Even if there are not too many people in the home, the Internet connection can present problems. It is normal for the Internet connection to have bandwidth problems if there are too many people connected to the network. However, this may not always be the case. It is possible that two people are connected, and still, there are problems with bandwidth. Next, we discuss the possible causes and what practical actions you can take for a quick solution.
Monitor bandwidth usage through the router
The router is not only responsible for providing connection, but also has the ability to contain all the necessary information about inbound and outbound traffic, that is, up and down. Remember that to access the router administration portal, you simply have to enter the web browser and enter the router’s IP address. Where can I find that information? It can be under the device, where the typical sticker with the access data is located. Or, access the Command Prompt> ipconfig> Wi-Fi network adapter information> Default Gateway
Note: The gateway is usually 192.168.1.1, although this data may vary according to the brand and model of the router.
Once you have entered the router administration interface, enter the configuration section that informs about the devices that are currently connected to the network. The essential data that you can visualize are:
- IP address
- MAC Address
- Current connection status
There are routers that are more likely to manage the configuration and network status. Thus, it is possible to know the current rate of upload, download, amount of data trafficked and much more. Below is an example of how to view all this information on an ASUS RT-AX88U router.
Review in detail the use of bandwidth
If you need more information regarding the bandwidth in use, you can opt for specific monitoring tools for bandwidth on a computer. In this guide we will share with you some free programs that you can use periodically to have control of this aspect:
SoftPerfect NetWorx
It is a very light and easy to use tool . It is compatible with Windows from Windows XP, Windows Server in its versions 2003, 2008 and 2012. It is focused on monitoring the basics in relation to the network traffic of your computer, not only locally but also other devices connected to it net. There is a section called “Monitored Interfaces” and you can find it in Settings.
It is also possible to monitor the traffic of a router or any other gateway that uses the SNMP protocol. The peculiarity of this tool is that the information of the monitored devices is updated every second . However, it is likely that not any device is compatible with this. You don’t need too many configuration steps and you can download it free of charge here .
SolarWinds Real-Time Bandwidth Monitor
It is one of the most popular and complete solutions. It allows you to monitor in real time several network interfaces at the same time, with information available in real time. All this is visible through very intuitive and concise graphics, which give you an overview of what is happening with your home network.
It is a great support to balance the bandwidth assigned to your network, as well as facilitating the resolution of possible inconveniences that may arise in terms of connectivity, especially if we talk about bandwidth. It is possible to configure the time interval in which the network monitoring is updated. The lowest time interval is 0.5 seconds .
Go ahead and download the tool. In a couple of minutes you can configure all the interfaces to be monitored using the IP address and you will improve the control of your network.
Perform computer scan for malware
Be sure to consider this possibility! Your computer and other devices that are connected to the network may be infected with malware. It is advisable to install good antivirus / antimalware programs, so that you can be protected against such situations. There are cases in which the malware that is infecting the computer influences the performance of your browser or the performance of the computer in general.
This helps us understand the importance of good practices when surfing the Internet either in our home network or others. Above all, it prevents access to sites that you don’t know, which are usually accessible through multiple advertisements that we see while browsing. In just one click you can find malware, ransomware or others, which will cause you a big headache.
The netstat command
The netstat command is used to evaluate everything related to the activity of network connectivity. However, this does not include what may happen with the Wi-Fi router. Simply, you enter the CMD or Command Prompt> netstat> Enter . Each register that is displayed shows data regarding any active network connection on the computer, to which port it is associated, the external address and to which network connection process it belongs.
It is important to pay attention to the data that appears after executing this command. Any details that you do not know or that you want to know, you can search on the Internet and thus obtain clarifications. Most records consist of servers associated with specific applications and / or cloud services.
A website that can help you is urlscan.io . Simply copy and paste the IP address on which you need data and in a few moments, you will know about the associated server and who or what organization it corresponds to.
An alternative to consult information regarding each Process ID found through netstat is the Task Manager . You must right-click on the menu bar> Task Manager> Services tab> and verify the processes that are being carried out based on the Process ID . If you find several Processes ID that you don’t know, you can delete them. You can also go to the Resource Monitor tab to see the details of all the network processes.
We know that it is difficult to avoid 100% of any type of Internet connection problem, in addition to the issue of bandwidth. It is almost impossible to stop to think about which applications will consume more or less bandwidth, or if I have to wait for someone else to download their files so that I can continue connected. That is not ideal. Fortunately, this guide will help you clarify your doubts about the use of the network and determine the most important thing: if it is worth investing in more bandwidth.
