Why is Spectrum Internet So Bad Right Now?

The hunt for the best never ends in the digital age. Whether it be a new seasonal outfit, a recently released smartphone, or a steak selling at the corner of a newly opened cafe, we all try to invest in something that pays off without pain or leaving us disappointed. 

Over the years, technology has evolved and progressed like never before. Especially in the past two decades, technology has been making rounds a day in and day out. Even the most popular and authoritative websites are unable to cover everything about these advancements and releases. 

One of the technologies that have gripped the entire world in its charisma is the internet. The journey that started with a few kilobits of speed has now reached the pinnacle of gigabit speed. 

The images that took several minutes to load are now able to load within a few milliseconds or you could say as fast as the blink of an eye. The videos that required several hours to buffer are now watchable within a few seconds. 

The credit goes to high-speed internet that helps users to do everything in a jiffy. But not every day is Sunday and the internet may not show up speed as much as you experience in the past. Particularly when it comes to service providers like Spectrum, Xfinity, or Cox, the chances are quite rare. 

The reason is that they are some of the top internet service providers in the United States with coverage in almost every part of the country. 

When it comes to Spectrum, it offers coverage in 41 states offering TV, internet, and home phone service. 

No matter, what time of the day you are using, Spectrum provides seamless, uninterrupted, and high-speed internet whether you are gaming, streaming, or browsing. 

However, at times you might not be getting enough speed to stream, browse, and download seamlessly. You will possibly be Googling the answer to Why is Spectrum Internet so bad right now and what causes slow internet. 

In this post, we will be covering everything from fixing slow internet speed to reasons for slow internet speed. Sit back and let’s get started. 

What Causes Slow Internet Spectrum?

If you are not aware of technicalities, finding answers to why is my internet so slow all of a sudden remains a mystery. However, there is no need to worry as you don’t need to do much when you know what causes slow internet. This applies to all the internet service providers whether it be Spectrum, Xfinity, or Cox. Here’s everything you need to know about a slow internet connection causes. 

What are the Most Common Causes of a Slow Internet Connection? Why is Spectrum Internet So Bad Right Now?

A slow internet connection is not always on the service provider’s end. So instead of asking Why is Spectrum internet so bad right now, ask what could be the reason other than the service provider. 

Sometimes a loose connection or an outdated router can also cause a slow internet connection. However, there is no surety that a trick to speed up an internet connection on one day will work on another day. Don’t worry, the tips to speed up your internet connection does not require any technical knowledge. Here’s how to figure out some of the causes of slow internet connection. 

You Need to Upgrade your Internet Plan 

Internet is needed at every moment, even when you are sleeping. Our daily routine is mostly centered around the internet, which could include everything from work to entertainment and downloading to socializing. 

But you are not alone, as other family members or roommates need an internet connection as much as you do. And if you have installed the latest smart home devices, the bandwidth consumption may peak to an extreme level. 

All of this leads to slowing down your internet connection and is one of the most common causes of a slow internet connection. It is good to find ways to save some money, but not at the cost of your time. Therefore, it is important to upgrade to a high-speed internet connection. 

It might be possible that you may have opted for a connection that was suitable for you at that period. But over the years, internet usage and users have increased drastically. The speed that worked great will not be able to fulfill your requirements. 

Moreover, there is a difference in actual speed and advertised speed, which means you will be getting lesser speed than advertised. Make sure to take a speed test before picking up the phone and start quarreling with the representative. 

Your Router Needs to be Replaced 

One of the reasons for experiencing a slow internet connection is your outdated router. You might have purchased one of the latest models of router three to four years back. Things were working fine and you were getting optimal speed. But with the passage of time, you might have experienced a slow internet connection, even after upgrading the plan and applying other tricks. 

The reason is simple, your router needs an update and replacement. For instance, Spectrum Internet customers need to buy a Spectrum-approved router to experience optimal speed. The reason is that older versions are not equipped with the latest technology to handle speed and bandwidth. 

While the newer ones come with the latest firmware and technology to perform well and speed up your internet connection. Especially, when it comes to gamers and streamers, routers play an important role in delivering speed and optimal performance. 

Issues with Your Router 

You might be wondering what to do if my router is not too old. Don’t worry, you don’t need to spend any money, instead apply some tricks that work well often. For instance, if your router is placed in some corner of the room with lots of obstructions, the signals might not reach every part of the house. 

