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What’s causing your mobile phone’s slow internet?It’s normal to expect your mobile device’s internet browser to be lightning-fast. When it’s not, you might automatically think it’s because you haven’t updated your device’s OS or the browser app. In lots of cases, however, it’s due to slow mobile internet speed. Find out the most common causes for sluggish internet connection on your […]

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What’s causing your mobile phone’s slow internet?

It’s normal to expect your mobile device’s internet browser to be lightning-fast. When it’s not, you might automatically think it’s because you haven’t updated your device’s OS or the browser app. In lots of cases, however, it’s due to slow mobile internet speed. Find out the most common causes for sluggish internet connection on your mobile device.

Wi-Fi noise

Did you know that home electronic appliances emit wireless signals at a frequency similar to your router’s (2.4 GHz)? So when deciding where to place your router, determine whether there are any electronic devices nearby, as they emit signals that can interfere with your router’s signal. For example, even if the ideal location for your router is in the middle of your house, you shouldn’t place it there if a cordless phone is nearby.

You can also set your router on a 5 GHz band, as this frequency is less prone to interference from other appliances. But before you start tuning it, make sure your phone supports 5 GHz; otherwise, it won’t be able to connect to the router.

Router location

One simple yet overlooked reason why your Wi-Fi-connected phone may be experiencing internet lag is because of your router’s location. Although Wi-Fi has a range of up to 230 feet, the signal gets weaker the farther you are from the router. Large objects like doors and walls situated in between your phone and the router can also weaken the transmission.

It’s recommended to place your router in a centralized location, preferably away from concrete and masonry walls or other big objects like a chimney. As the router signal radiates from all sides, blocking any side with big objects will impact your Wi-Fi’s signal quality, and consequently impede your phone’s internet speed.

Slow network

Another reason for your phone’s slow internet connection could be fluctuating network speeds. Ask yourself these two questions to discover the cause of this problem:

  1. How many devices are connected to the router?
  2. What are these devices using the internet for?

You should increase your router’s internet bandwidth speed if you discover you have many users and all of them are either streaming movies or downloading computer games or software updates. This will allow every phone connected to your network to enjoy faster internet speeds.

If you’re outdoors and connected to a public Wi-Fi network, consider using your mobile data instead. You won’t have to share your internet when you use mobile data, enabling you to experience faster connectivity at all times as long as you have a high-speed data plan.

Too much cache

Last, check your smartphone’s cache if fixing your router, network, and positioning doesn’t improve your device’s internet speed. Your phone’s cache saves data from earlier searches in order to display faster results of similar searches in the future. Although your phone becomes more efficient for that particular search, it also makes your phone much slower when you do other things that require the internet.

You can clear out your cache manually or use a cache cleaner app to get rid of useless cache and optimize your phone’s internet speed. If you decide to download a cache cleaner app, make sure that it is trustworthy so you don’t accidentally download a malware-infected program.

There are more reasons for your phone’s lagging internet speed. If your business relies heavily on a speedy mobile internet connection and you’re unable to fix the problem, call our experts today. We’re always ready to help you.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Picking the right office Wi-Fi routerSelecting a Wi-Fi router, much like selecting any other piece of equipment for your business, can be a complicated task. The sheer variety of models available can make it difficult to choose the best option. However, if you know what features to look for, it’s much easier to make the right decision. Network type Look […]

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Picking the right office Wi-Fi router

Selecting a Wi-Fi router, much like selecting any other piece of equipment for your business, can be a complicated task. The sheer variety of models available can make it difficult to choose the best option. However, if you know what features to look for, it’s much easier to make the right decision.

Network type

Look at any router and you will quickly see that there are a number of different network types available. Also referred to as wireless protocols, the four most common types are 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac. These designations indicate how fast the router can transfer wireless data, with 802.11ac being the fastest.

Newer routers now utilize the latest Wi-Fi protocol dubbed 802.11ax. Also known as Wi-Fi 6 or High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW) , this new protocol improves upon 802.11ac tech in the following ways:

  • Greater throughput speeds (up to 9.6 Gbps)
  • Reduced network congestion and expanded client capacity, thanks to Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)
  • Improved range performance
  • Reduced power consumption by network-connected devices, courtesy of Target Wake Time (TWT)

OFDMA enhances network performance by splitting up Wi-Fi channels into sub-channels. Doing so permits up to 30 users to use the same channel simultaneously.

