Slow Internet: A Guide to Speed Tests and Wi-Fi Tricks

Picture this: it’s evening, you’re comfortably settled on the couch, ready to enjoy the latest episode of your favorite series or stream a big game. Suddenly, the image freezes, and that dreaded loading wheel appears. In Italy, where the culture of conviviality has merged with the need to always be connected, a slow internet connection can quickly turn from a minor annoyance into a real obstacle, for both leisure and remote work.

Despite the great strides made with the spread of fiber optics (FTTH) in many Italian cities, from small Apennine villages to metropolises like Milan and Rome, speed problems persist. Often, the fault lies not with the internet service provider, but with how our home network is configured. Understanding how to diagnose the problem is the first step toward a solution.

In this article, we’ll analyze how to correctly measure your line’s performance, how to interpret the technical data, and, most importantly, what practical strategies to apply to get back to browsing at full speed. You don’t need to be a software engineer; all it takes is a little patience and the right tools.

Understanding Speed: It’s Not Just About Megabits

When we sign a contract for fiber or ADSL, the number that catches our eye is the download speed, often advertised as “up to 1 Gigabit” or “up to 2.5 Gigabit.” However, the actual quality of your browsing experience depends on a mix of factors that go beyond this single figure. To get the full picture, you need to familiarize yourself with three fundamental concepts.

The first is Download, which is the speed at which you download data from the internet. It’s crucial for streaming 4K video, downloading large files, and browsing social media. The second is Upload, the speed at which you send data. This value has become critical in the era of remote work: it’s needed for sending emails with large attachments and, most importantly, for ensuring your image and voice come through smoothly during video calls.

The third element, often overlooked but vital, is Latency (or Ping). Measured in milliseconds (ms), it indicates the time it takes for a piece of data to travel from your device to the server and back. A low ping is essential for online gaming and real-time conversations.

A connection with a very high download speed but high ping will still feel “laggy” and unresponsive during video calls or online games. Responsiveness is just as important as raw power.

How to Run a Reliable Speed Test

Many users perform speed tests incorrectly, getting results that don’t reflect their line’s true capacity. Running a test while another family member is streaming a movie or while your computer is downloading updates will inevitably skew the result.

To get an accurate reading, it’s best to connect your computer directly to the router with an Ethernet cable (preferably Category 5e or higher). If that’s not possible and you have to use Wi-Fi, position yourself in the same room as the router, a few feet away, making sure there are no physical obstacles between you and the device. To learn more about the correct procedures, we suggest reading our article on slow internet and how to run a reliable speed test.

During the test, close all background applications that might be consuming bandwidth, such as cloud backup services, torrents, or heavy browser tabs. Use recognized tools like Ookla’s speed test or, for Italy, the Ne.Me.Sys. software from AGCOM, the only one that has legal value in case of a dispute with your provider for failure to meet guaranteed minimums.

Interpreting the Results: Ping, Jitter, and Packet Loss

Once the test is complete, you’ll be faced with a series of numbers. If the download speed is much lower than what your contract promises, there’s a problem. However, in the context of slow browsing, the culprit is often Jitter. This parameter measures the variation in ping over time. If your ping jumps from 20ms to 150ms and then back down, you have high jitter, which causes instability.

Another invisible enemy is Packet Loss. Imagine sending ten letters and two get lost in the mail: the recipient won’t understand the full message. In digital terms, this translates to “stuttering” during VoIP calls or moments when browsing seems to freeze completely before resuming.

If you notice that the speed is good but browsing is unstable, the problem might not be bandwidth, but signal quality or external interference. Sometimes, even security issues or geographic restrictions can have an impact; in these cases, understanding how to protect your connection is useful, as explained in our complete guide to fast and secure internet.

The Problem Within Your Walls: Wi-Fi and Interference

Italy boasts a fascinating and historic housing stock, but homes with thick stone or reinforced concrete walls are Wi-Fi’s worst enemy. The wireless signal struggles to pass through dense materials, creating so-called “dead zones” where the connection is non-existent or very weak.