The result will be poor signals and slow internet speed. You can fix it by placing your router in the middle of your house such as living area. 

Another reason for a slow internet connection is that the signals are blocked by furniture, radioactive waves, or walls. Make sure to place your router away from all the obstructions in the center of the room. Mounting your router on a wall is also a great way to experience seamless WiFi speed. 

The internet has evolved over the years and technology has progressed. Preventing you from threats and offering a seamless experience, your router’s firmware is rolled out often. If you have not updated it for a long, now is the time to do so. It is also very important to prevent yourself from cyber threats and security vulnerabilities. 

Another reason for the slow internet speed is that the signals are not reaching every area of the house. If you are living in a big house, you might experience poor and weak signals in some parts. Don’t worry, all you need to do is invest a little more and buy a WiFi extender. By doing this, you will enjoy high-speed WiFi in every part of the house without any problem. 

One of the easiest fixes to speed up your internet connection is to restart your router, rest for a while, and plug it back in. Before you apply all of the aforementioned steps, make sure to do this in the first instance. 

Your WiFi Network is Open to the Public 

If you are wondering why my WiFi is so slow all of a sudden, you must check who is accessing your internet. Either the devices connected to the network from your own family members or someone sitting outside enjoying free WiFi. 

The majority of internet users are not aware of how important it is to protect the network from intruders and passersby. Not only does it help protects your privacy and security, but also allows you to limit access to you and your family members without letting strangers use the network. 

Leaving your network open to the public means that you are allowing other people to use an internet connection as well as consume bandwidth. It could be on anything such as games, movies, torrents, or any other high-bandwidth activity. 

You should not ask why is Spectrum internet so bad right now, instead set a password on your network and prevent other people from using your network. It will also protect you from hackers accessing your private and sensitive data apart from experiencing slow internet speed.

Make sure to set up a strong password to prevent any guesswork from hackers and free users. 

For instance, instead of using your name as a password, go to a free password generator online and generate a new one. Log in to your router’s admin panel and set up a new password. If you want to use your own password, make sure to use capital and small letters followed by numerics and special characters. 

Too Much Congestion on Your Home Network 

If you and your family members are using the internet simultaneously with extreme levels of usage, your internet connection will slow down. However, there are some ways to deal with congestion on your home network. Don’t ask your kids or some teenager to stop streaming their favorite program on Netflix just because you want to attend a video conference. Here’s what you can do instead. 

Nowadays, most routers come with a Quality of Service (QoS) component to help you control your network and prioritize different types of data. For instance, if you want to experience smooth buffering while streaming your favorite Netflix season, QoS allows you to do so by allowing first access to streaming data. 

If you have an old router, your router might not have adjustable QoS. However, if it has, you can surely utilize it according to your requirements. 

Another tip to experience blazing-fast internet speed is to cut down on your devices that are rarely used. For instance, if you have a tablet sitting right on your desk without being used, just make sure to disconnect it from the network. It might surprise you, but disconnecting all those devices from the network will help you bring back speed to normal. 

Normally these devices even in the idle state use and process background applications that require some amount of bandwidth. The routers can handle only a limited amount of devices to connect simultaneously. If you have plenty of devices, the router will start kicking off some of them from the network. 

The only way to deal with it is to log in to your router’s admin panel and check which devices are connected and how many of them are active or in an idle state. Once you find devices that are not in use, block them immediately to experience full bandwidth.

One of the easiest ways is to change your WiFi password and reconnect only those devices that are in use frequently. For instance, if your child’s smartphone is idle for most of the day, there is no need to reconnect it unless or until asked by your child. 

Nowadays, you will find many routers that come with an app to help you control the network without logging in to your browser. One of them is Spectrum Advanced WiFi Router 6 which allows you to limit the number of devices and allocate bandwidth to devices. Moreover, you can add or limit the devices through Spectrum’s advanced WiFi app, making it easier for you to enjoy optimal speed. 

Another way to boost your internet connection is to limit bandwidth-consuming activities such as downloading large files. Make sure to schedule your activities like downloading and torrenting during the time when others are sleeping. 

If you are facing a slow internet connection and want to know why is Spectrum internet so bad right now, you don’t need to worry. Make sure to create a separate guest network using the mobile app or web browser. The benefit of creating a guest network helps you to limit the amount of bandwidth guests can use and also provide enhanced security  

Network Congestion Leads to Slow Speed

Why is Spectrum internet so bad right now could be due to network congestion. Yes, you have heard it right, even the network congestion happens on a macro level. At times when the network congestion is out of control, the service provider throttles the speed to reduce traffic. 

