbps even on a 150 Mbps plan. Use a modern device with Gigabit ethernet for accurate results.
Background Activity
Windows Update, antivirus scans, cloud sync, and other applications may consume bandwidth without showing a visible window. Check Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → Network tab to see which processes are using bandwidth.
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