Slow download speeds can be frustrating, but your internet connection may not be the culprit. Your Wi-Fi router plays a significant role in performance. Try repositioning your router to a more central location, spacing out its antennas, and keeping it away from other electronics that can interfere with the signal.

If you have fast broadband but still experience slow downloads, check which Wi-Fi band your device is using. The 5GHz band offers much faster speeds than the 2.4GHz band, which is typically limited to 100 Mbps. Also, investigate "bufferbloat," a problem where router queues cause delays, especially under heavy network usage. You can test for this using Waveform's bufferbloat test.

Many modern routers feature Smart Queue Management (SQM), a quality-of-service setting that helps manage packet queues and prevent one device from hogging the connection. Look for this in your router's settings, often under Quality of Service. Before buying a new router, try a simple power cycle, check for firmware updates, or perform a factory reset as a last resort.