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Are you wondering why your internet connection slows down at night when you wish to watch your favorite movie, play your favorite game or study all night? Well, there could be several reasons behind the slowing down of your internet connection.
From overloaded networks to router’s upgradation and location changes, there are several reasons why this is happening to your connection. Let’s get into this article and learn more about the problems and hurdles that happen which slows down your internet connection at night.
Why is Your Internet Slow at Night?
Here are nine different reasons why you could be facing such problems in your internet connection at night.
Peak Hours
The Internet peak times are usually between 6:00 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays. It is around this time that people often quit work or school, which gives them more free time to spend on the internet.
You can now experience peak hours at other times of the day as millions of Americans spend more time working and studying from home. Basically, you experience the so-called “Internet rush hour” in times when many people are on the Internet at the same time. Just like so many cars can fit on a freeway, an ISP can only manage a limited number of people online.
Congestion in Network
All internet users go through this common phenomenon. You may have faster internet and high bandwidth at peak times, but you still don’t get it. The reason for this is network congestion. We’ll go over the Autobahn analogy again.
With so many people using the internet to stream, download and play online, internet speed is sure to be slowed down due to congestion. The bandwidth is shared between many users. Activities such as high-definition streaming on Netflix, downloading movies and playing online games require a lot of bandwidth. Since we all have a common connection, there is not enough bandwidth for everyone due to congestion and Internet speed lag.
Poor Weather Conditions
If you are using a satellite connection instead of a cable connection, you are more likely to have problems with weather changes. These changes in the weather on the receiving antenna cause signal interference and thus poor Internet speeds.
Hardware Problems
Another major cause of slow internet speeds at night is internet hardware. If you have outdated equipment, it may not be able to handle your family’s bandwidth needs when it is heavily used.
For example, if you have 5-6 people in your household using high-end activities like streaming and downloading at the same time, your computer is likely to be overloaded. Hence, you will all face a lag on the internet.
Slow VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) is software that adds a layer of encryption to the connections between your device and the servers and masks your IP address. Many of us work from home these days, offices may require you to use a VPN to access company resources.
You can subscribe to a VPN as a paid client or opt for a free service. Payment options are usually faster but can still slow your internet down as you are using a relay for traffic and the VPN service is used at peak times it can also come to traffic jams.
A quick fix is often to try a different location option for your VPN. Also, not all VPNs are created equal, and there can be significant differences between the speeds offered. Free VPNs are generally not recommended because there is always a trade-off between security, your personal information, or speed in exchange for free access. If you’re using a free VPN option and the slow speeds are unbearable, consider subscribing to a paid service instead.
Router Location Change
While most of us don’t care about the location of the Wi-Fi router, placing the Wi-Fi router in the right locations can significantly increase signal strength. So, make sure it is near your computer.
In addition, router signals can be transmitted downwards more easily and should therefore be placed high above the ground. Please note that electronic and other metal objects should not be placed closer to the router as this can cause signal interference.
Router Hijacking
If you’re experiencing slow speeds, it could be because someone is hijacking your internet subscription. Routers usually come with a random password set as the default and printed on a label on your router, but if you change your password into something that is weak or if you have an open Wi-Fi access point, it can indicate that others are using your network without your consent.
To block your connection or change your password, go to the settings page of your router in a browser. You’ll need to check the specific usage of your provider’s router address, or do a Google search on your router type to get the address you need to access the router settings.
Router Upgradation
Obviously, the number of devices we use will increase over time. When multiple devices are connected to the router, sometimes it cannot handle them. Speeds that exceed their capacity. So buy a new router.
Browser Extension
Although browser extensions or add-ons improve the overall browsing experience, they can also affect your browsing speed, as it can degrade the potential of your browsing speed. In order to enjoy better speed, disable the unnecessary extensions.
Wrapping Up
If you have slow internet network at night, it is best to check your router’s location and upgrade if needed, wait for the weather conditions to become better, make your wi-fi passwords stronger and use a faster VPN.
With all these tips, you will be able to resolve this issue and could see a change in the speed of your internet connection at night. Enjoy your faster and more reliable connection all night!
