Question:

What are the possible causes and solutions for low internet speed over ethernet connection?

I have a high-speed internet plan that should provide me with 300 Mbps, but my PC that is connected via ethernet cable only gets 20 Mbps. I have ruled out the cable, the router, and the receiver port as the sources of the problem. I have also configured the ethernet adapter to support 1 Gbps in the device manager. However, the issue persists. How can I diagnose and fix this problem?

Answer:

If you are experiencing slow internet speed on your PC that is connected via ethernet cable, you might be wondering what is causing this issue and how to fix it. You have already checked the cable, the router, and the receiver port, and they seem to be working fine. You have also made sure that your ethernet adapter is set to support the maximum speed of your internet plan. However, you are still getting only a fraction of the speed that you are paying for. What could be the reason for this frustrating problem?

There are several possible factors that could affect your internet speed over ethernet connection. Some of them are:

• Your network card driver: Your network card driver is the software that enables your PC to communicate with your router and the internet. If your driver is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible, it could cause performance issues and slow down your connection. To fix this, you need to update your driver to the latest version, or reinstall it if it is damaged. You can do this by going to the device manager, right-clicking on your network card, and selecting update driver or uninstall device. Then, you can download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website and install it on your PC.
• Your network settings: Your network settings are the configuration options that determine how your PC connects to the internet. Some of these settings, such as the DNS server, the IP address, and the MTU size, could affect your internet speed if they are not optimal. To fix this, you need to adjust your network settings to match your internet plan and your router. You can do this by going to the network and sharing center, clicking on change adapter settings, right-clicking on your ethernet connection, and selecting properties. Then, you can modify the settings according to your needs. For example, you can change the DNS server to a faster one, such as Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), or you can change the MTU size to a smaller value, such as 1492, to avoid packet fragmentation.
• Your antivirus or firewall software: Your antivirus or firewall software is the program that protects your PC from malicious attacks and threats. However, some of these programs could also interfere with your internet connection and slow it down. This could happen if they are scanning your network traffic, blocking some ports, or limiting your bandwidth. To fix this, you need to disable or adjust your antivirus or firewall software to allow your internet connection to run smoothly. You can do this by going to the settings of your antivirus or firewall software and changing the options that affect your network. For example, you can turn off the network scanning, unblock the ports that your router uses, or increase the bandwidth limit.
• Your background programs: Your background programs are the applications that run on your PC without your direct interaction. Some of these programs could use your internet connection and consume your bandwidth, especially if they are downloading or uploading data. This could reduce the speed that is available for your ethernet connection and make it slower. To fix this, you need to close or limit the background programs that are using your internet connection. You can do this by opening the task manager, clicking on the network tab, and sorting the processes by network usage. Then, you can end the processes that are taking up too much bandwidth, or you can lower their priority or limit their speed.

By

following these steps, you should be able to improve your internet speed over ethernet connection and enjoy the full potential of your internet plan. However, if none of these solutions work, you might need to contact your internet service provider and ask them to check your connection and fix any issues that might be on their end. You might also need to upgrade your internet plan or your router if they are not sufficient for your needs.