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Here are some common issues and possible solutions.

Slow internet speeds

One of the most obvious causes of slow internet speeds is being too far from the router or access point. This is because the further you are from the router, the more unreliable the connection will be.

To fix this problem, simply move closer to the router. If the router is located in a different room or on a different side of the house, try working from that area and see if that fixes the issue.

Try to position the router higher (for example, up on a shelf), away from other devices that could interfere with its connection, and in a central location without any obstructions. Having objects and materials such as metal, stone, brick, or glass between your computer and the router can interfere with your signal.

Insufficient Bandwidth

Another common cause of internet connection problems is a lack of bandwidth. Bandwidth is a measure of how much data can be transmitted through your internet “pipeline” per second. This means that if you have a small pipeline and are trying to stream a video in HD (an activity that requires a lot of data), your internet speeds may slow down because your pipeline isn’t big enough to funnel all that data at once. A larger internet pipeline would allow more data to funnel through at one time, resulting in a faster connection.

Having too many devices can bog down your bandwidth, so disconnect any that you aren’t actively using. Malware can also take up your bandwidth (plus put your data at risk), so you’ll want to regularly scan your system for viruses so they can be identified and handled as quickly as possible.

To test your bandwidth locate yourself close to your broadband box using the following website – www.speedtest.net

After repositioning yourself or your router and testing the speed:

Issue – You have access to Broadband but the upload speed is below 8Mbps, then this suggests there is more likely to be an issue with the broadband speed rather than poor wireless signal in the house.

Suggested solution – Contact your broadband provider who may be able to offer a solution or upgrade.

There is also a government grant scheme which pays for superfast broadband to be installed in houses that have insufficient broadband speed;
gov.wales/broadband-in-wales

One off cost – To be confirmed by broadband provider

Ongoing costs – To be confirmed by broadband provider

If you need financial support for online learning you may be eligible to receive some funding from the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF).