Better Understanding Your Home Network and Internet Performance

Your home internet experience can be a complex puzzle. There are many factors influencing its speed, reliability, and overall quality. While you may notice performance appears to be fine/acceptable with some other every day items (like Netflix, YouTube, gaming, etc), it does not really mean your connection is set up correctly and working as it should.

1. The Foundation: Your Internet Connection
Cable vs. Fibre: In Canada we mostly have Rogers and Bell internet services, and while both use the same general infrastructure, fibre optic lines (Bell Fibe or FTTH [not FTTN]) offer a significant advantage over cable. Fibre provides symmetrical speeds (same upload and download speeds) which is crucial for activities like gaming, video conferencing, and downloading large files. Rogers’ cable internet often has limited upload capacity, leading to slowdowns and frustrating experiences. Most cable plans will offer 30Mbps up with it’s 1000Mbps down, but internet standards require the 30 to get 1000, which leaves you with very little space to do anything noteworthy if you’re getting full download (you will notice issues). 
Packet Loss and Congestion: When you play Xbox or stream Netflix, your data is broken down into small packets that travel across the internet. Packet loss occurs when these packets get lost or delayed, causing glitches, buffering, or even disconnections. This can happen due to various factors like network congestion (too many people using the internet at the same time) or poor network infrastructure. While mostly harmless in small doses, this is enough to destroy VPN.
Latency/Ping: Latency refers to the delay or time it takes for data to travel from one point to another on a network. It’s essentially the “round-trip time” for a data packet to reach a destination and return. This delay is measured in milliseconds (ms). A key indicator of latency is “ping,” which is a network utility that sends a small data packet to a remote server and measures the time it takes for that packet to return. In simpler terms, ping measures the responsiveness of a network connection. A lower ping value (e.g., 10ms) indicates a faster, more responsive connection, while a higher ping (e.g., 200ms) suggests significant delays. Latency is particularly critical for real-time applications like online gaming, video conferencing, and VoIP, as even small delays can lead to noticeable lag, stuttering, or dropped connections. Factors contributing to latency include network congestion, distance between devices, the quality of network infrastructure, and the processing power of network equipment.
QoS (Quality of Service): Imagine your home network as a highway. If you’re streaming a movie, it’s like having a large truck on the road. If everyone else is just driving cars, the truck will likely move smoothly. However, if everyone else is also driving large trucks, the traffic gets congested, and the truck (your movie stream) might experience delays or even get stuck. QoS is like a system that prioritizes certain traffic, ensuring smoother and faster streaming even with heavy network usage.
Your Internet Provider’s Role: While your internet provider lays the foundation, their equipment, and configuration can also impact your experience. The modem/router combo provided by Rogers is often not the most robust solution. It’s designed for basic internet access, but it may not be optimized for high-performance gaming, streaming, or multiple device usage.
Wi-Fi 5/6/802.11a/etc. and frequency (2.4/5/6ghz): While it’s true, the higher the frequency, the faster the connection can push bandwidth, it’s also harder for it to travel farther and more consistently. 900mhz performs the best for something like this, if you remember old cordless phones. The higher up you go, the harder it is for those waves to path through objects. The more popular you go, the more you may also experience signal congestion, especially for those in apartments or townhouses where many people’s wireless signals intersect. Depending on where your router is located and where you work, aside from fighting neighbouring signals, you may also be in competition with your microwave (uses 2.4), a cordless phone, wireless keyboard/mouse, Bluetooth, “smart devices”, garage door openers, baby monitors, etc. Most wireless devices these days love and live off 2.4/5. A good router allows some sub-channel selection to help with this as well. 
Variable Bitrates: When engaging in various online activities (like streaming Netflix or YouTube), the bitrate can vary, affecting your overall experience to try to help. When you start streaming, the service assesses your internet connection’s speed and adjusts the bitrate (the amount of data processed per unit of time) accordingly. If your connection is strong, it will stream at a higher bitrate for better quality. If the connection weakens, it reduces the bitrate to maintain playback, even if it means lower resolution or quality; a luxury something like a VPN connection does not have.
2. The Backbone: Your Modem and Router
Modem vs. Router: The modem is like the gateway to the internet, receiving signals from your provider. The router acts as a central hub, distributing this internet signal to your devices. A separate modem and router is recommended for better control and performance.
Wireless Coverage: Your wireless signal can be affected by many factors, including:
Placement: Where you keep your modem/router matters. Placing it in a hidden or hot location can weaken the signal.
Obstacles: Walls, windows, and other obstacles can disrupt your wireless signal.
Weather: Extreme weather conditions can also impact your Wi-Fi connection.
Rogers’/Bell/etc Modem/Router Combo: This combo is convenient, but it often has limitations:
Limited range and performance: The built-in Wi-Fi may not be strong enough to reach all areas of your home, and it may struggle with multiple devices connected.
Lack of features: It doesn’t offer the same flexibility and control as a separate router, limiting your ability to optimize your network for different usage scenarios.
3. Boosting Your Wi-Fi:
High-End Router: Investing in a dedicated high-end router can significantly improve your Wi-Fi experience:
Increased coverage: Offers a stronger and more consistent signal throughout your home.
Enhanced performance: Handles multiple devices with greater efficiency.
Advanced features: Provides options for QoS, rate limiting, and other network optimization settings.
Mesh System: For larger homes or those with complex layouts, a mesh system can be a great solution. It uses multiple units that work together to provide seamless Wi-Fi coverage everywhere.
Hardwired: These units are typically connected to your modem and each other via Ethernet cables, ensuring a strong and reliable connection.
Seamless Coverage: Provides consistent Wi-Fi strength throughout your home, even in hard-to-reach areas.
4. Public Wi-Fi and VPNs
Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks, like those found in hotels or cafés, are generally not as reliable as your home network. They are often rate-limited, have security vulnerabilities, and can experience high levels of congestion.
VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it more secure and protecting you from unauthorized access. It’s crucial to use Equitable VPN when connecting to the internet to ensure proper communication with Equitable software.
VPN Considerations:
Packet Loss: Public Wi-Fi networks are especially prone to packet loss, which can cause issues with your VPN connection.
Rate Limiting: Public Wi-Fi networks typically have strict data usage limits, which can impact your VPN connection.
Firewall and QoS: Public Wi-Fi networks are typically managed by the establishment, and they may have firewalls and QoS settings that can interfere with your VPN connection or general internet use.
5. Other Factors Affecting Wi-Fi:
Device Drivers: Outdated or incompatible Wi-Fi drivers can impact your connection, IT tries its best to test and update these drivers.
Congestion: High network traffic can slow down your connection and cause packet loss.
DNS Servers: DNS servers translate website addresses (like rynue.co) into IP addresses (like 76.76.2.2) that your computer can understand. They play a role in response time and also what you can connect to.
Tethering: Sharing your mobile data connection can be unstable and is often not recommended for heavy usage.
Environmental Factors: Sunlight, air quality, wall thickness, and construction materials can all influence your Wi-Fi signal.
6. Optimizing Your Connection
Troubleshooting: If you’re experiencing issues, you can try the following:
Restart your devices: Restarting your modem, router, and devices can regularly resolve temporary issues.
Optimize your router settings: Adjust your router settings for better Wi-Fi coverage and performance.
Use purpose built gear: If you’re finding issues with routing and have a combo-device; try disabling its routing features and using a stand-alone router.