What if I'm experiencing slow speeds?
There are a number of factors to consider when experiencing slow internet speeds ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐จ. First, we need to determine what speeds you are receiving ๐ถ.
Start by doing a Google search for Speedtest.net ๐. This is a simple and quick way to see what your current speeds are ๐. Speeds can and will vary at different times of the day as usage on towers fluctuates during peak hours ๐ ๐. Peak usage times are typically early in the morning before work and school ๐ซ begin, and in the evenings after they are over ๐ผ. We encourage you to run multiple speed tests throughout the day ๐ so the problem can be isolated ๐. Make a note ๐ of what speeds you are getting and at what time โฐ.
Please note ๐ that if your speeds are under 10 Mbps download, this doesnโt necessarily mean your internet is unusable ๐ซ๐ป. This is a common misconception. Depending on what activities youโre using the internet for ๐ฎ๐ฅ, your usage requirements will vary ๐.
For example:
Surfing the web ๐ requires a minimum of 2 Mbps
Streaming music ๐ถ requires a minimum of 0.5 Mbps
Playing online video games ๐ฎ requires a minimum of 3 Mbps
Streaming services:
Netflix ๐ฅ needs 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K
Hulu ๐บ needs 3 Mbps for HD and 16 Mbps for 4K
Disney+ ๐ฐ needs 5-10 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K
HBO ๐ฌ needs 5 Mbps
YouTube ๐ฅ needs 5 Mbps for HD and 20 Mbps for 4K
Zoom Video Calls ๐:
One-on-one calls need 8 Mbps for sending and receiving
Group video calls require 2.5 Mbps for receiving and 3 Mbps for sending ๐ฒ
Additionally, placement of your modem matters ๐ก. Please see our knowledge base article ๐ here for more information regarding placement.
If you have a cell booster ๐ถ, this could also be a source of slow speeds ๐ข. Whether youโre in an RV park ๐ป or a neighborhood ๐๏ธ with weak cell signal, there is always the temptation to use a cell booster to improve your signal. However, cellular boosters can cause interference โ ๏ธ and do not work well with our modems. Our modems must receive direct signals from the nearest tower ๐ for specific frequencies, which are not typically amplified by boosters ๐ก. Cell boosters amplify and rebroadcast frequencies that the modem canโt use, creating โnoiseโ ๐ข. This can degrade speeds ๐ or even disconnect the modem completely โ.
In RV parks, itโs common for other RVers ๐ to use cell boosters, which can affect your internet experience ๐.
If youโre still experiencing slow speeds ๐ฆ and would like to talk to one of our customer support agents ๐, we can be reached at +1 385-257-2809 ๐ฑ, through live chat ๐ฌ on our website, or by sending an email to support@nomadinternet.com ๐ง.