It is rather impossible to control and manage people in your neighborhood or ask them to stop streaming gaming, or video conferencing. Surprisingly, there are some ways to overcome this issue. 

It is better to schedule your large download files in the middle of the night to prevent such congestion. Alternatively, you can also switch to another internet service provider with a limited number of subscribers. 

If you are living in an area where fiber internet is available, you can surely go for it without giving it a second thought. The problem with cable internet is that the data is transmitted through a copper wire, which could reduce the speed when traffic is high. But not when it comes to fiber internet. However, it might give a blow to your budget every month, but worth every penny. 

Speed Throttling by ISP

Only a handful of ISPs offer unlimited data caps including Spectrum. If your service provider is offering a limited amount of data caps, you might struggle with speed after reaching your limits. Although, service providers like Xfinity offer 1.2 TB of data per month, which is sufficient for most households, even if there are gamers, streamers, and downloaders. 

If you are living in a rural area where only limited options are available such as satellite internet, your data limits will be quite low. While in some areas where cable internet providers are available, offer limited data caps. Once you reach those data caps, you will experience speed throttling. 

For instance, if your normal speed before reaching data caps is 25Mbps, the ISP will throttle the speed and reduce it to 1-3 Mbps. Either you need to buy extra data or wait for the next billing cycle to be completed.

High Latency Reduces Internet Speed 

Latency is the time it takes for data to transmit from the device to the destination and back. The greater the latency, the lesser the speed. Particularly when it comes to gaming, it could result in extreme lag, which can be frustrating for pro gaming and video calls. 

High latency creates lots of difficulties, especially when it comes to distance from internet servers to your physical distance, ISP’s infrastructure, and network congestion between servers and you. An example of it is satellite internet which has high latency because the data has to travel to space and come back. However, compared to fiber and 5G network, the latency is much lower and deliver high-speed internet. 

Faulty Wiring 

When it comes to internet connection, wiring plays an important role in delivering high-speed internet. Old and damaged wires can lead to a slow internet connection. Make sure to check wires and cable including ethernet cable or phone wire. Once you find a damaged or cracked cable, make sure to immediately replace it or call a technical assistant to fix it. As soon as the wires or cables are fixed and replaced, you will experience high-speed internet like never before. 

It is good to keep your wiring and equipment away from pests and children. If there are rodents in your home, they might damage your wiring without letting you know. 

Your Device is Infected

One of the reasons for experiencing a slow internet connection is that your device is infected with malware or viruses. As most of our activities are online, the possibilities of being attacked by viruses and malware are quite high. This could also be a major disruptor in slowing down your internet speed. Particularly when it comes to malware, it leaves behind traces on your device to monitor activities and consume data. 

If you are experiencing speed issues on any particular device, make sure to scan and clean the device completely. After removing the malware, take a speed test, and don’t forget to enable the firewall settings on your system to prevent further attacks. 

Disconnect VPN Service 

Virtual Private Network or VPN is optimal for accessing content that is restricted in your area. Moreover, for safe browsing, shopping, and transactions, VPN allows you to mask your identity and prevent you from vulnerable attacks.

Using a VPN service for a short time is great. But when it comes to longer use, it may not be useful as the speed may not be as optimal as without using a VPN. The reason is that VPN consumes a lot of data due to the encryption process and proxy servers. Using a server far away from your location with a huge amount of traffic can slow down your internet speed. 

It is therefore necessary to disconnect the VPN service and start your routine online activity. If the speed gets backs to normal, it is a sign that VPN was the main culprit. However, if it does not, you need to figure out other reasons for a slow internet connection. 

Internet Outage 

An internet outage is also one of the reasons you are experiencing slow or bad Spectrum right now. Internet service providers have to go through maintenance processes often to offer you stable and seamless service throughout the year.

The majority of them will inform you about downtime on their social media page and website. However, in case of a sudden problem such as a storm, the falling of a tree, or the disconnection of wires might result in an outage. If you are a Spectrum internet user, you can read our post on Is there a Spectrum Outage in my Area? 

And if you are using any other service provider, make sure to contact them via customer support. Or confirm the outage by looking at their official website or social media page. 

Type of Internet Connection 

When it comes to speed, you need to understand that different types of internet connections offer different speeds. Some of the most common types of internet connections include satellite, DSL, cable, and fiber optics. 

