Q: I lately experienced fiber with substantial-pace internet (500 mbps program) mounted at my next residence in San Juan County. I’m worried that I’m not having the advertised world wide web velocity.

About six months ago I ran an world wide web pace look at and it registered about 500 mbps obtain speed through wireless connection. Having said that, when I returned a couple of times ago I was getting issues loading my e-mail and soon after functioning a pace verify located it registered less than 1 mbps. My laptop is about 25 feet from the modem/router.

Soon after calling a assistance tech and rebooting my modem/router I was capable to get about 60 mbps. I was presented a scenario amount and told I would get a connect with again from a increased-degree tech the upcoming working day. When the tech identified as she informed me I would not be ready to get even near to a looking at of 500 mbps by way of wi-fi and perhaps only 250 mbps if I linked by using Ethernet and provided no further aid to boost my pace.

I’m not convinced I’m obtaining the pace I’m paying for. At my most important home in the Seattle region I consistently register extra than 500 mbps with a 700 mbps plan when functioning pace checks by means of wi-fi. Is it attainable they are someway throttling my pace due to the fact I am not a comprehensive-time user at my next household? How do you reveal the discrepancy I am looking at in internet pace?

— Carl Einfeld

A: There are only two points you report that surprise me. Initially, that you could get any place in close proximity to 500 mbps when connecting by way of wireless to a 500 mbps support. I have gigabit world-wide-web and when I link through an optimized (and I’ll make clear “optimized” in a moment) Wi-Fi router I get about 300 mbps. Even when I join specifically to the cable modem by means of an Ethernet cable I be expecting to get only about 650 mbps.

In small, with a 550 mbps provider connection assuming your customer hardware is up to snuff, I’d assume a wi-fi connection to max out at about 100-150mbps.

The other thing that surprises me is your having only 1 mbps. That surely suggests anything is amiss, although it is very likely temporary.

So how to optimize your Wi-Fi connection? As extended as there are no partitions or other sources of interference in between you and your router, 25 toes must be close enough to get greatest performance. But much too a great deal targeted visitors on the Wi-Fi channels you’re applying may perhaps drag down your general performance. You might alter the channel utilised by your Wi-Fi router to see if that boosts your speeds.

Also, most modern-day Wi-Fi routers provide two frequencies: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 5GHz frequency gives shorter variety but higher speeds. You are close enough that vary should not be an issue so if you’re not currently making use of the 5GHz frequency swap to it.

Also remember that the speeds you get will be determined by the weakest hyperlink in your system. If your router supports the current Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard but your computers have Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) consumer adapters, your overall performance will be constrained to the speeds of the latter.

Q: You lately wrote that you’re applying Malwarebytes along with Microsoft Defender antivirus software. 

I was questioning if you are operating the no cost or compensated version of Malwarebytes, as I have listened to that the paid out edition can interfere with Microsoft Defender, but with the free variation both equally can run in tandem.   

I have also listened to that with a few environment changes, the paid out variation can be altered to also operate in tandem with Microsoft Defender. 

I have had Malwarebytes in the earlier and would take into account it all over again, specially if it can function along with of Microsoft Defender.

— Doug Johnson

A: I have run the paid edition alongside the Home windows Security suite less than the two Home windows 10 and Home windows 11 without the need of any difficulties.

By default, though, Home windows 11 turns off the Home windows Defender antivirus ingredient of Windows Safety when you install Malwarebytes. You can, however, established Windows Defender to periodically run a scan.