To get the best experience for the internet service level you have chosen, be sure your devices have the ability to support the speed you are trying to obtain and manage the number of devices sharing your internet access at the same time.
Type of devices or equipment Internet devices come in all shapes and sizes, from desktops to tablets, and smartphones to smart televisions. Each of these has a maximum internet speed it can reach, and it might not be as fast as your possible internet service level. For example, if your laptop only supports 100Mbps and you have 1Gbps internet service, your laptop will not be able to reach the maximum speed.
Number of devices Multiple devices sharing your internet connection at the same time, whether wired or Wi-Fi, can affect your internet speed. Also, watching multiple HD TV streams at once in the highest tiers of service may reduce the maximum bandwidth available for internet uses.
Home network Once your gateway connects to the AT&T network, you have access to the internet. Many factors inside your home affect the rate you send or receive internet data.
- Age of wiring inside your home or apartment
- Distance between the gateway and your device
- Age and type of gateway
- Number of devices connected to the gateway
You can access your AT&T Internet through a wired Ethernet connection or a Wi-Fi connection.
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wired connection, using a Cat5e or Cat6 cable, plugged into the Ethernet port on your gateway, provides the best performance consistently.
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Wi-Fi connection gives you the flexibility to move throughout your home but isn't as fast as a wired connection. You get the best Wi-Fi signal closest to your gateway and with fewer devices running.
Other networks and websites you visit Even though you have purchased a specific service speed and the AT&T network is highly reliable, it is important to note that the websites you interact with may not provide their services at the same speeds. Things to consider as you surf websites:
- Websites may not have the same network speeds as you.
- Website server capacity can impact your internet speeds.
- Website owners may use other ISPs to deliver content back to you. These network serving arrangements can also impact your internet speeds.
- Visiting sites during their peak hours may also result in slower speeds.
Additional impacts on internet speed performance and speed test results As noted, there are many factors including customer equipment, connection type, network issues, and internet usage that can affect service speeds and speed test results. In addition, protocol overheads, such as IP overhead in IP technology, diminish internet speed and speed test results.
Overhead(s) means the various control and signaling data (e.g., transmission control protocol (TCP)) required to achieve the reliable transmission of internet access data.