Satellite internet is one of the slowest internet connections so far as the time required to travel from device to space and back is much greater. This leads to a greater latency rate, which ultimately slows down the internet speed. Also, satellite internet offers a limited amount of data caps, which is not enough to meet your monthly internet requirements. 

DSL internet uses a phone line to transmit data. Compared to cable or fiber internet, DSL internet cannot handle large amounts of bandwidth. It is a great choice for households who have a limited amount of online activities. 

Cable Internet is one of the most popular internet connection types most commonly found in every household in the United States. It is far better and speedier than DSL internet. The internet runs on coaxial cable, which has greater bandwidth than phone cable. Moreover, cable internet is high in cost and offers more speed than DSL internet. 

Fiber internet is limited in some areas, but it is far speedier than any other internet connection. It uses light pulses to transmit internet data and has a lower latency rate. The fiber internet connection can deliver speeds up to 5000Mbps and is less vulnerable to network congestion.

Running Too Many Applications 

One of the reasons why Spectrum Internet is so bad right now is due to running too many applications simultaneously. For instance, if you are binge-watching Netflix series and also downloading heavy files, you might experience slow internet speed. 

Moreover, if you are using smart devices at your home, it could also be the reason for the slow internet speed. The best approach is to close all the background applications and disconnect devices that are not in use. 

Devices are Too Old

When it comes to slow-speed internet, it is not always about faulty hardware or WiFi router settings. Sometimes, your device is too old to handle the speed. If your device is outdated and has not been updated for the past 4 to 5 years, probably you need to think of buying a new one. And if you have been delaying the updates rolled out on your phone, tablet, or PC, make sure to do it instantly without further delay. 

Opening Too Many Tabs Simultaneously 

If your work is dependent on the internet and too much research is involved, you might have 20-30 tabs opened simultaneously. All of these tabs are loading some sort of images, texts, or videos, which puts a huge burden on your CPU. Make sure to close unnecessary tabs and let the device’s memory take some rest. 

Clear Cache and Cookies

If you are experiencing slow Internet speed while browsing websites, you need to clear your cache and cookies. By clearing cache and cookies, you will find speed getting back to normal and browsing websites will not be an issue. 

Summing Up

Internet speed problems are normal and you cannot avoid them just like you can’t avoid feeling sick. Why is Spectrum’s internet so bad right now has been discussed in detail. We have not only covered why Spectrum’s internet is so bad right now but also helped you to fix slow internet issues. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. What internet speed is considered slow?

A. Internet speed less than 25Mbps is considered slow. With such a slow speed, you cannot experience high-speed gaming, streaming, and downloading. However, if you just need to check your email, socialize with friends, or browse random websites, then an internet speed slower than 25Mbps will not cause any issues. 

Q. Is Spectrum down in my area?

A. To answer, is Spectrum down in my area, you need to contact customer service, visit Spectrum’s official website, or visit Twitter handle for updates. 

Q. Why is my internet so slow all of a sudden?

A. There are several reasons you are experiencing slow internet all of a sudden. Some of them include: 

• Poor WiFi Signals
• Speed Throttling
• Internet Outage
• Multiple Devices Connected Simultaneously
• Use of VPN Service
• Type of Internet Connection
• Malware and Viruses
• High Latency 

Q. Is there an outage in my area Spectrum?

A. To find out is there a Spectrum outage in my area, you need to check Spectrum’s official website, contact customer support, or visit Twitter handle for updates 

Q. What Causes Slow Internet

A. Slow internet is caused due to multiple reasons including outdated hardware, weak WiFi signals, multitasking, high bandwidth activities, inappropriate router placement, bandwidth restriction, and old firmware

Q. Does Spectrum throttle the internet?

A. Spectrum throttles the internet when the network congestion is too high. But when it comes to data caps, Spectrum offers unlimited data, which means you don’t need to worry about speed throttling after consuming a certain amount of data. 

Q. Does Spectrum throttle the internet at night?

A. Yes, sometimes when the traffic congestion is too high, or during the peak hours Spectrum will throttle the internet. 

Q. How can I make my Spectrum internet faster?

A. If you want to make your Spectrum internet faster, make sure to connect your laptop directly via Ethernet cable. Otherwise, place your modem/router in the center of your home. In addition, restart your router regularly, place your router in free space, and disconnect idle devices connected to the internet.