Furthermore, we live in crowded apartment buildings where dozens of routers are broadcasting simultaneously. If your router is using the same radio channel as your neighbor’s, the two networks will interfere with each other, reducing the performance of both. This happens especially on the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is more crowded but covers longer distances, compared to the 5 GHz frequency, which is faster but has a shorter range.

A common mistake is to hide the router inside a cabinet or behind the TV for aesthetic reasons. The router should be placed in a central location in the house, preferably up high (e.g., on a shelf) and away from other electronic devices like microwave ovens or cordless phones, which can generate significant interference.

Practical Solutions to Improve Your Connection

If you’ve diagnosed that the problem is inside your home, here are some concrete actions you can take right away to improve the situation without necessarily having to switch providers.

Changing Wi-Fi Channels and DNS

By accessing your router’s settings, you can change the Wi-Fi transmission channel. Choosing a less crowded channel (often channels 1, 6, or 11 for the 2.4 GHz band) can make a big difference. Additionally, changing the DNS servers on your router or device can speed up the response time when loading web pages. DNS servers like Google’s (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare’s (1.1.1.1) are often faster than those provided by Italian ISPs.

Using Mesh Networks or Powerline Adapters

For large or multi-story homes, the old ‘repeater’ (range extender) is often not enough because it halves the available bandwidth. The modern solution is a Mesh Wi-Fi system: a series of satellites that create a single, intelligent network, ensuring maximum speed in every corner. An inexpensive alternative to bring internet to a distant room is a Powerline adapter, which transmits the data signal through your home’s electrical wiring.

Checking Specific Applications

Sometimes the slowness seems general, but it’s limited to individual apps. If you notice specific slowdowns only when using certain messaging platforms on your PC, the problem might not be your network. For example, if you experience delays in sending messages from your computer, we recommend consulting the guide on WhatsApp Web is slow: causes and solutions.

When the Provider (ISP) is to Blame

If, after optimizing your Wi-Fi and connecting your PC via cable, the speed remains well below the guaranteed minimum, the problem lies with the external infrastructure. In Italy, the old copper network (the last mile of FTTC) can suffer from crosstalk or physical degradation of the cables, especially if the street cabinet is far from your home.

In this case, it’s helpful to contact technical support armed with the results of your wired tests. Sometimes, a simple remote ‘port reset’ by the provider can resolve temporary instability. If the situation is chronic, the only solution may be to consider a technology upgrade (switching to FTTH if available) or changing providers.

Remember: In Italy, you have the right to terminate your contract without penalties if the provider does not meet the minimum quality standards certified by AGCOM’s Ne.Me.Sys test.

Security and Performance: The Role of VPNs

An often-underestimated aspect is that some providers may intentionally limit speeds (throttling) on certain types of traffic, such as video streaming or peer-to-peer, to decongest the network during peak hours. In these scenarios, using a VPN can paradoxically improve the situation by hiding the nature of the traffic from the provider.

However, using a VPN adds an intermediate step that usually slightly increases ping. It’s a delicate balance between privacy and pure performance. To better understand how these tools affect your daily browsing, you can read our in-depth article on VPN and privacy for safe browsing.

Conclusion

Tackling a slow internet connection requires a methodical approach. We often tend to immediately blame the service provider, but experience shows that many problems originate within our own homes: a poorly placed router, a saturated Wi-Fi channel, or an outdated device can act as a “bottleneck” even for the fastest fiber connection.

In a context like Italy’s, where tradition and innovation coexist, adapting technology to our homes is essential. Running proper speed tests, optimizing router placement, and considering an upgrade to a Mesh system are investments that pay off in terms of quality of life and productivity. Don’t resign yourself to the spinning wheel: with the right adjustments, the speed you pay for can become the speed you actually use.

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Francesco Zinghinì

Electronic Engineer with a mission to simplify digital tech. Thanks to his background in Systems Theory, he analyzes software, hardware, and network infrastructures to offer practical guides on IT and telecommunications. Transforming technological complexity into accessible solutions.

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