There are a number of factors to consider when experiencing slow internet speeds. First we need to determine what speeds you are receiving.
Start by doing a google search for Speedtest.net. This is a simple and quick way to see what your current speeds are. The speeds can and will vary at different times of day as the usage on towers will vary with peak usage times. Peak usage times are typically early in the morning before work and school begins and in the evenings after work and school is over. We encourage you to run multiple speed tests at different times of the day so the problem can be isolated. Make a note of what speeds you are getting at what time.
Please note that if your speeds are under 10mbps download, this doesn’t mean your internet is unusable. This is a common misperception. Depending on what activities you are using the Internet for also means the usage requirements will be different.
For example:
Surfing the web needs a minimum of 2 Mbps
Streaming music needs a minimum of .5 Mbps
Playing online video games needs a minimum of 3 Mbps
Streaming services:
Netflix needs 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K
Hulu needs 3 Mbps for HD and 16 Mbps for 4K
Disney+ needs 5-10 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K
HBO needs 5 Mbps
Streaming YouTube needs 5 Mbps for HD and 20 Mbps for 4K
Zoom Video Calls need 8 Mbps for sending and receiving for one on one phone calls and 2.5 Mbps for receiving and 3 Mbps for sending for group video calls
Additionally, placement of your modem matters. Please see our knowledge base article here for additional information regarding placement.
If you have a cell booster, this can also be the source of slow speeds. Whether you are in an RV park while traveling, or in a neighborhood with historically weak cell signal, there is always the temptation to use a cell booster to boost your signal. Cellular boosters can cause interference and do not work well with our modems. Our modems must receive direct signal from the nearest tower for a certain set of frequencies not normally amplified by cell boosters. While your modem is trying to listen to what it needs to hear, a cell booster is amplifying and rebroadcasting a host of other frequencies that the modem can’t use. Essentially, the signals become “noise” for our modem. If there is a high enough noise level, the modem will degrade in speed or disconnect completely. In RV parks, it is very common for other RVer’s to use cell boosters to get their cell service working and this could affect your own internet experience.
If you are still experiencing slow speeds and would like to talk to one of our customer support agents, we can be reached at +1 385-257-2809 , through live chat on our website or by sending an email to support@nomadinternet.com.