Internet Speed
Things To Consider When Working From Home
Working from home because of COVID-19 may sound like a luxury. Freedom to cook lunch. Time to do laundry between online meetings. Or even get a workout out in. Then reality sets in when your Internet speed slows down to a crawl. Without an IT department, you are on your own! But, you don’t have to be!
Just like you wouldn’t go into the office without the right equipment. You’ll want to ensure that your home workspace is an environment that is well suited to get your job done. And, your experience working from home will depend a lot on your Internet speed.
Compared with the fast network connection in the office, your home Internet speed is likely slower. And, to make matters worse, the WiFi signal strength you experience in different parts of your home is never consistent. This happens when there are a lot of devices vying for limited network resources.
A lot of devices competing for throughput on one network can cause internal traffic issues and downgrade performance when working remotely. Speaking of demands, it is possible that your Internet speed is good, but taxed by too much demand.
Since most devices now connect wirelessly, your experience working from home will depend a lot on your WiFi performance.
Working from home is often more complicated than it sounds. That’s because not every home is set up to double as a home and a workplace.
For this reason, now is a good time to assess your home network infrastructure.
WIFI SPEED
If you work from home, you might be wondering how fast your WiFi speed needs to be in order to do your work.
How Much Speed Do I Need?
Working from home is often more complicated than it sounds. That’s because not every home is set up to double as a home and a workplace. Internet services typically require minimum connection requirements. The bottom line: most households need Internet speeds of at least 25 Mbps. But, when it comes to working from home there are many factors that determine the Internet speed you will need. For example, if you need to download and upload large files quickly or make video conference calls, you will need more speed. Remember, the best internet speed for working from home will depend on the kind of work you do. So, if you download and upload large files, you need an Internet speed of at least 40 Mbps to do so.
What internet speed do I need for working from home?
- Email and basic computer programs: 3-4 Mbps is recommended
- Group video calls: 10+ Mbps is recommended
- Large file transfers: 40+ Mbps is recommended
- Zoom 1:1 video calling
- 1.2 Mbps (up/down) for 720p HD video
- Receiving 1080p HD video requires 1.8 Mbps (up/down)
- Sending 1080p HD video requires 1.8 Mbps (up/down)
- GoToMeeting amount of bandwidth that GoToMeeting uses during a session will vary depending on the features that are being used
- Computer audio (VoIP): 0.04 Mbps (40 Kbps)
- Webcam sharing (HDFaces): 0.7 Mbps (700 Kbps) to 2Mbps, depending on number and size of webcams in use
- Screen sharing: 0.04 Mbps (40 Kbps) to 8 Mbps, depending on the size and rate of changes happening on screen
CONNECTIVITY
The #1 tech issue while working at home is Internet connectivity.
Bandwidth vs Speed: What’s The Difference?
ISPs frequently use the terms “bandwidth” and “speed” interchangeably. But, there is a subtle difference between them:
- Bandwidth: is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over an Internet connection, as measured in Megabits per second (Mbps)
- Speed: is the rate at which data can be downloaded (or uploaded) to a given device using that Internet connection, also measured in Megabits per second
Internet Speed Terminology
Ping: a ping is a test that figures out if a server is reachable. A ping is done by sending a data packet to the server to see if the data comes back. If it does, then the server is reachable.
Ping Time: ping time is the responsiveness of your connection. In other words, ping time is the speed at which a data packet travels to the server and back. It is measured in milliseconds. So, if a connection doesn’t register the data request for a couple of seconds, there will be a lag in file upload, online submission or other similar activities.
Latency: latency is how fast data transfers between a source and its destination. In other words, it is the delay of information communication.
Why This Matters
Download speeds less than 25 Mbps are too slow to work from home. With these speeds, you will experience buffering when streaming video, as well as difficulty connecting multiple devices and other internet connectivity issues. This is important because your internet speed determines what types of activities you can do and how many devices you can connect at once. For this reason, if your router is more than a few years old, now is the time to upgrade. As the gateway to the Internet, your router plays a key role in your overall productivity when working from home.
Working Remotely
New Routers
New routers offer less interference and are ideal for connecting to when accessing business applications, teleconferencing or transferring large files.
Working From Home
There are no one-size-fits-all answers when it comes to working from home; it really boils down to what kind of uploading and downloading you need to do for your job. To help you optimize your workspace at home we are offering a free WiFi assessment and 10% off on full home networks (for the next two weeks). This includes:
- Diagnosing the speed & quality of your WiFi network
- Identifying the dead zones in your home
- Explaining the system that will help fix/speed up your Internet connection
- And a 10% discount for a complete home network when you book an appointment within the next two weeks
- Includes a router, switch and three access points
- Call (760) 505-7461 to schedule an appointment
Let us help you optimize your workflow and maximize your efficiency while working at home.
Schedule A Free WiFi Speed Assessment
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