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Understand broadband performance
When it comes to getting better performance for your modem, small actions can make big improvements. View the video below to discover five tips to help you get a better broadband connection.
Types of connection
There are four main types of broadband in New Zealand. Each one can affect your modem performance.
Wireless broadband
This is high speed broadband that connects to your modem from the nearest cell tower. This can be the same 4G or 5G network that your mobile uses.
Learn more about Wireless broadband
Fibre broadband
Fibre carries information through lightweight Fibre optic cables. It provides reliability and has different speed options to choose from.
Local Fibre Companies (LFCs) install Fibre in New Zealand. The LFCs Spark uses are Chorus, NorthPower, Tuatahi First Fibre, Enable and Unison.
Learn more about Fibre broadband
VDSL and ADSL broadband
These are older technologies that transfer information along copper lines.
The types of broadband that are available to you will depend on your location, the wireless network coverage and the availability of Fibre in your area.
To see what's available at your address, view our broadband plans
Your household and usage
Each household will have different needs for their broadband. Some of the factors in your home that can affect your broadband performance are:
- The amount of people using the internet at the same time.
- What each person is using the internet for e.g. gaming or streaming high-definition movies uses more data than browsing websites.
- The number of devices in your household - this includes smart TVs, security cameras and smart lighting.
- The size and layout of your home - if you're far away from your modem, or on a different level of the house, your WiFi speed may slow down.
- Your broadband plan - to perform well, your plan needs to have enough speed and data for what your household needs.
If you use the internet on a single device, it accesses the majority of the speed that's available. When you have multiple devices using the internet at the same time, they share the available speed between them.
To find the right broadband plan for you, consider your household's current usage and needs. If you've had your current plan for a while, these needs may have changed.
Your hardware and devices
The hardware and devices in your household can impact your broadband performance. Here are some factors to consider:
Modem compatibility
Modems have maximum speeds they can support. If you've had your modem for a while, check whether it can support the speed of your broadband plan.
Modem location
If you're using WiFi, where you put your modem can make a difference to your performance. Make sure you put the modem in a central location and off the ground. Position it away from items that might interfere with its signal.
If you have wireless broadband, where you put your modem is particularly important. It needs to be in the right place to be able to get a strong connection with the cell tower.
Older devices
If you're connecting an older device to the internet, it may work but might not be compatible with higher speeds. Older or outdated software on your devices can also cause poor performance.
Software and web browsers
Having too many apps or software using your internet at the same time can affect your experience. Closing some apps and browser tabs may help improve your broadband performance.
Connecting via ethernet versus WiFi
There are two main ways to connect your device to the internet. The first is connecting an ethernet cable from your modem to your device. The second is connecting wirelessly over WiFi. If you're connecting via WiFi, there are many factors that can affect performance.
Viruses, spyware and malware
Viruses, spyware, and malware can slow your device down as they run in the background and use your broadband, resulting in poorer performance. Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your device.
Interference from other devices
Concrete or metal barriers like walls, floors, TVs or fish tanks can get in the way of your WiFi signal. Other devices in your household such as cordless phones or refrigerators can also interfere with your WiFi.
Cables and wiring
If you have Fibre broadband and connect using an ethernet cable, the cable can affect your speed. Check that the category printed on the cable is Cat 5e or above for best performance.
If you have ADSL or VDSL broadband, you'll need filters. These go on your jackpoints to stop your phone line interfering with your broadband.
To help you set up your broadband for your modem and technology, see our support pages.
External factors
Here are some factors outside your home that can also affect your broadband performance:
Distance from the cell tower and physical interference
If you have wireless broadband, your broadband signal comes from a cell tower:
- The further away from the cell tower you are, the weaker the signal will be.
- The number of users who are also connecting to that cell tower at the same time as you can also impact broadband performance.
- There are also factors such as trees, buildings or hills being between your house and the cell tower.
If these factors are degrading your broadband performance, consider switching to a different type of broadband.
Distance from the exchange
If you have ADSL or VDSL broadband, it's connected by copper cables. The further away you are from your local telephone exchange or roadside cabinet, the slower the connection will be.If performance is an issue, consider changing to a different type of broadband.
Weather and outages
Weather events are more likely to affect ADSL and VDSL broadband. Severe weather events and natural disasters can also affect cell towers and exchanges. There may be temporary outages.
Peak hours and congestion
Congestion happens when there are more people in your area using broadband at the same time. During peak hours your broadband may not perform as well as it does at less popular times.
All broadband technologies can slow down during peak hours. You may notice it less if you're on a type of broadband that has faster speeds.
To learn more about getting the most out of your modem visit our Modem Health page