1 Gig Internet Service
How to get the most out of 1 Gig internet service
- Device | The key to receiving the fastest internet speed is having the right device with the right wired connection. More recently purchased devices can support faster internet speeds than older devices. Newer laptops with a 1000BaseT network interface card may support up to 1 Gig speeds. However, most smartphones and tablets are limited to speeds well below 1 Gig. (You will need to check the documentation for your specific devices to find their maximum speeds.)
- Connection | The speed you receive will also depend on if you are using a wired connection between the device and the cable modem or if you are using Wifi service. A direct connection is the best way to experience your device’s full speed. If you connect via Wifi, your speed may decrease since wireless connections are inherently slower. Wireless connections are also adversely affected by distance from the router as well as the number of walls or other obstacles between your device and the router.
- Wiring | The wiring that distributes communication services throughout your home can also impact speeds. Modern homes usually come equipped with wiring that is more likely to support 1 Gig. Older homes are more likely to experience some loss in speed due to out-of-date wiring standards in place when those homes were constructed. Cat 5e or Cat 6 cabling is the industry-standard cabling used for 1 Gig speeds. Cat 5 and below may only be able to achieve 100 Mbps speeds.
- Internet | The internet itself will also impact speeds. Most common Internet destinations do not serve content to users at 1 Gig speeds. Even though you have 1 Gig service and you have wired your brand new computer directly into your new router to be able to download at 1 Gig, you still cannot download any faster than the server to which you are connected can serve.