How to maximize your fiber internet experience

In thinking about speed, you can’t ignore the impact of WiFi. The everyday performance of your devices can be limited by wireless connections, which tend to lose signal strength (meaning reduced bandwidth) when compared to the wired connection that enters your router.

For CenturyLink Fiber service, a wired connection can reach speeds up to 940 Mbps. Over WiFi, however, speed on any single device may max out at around 300 Mbps.

No matter how fast your internet connection is, each device you use has a limit to how fast it can deliver information.

“Devices” are all the electronics that rely on an internet connection (usually wireless), including laptops and desktop computers, tablets, gaming consoles and smart devices such as TVs, phones, security systems, home assistants, ovens, refrigerators… and the list goes on and on. It’s a good idea to check the specific speed capabilities of your different devices.

The type of processor (CPU), operating system, and browser version running on each device also impact how fast it can deliver data over the internet, as do security firewalls and anti-virus software. For the best possible speed performance, you’ll want internet-connected devices that were made within the last two years.

When multiple devices are connected to your network, either wired or wirelessly, they share your internet connection, or the total amount of data that can be downloaded or uploaded at one time. Each device uses a portion of your allotted bandwidth, which in turn affects the speed of each device. 

The farther away a device is from the WiFi router, the slower the speed will be. Physical obstructions like walls, floors and doors can also reduce the speed. You will get a better wireless signal closer to your gateway and with fewer devices running. 

When multiple WiFi networks are working in close proximity, such as in an apartment building or business complex, the different signals can interfere with each other. This can sometimes cause performance issues. 

No, it’s not a medical condition. Internet congestion within the “backbone” or larger network generally occurs in the late afternoon and evening, when more people are using the internet. Going online or streaming during peak periods may limit the speed you experience. This congestion can occur outside of one provider’s network, across peer networks that are interlinked to deliver internet services.