There are many reasons for an internet connection to run slowly and it can be hard to diagnose what is wrong. This article covers some of the most common causes and potential solutions, though you may need to refer to your internal IT team.
Potential Causes:
- The System Checker has indicated that I have a slow internet connection.
- The System Checker has indicated a high latency time.
- The training is running slowly.
System Checker
We have our own System Checker which can help in diagnosing problems, if you have already used this please visit https://showcase.boltspark.com/frontend/checker/ and use the ‘Run Tests’ button at the bottom of the page.
The following information may help resolve any issues you find.
Speed Test
The above System Checker runs a connection speed test. If you find that your speed is below the suggested minimum the training will still work but it may be slow to load pages.
You can also visit sites like www.speedtest.net and www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk to check this.
When looking at your connection speed, speeds of 1Mb or higher should be the target minimum. Please refer to your internet provider or internal IT support if you are getting speeds lower than this.
Latency
Latency is how long it takes data to travel between its source and destination, measured in milliseconds. If this value is too high then there will be a delay in transferring information from the server to your device and thus the site will appear slow.
If you are using a Wi-Fi connection then read the below Wi-Fi section for further information on how to improve your speed. Otherwise please read http://www.howtogeek.com/138771/htg-explains-how-latency-can-make-even-fast-internet-connections-feel-slow/ and contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if the latency is consistently high.
Wi-Fi
The further you are away from your wi-fi connection point and the number of obstacles, walls, etc in between the worse the connection and thus the speeds will be.
You can find a helpful list of items to check here: http://www.techworld.com/picture-gallery/ux/10-reasons-your-wi-fi-speed-stinks-how-boost-wi-fi-signal-2016-3633986/#3
Computer Speed
The speed of your computer can have an effect on how quick you can use the internet. From your processor speed, memory and hard disk speed they will all have an effect.
We would recommend that you have the following spec as a minimum:
Windows
- Windows 10 (Windows 7 and 8.1 also are fine)
- Dual Core Processor (2Ghz+)
- 4GB+ RAM
- Chrome Browser (Microsoft Edge is also fine)
Macintosh (OSX)
- OS X El Capitan
- 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor (Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz) with 4MB shared L3 cache
- 4GB+ RAM
- Chrome Browser (Apple Safari is also fine)
Browser Speed
Not all browsers were made the same, if you would like to check the speed of your browser you can visit http://web.basemark.com/ and run their Browsermark to test the speed of your browser. We suggest that 2000 is a minimum.
Please ensure that your browser is as up to date as possible for the best compatibility.