What the message looks like
Der Vertrag nennt eine hohe Geschwindigkeit, der Speedtest im WLAN zeigt aber deutlich weniger.Common causes
- Wi-Fi is the bottleneck: distance, walls, interference from neighbouring networks or an old device with slow Wi-Fi.
- Many devices use the line at once (streaming, updates, cloud backup).
- An old or faulty network cable, or a port that only works at 100 Mbit/s instead of 1 Gbit/s.
- The router or the device is too weak or overloaded, or the test server is far away.
- The line itself delivers less than promised in the contract.
Check
- Can you reach the router and how fast does it answer? (Windows:
ping -n 10 …)ping -c 10 192.168.178.1 - What is the response time to the internet?
ping -c 10 8.8.8.8 - Which path do packets take? (Windows:
tracert example.com)traceroute example.com - Which devices are on the network? (shows address table)
arp -a
Fix
- Test by cable: connect a computer directly to the router with a LAN cable and run the speed test. Only this value shows what the line really delivers.
- If the cable result is good but Wi-Fi is poor, Wi-Fi is the cause. Move closer to the router, improve the router's position or add an access point.
- During the test, stop other downloads, streams and cloud backups and close unneeded programs.
- Check the link to the router with
ping -c 10 192.168.178.1. Large swings or losses point to Wi-Fi or the cable. - Swap the cable and try another port on the router.
- If even the cable test is far below your plan over time, record several measurements at different times and bring them to your provider.
FAQ
Why is Wi-Fi slower than a cable?
Wi-Fi shares the air with all devices and nearby networks and is weakened by walls and distance. A cable is steadier and usually faster.
Is the contract speed guaranteed?
That depends on the contract. Values are often given as a maximum or a range. Read the service description and collect measurements taken by cable.