TWT reduces the power consumption of connected devices by allowing them to determine when and how often they will wake up to begin sending and receiving data. This extends the battery life of smartphones and battery-powered internet of things (IoT) home devices such as smart thermostats and security cameras.

Throughput

In communication networks, throughput is the rate at which messages are successfully delivered via a communications channel. A router’s throughput, in particular, is the speed at which the router is supposed to transmit data from your connection to users. To spot the router’s throughput, look for Mbps (or Gbps for its cable ethernet connections). It is usually one of the first things listed on router boxes and specifications.

Keep in mind that if you have a 100 Mbps internet connection, but your router can only deliver up to 80 Mbps, then the total speed of your network will be the lower figure. Therefore, it would be best to get a router with a higher throughput if your internet service provider delivers faster connections.

Bands

On every single router’s box, you will see numbers like 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz. These indicate the wireless radios on the router. A dual- or tri-band router will have both radios so that the connection workload can be split between them.

The 2.4 Ghz radio is sufficient for activities that don’t require much network bandwidth, such as web browsing and replying to emails. Since its band is of a lower frequency, it reaches farther than 5 Ghz but is more easily blocked by concrete walls.

The 5 Ghz band, on the other hand, has greater power, but has a shorter broadcast range. 5 Ghz is what you’ll want to use for video conferencing and playing online games (if permitted by the company after office hours, of course).

Multiple input, multiple output (MIMO)

MIMO is the use of multiple antennas to increase performance and overall throughput. MIMO-enabled routers ensure that more devices can connect to one router with less interference.

When it comes to real-world tests, there is often a slight improvement if the antennae are configured and aimed properly. However, getting a high-end router with six or more antennae may be an unnecessary cost for small businesses.

Beamforming

Beamforming is a feature that’s now standard in mid- to high-end routers. It is a form of signal technology that allows for better throughput in areas with poor or dead signals. In other words, it can help improve the connection quality with devices behind solid walls or in rooms with high amounts of signal interference.

By utilizing this technology, routers can see where connections are weak and act to improve it. While this is available on routers with many network types, it is really only useful with routers running 802.11ac or higher. Those who don’t mind paying a higher price point for an increase in network performance should consider this feature.

Quality of service (QoS)

QoS allows the router administrator to limit certain types of traffic. For example, you can use the QoS feature of a router to completely block all torrent traffic, or limit it so that other users can have equal bandwidth. Not every router has this ability, but it is a highly beneficial feature for office routers.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to picking a router, which is why we recommend you contact us. We can evaluate your networking needs and help you find the best setup for your business.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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What is the difference between HDD and SSD?The standard hard disk drive (HDD) has been the predominant storage device for desktop computers and laptops for a long time. However, computers with solid state drive (SSD) technology are quickly becoming the norm. If you’re looking to upgrade your hardware, you need to know the difference between HDD and SSD. What is an HDD? […]

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What is the difference between HDD and SSD?

The standard hard disk drive (HDD) has been the predominant storage device for desktop computers and laptops for a long time. However, computers with solid state drive (SSD) technology are quickly becoming the norm. If you’re looking to upgrade your hardware, you need to know the difference between HDD and SSD.

What is an HDD?

An HDD is basically a storage device in a computer. It consists of metal platters with magnetic coating, a spindle, and various moving parts to process and store data. The common size for laptop hard drives is the 2.5” model, while a larger 3.5” model is usually found in desktop computers.

What is an SSD?

An SSD is another type of data storage that performs the same job as an HDD. But instead of storing data in a magnetic coating on top of platters, an SSD uses flash memory chips and an embedded processor to store, retrieve, and cache data. It is roughly about the same size as a typical HDD, and resembles smartphone batteries.

HDD and SSD comparison

The differences in capabilities between the two storage devices can be grouped into six categories:

1. Speed

This is where SSDs truly prevail. While HDDs need a long time to access data and files because the disk must spin to find it, SSDs can complete this task 200% faster since data is instantly accessed through flash memory chips. This is why an SSD-equipped PC will boot operating systems within seconds and deliver blazing-fast speed for launching programs and applications, whereas a computer that uses an HDD will take a much longer time to boot the operating system, and will continue to perform slower than an SSD during normal use.

2. Capacity

The largest SSD units have a maximum 100 TB storage capacity. Although there are large SSDs, anything that’s over 1 TB will cost businesses a lot of money. HDDs, on the other hand, have much larger capacities available for much more affordable prices.

3. Durability

HDDs consist of various moving parts and components, making them susceptible to shock and damage. The longer you use your HDD, the more it wears down and most eventually end up failing. Meanwhile, an SSD uses a nonmechanical design of flash storage mounted on a circuit board, providing better performance and reliability, and making it more likely to keep your files and data safe.

4. Noise

An HDD can sometimes be the loudest part of your computer. Even the highest-performing HDDs will emit some noise when the drive is spinning back and forth to process data. SSDs have no moving parts, meaning it makes no noise at all.

5. Heat

More moving parts means more heat, and HDD users will have to live with the fact that their device will degenerate over time. SSD uses flash memory, generating less heat, helping to increase its lifespan.

6. Cost

SSDs are generally much more expensive than HDDs for the same capacity. This is why many budget laptops may only have up to 512 GB of SSD storage.

Despite the high costs and low capacity, however, SSDs are the clear winner over HDDs in terms of performance. While you’re paying more for less memory with an SSD, you’re investing in a faster and far more durable data storage option in the long run.

We recommend using an SSD as the primary storage for your operating system, applications, and most-used programs. Many laptops and computers also allow you to install additional SSDs, so you can upgrade as required if your storage needs grow. Implementing HDD as a secondary storage unit is another great idea, especially if you need a place to store documents and pictures because they don’t need to leverage the incredible access times and speeds of an SSD.

Looking to invest in some new hardware for your business? Talk with our experts before you make a decision. We can provide sound advice and help guide you in the right direction.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Choosing the right computer for your small businessWith the rise of eCommerce and remote working, the importance of computers in business has never been more apparent. But what kind of computers does your small business need? Should you invest in desktops or laptops? Consider the following when weighing your options. Portability The pandemic has driven the majority of businesses to adopt remote […]

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Choosing the right computer for your small business

With the rise of eCommerce and remote working, the importance of computers in business has never been more apparent. But what kind of computers does your small business need? Should you invest in desktops or laptops? Consider the following when weighing your options.

Portability

The pandemic has driven the majority of businesses to adopt remote work setups. If your business will implement a similar arrangement, investing in laptops is the smart move, as your staff can easily take their device with them anywhere they want to work. However, there may be instances when this can turn out to be counterproductive: if your employees can jump into work mode easily, they may get the impression that they have to work 24/7.

As such, you must not discount desktops altogether. While laptops are light and portable, modern desktop computers aren’t nearly as immobile as they used to be. In many cases, desktop screens are thin and light, and all-in-one desktops are easy to move around.

Memory and speed

Before, desktop computers had more memory than laptops, and they were faster because they had bigger processors. This has now changed, thanks to improvements in laptop technology. But until high-powered laptops become affordable to the general public, desktop computers are going to provide your business with more memory, speed, and power for your money.

How much speed and memory you need depends on the work you do. If your employees’ work mostly entails word processing and emailing, laptops should be enough. But if they need to run gaming software or access heavy media files, better invest in desktops.

Security

A desktop computer is more physically secure because it’s often kept in one location, making it easier to guard. And because a desktop’s internet access is often a single source (whether through Wi-Fi or cable), it’s easier to defend it against malware and cyberattacks.

If you choose to invest in laptops, make sure to have strict policies on how to protect devices that are used outside of the office. Don’t let your staff connect to unsecured networks, and use encryption tools to protect data from unauthorized access. You must also employ mobile device management software to enable your administrator to wipe data clean off laptops should they get lost or stolen.

Price

Laptops, especially the smaller notebook-style ones, are a lot cheaper than desktops. However, desktop computers are also becoming more affordable through local channels and lenient payment terms. And with a capable IT services provider that can provide you with infrastructure or offer cheaper desktop options, cost probably won’t be a deciding factor.

Quality

Although laptop computers provide the convenience of portability, they’re prone to battery and charging cord problems. They are also easily damaged, especially if they are dropped or mishandled. By contrast, desktops are generally sturdier. But when they do experience a problem, repairing them can be expensive.

Final recommendation

The desktop versus laptop debate is an old one, with supporters on both sides touting the advantages of their choice. A growing company usually needs a combination of both types of computers, especially as their needs evolve.

If you have questions regarding choosing the best computer for your company, give us a call. We’ll be happy to assist you in improving your business.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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