It’s weekend at last – but Internet access has slowed to a crawl…
Picture the scene, in this non-Vox household. (You’ll see why that’s important later in the story.)
Dad’s watching the Premier League on a streaming service; Mom’s chatting online to her friend overseas; Teenager is doing the initial download of a long-awaited new game, and Tween is on YouTube. Everyone is happy – and then the dreaded buffering starts. Everyone is instantly much less happy, and more bandwidth is clearly required.
“But wait!” says a lone voice, “we upgraded to a new home Internet plan last week and our new download speed is supposed to be blazing fast – so why is it not working?!!!”
The answer could lie with the router.
New Plan, Old Router?
Wi-Fi, as an enabler, carries most of the Internet traffic in a connected home. Your Wi-Fi router converts the Internet data received via the Fibre Optic cables in your neighbourhood into radio signals, to create your home Wi-Fi network and provide all the devices on it with Internet access, using built-in antennas.
If you have a Fibre to the Home (FTTH) Internet plan that supports a download speed of say 25Mbps, an older router (and fewer users) is unlikely to cause a bottleneck in your connections.
However, if you then upgrade to a new 300Mbps plan (because of Teenagers / Tweens / the Premier League), but your previous router supports only 25Mbps wired, your Wi-Fi won’t be able to live up to the connectivity promise if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) doesn’t supply you with a newer model.
Connect With Vox
Vox connects you to the Internet and thereafter continues to manage your connection. When you sign up with Vox, we will furnish you with a suitable free-to-use Wi-Fi router based on your chosen package. We don’t charge a delivery fee for the router, or even a monthly fee for its usage – this is included as part of your bundle.
As a premium ISP, Vox ensures that, for standard installations, your Vox free-to-use Wi-Fi router is installed by a dedicated Vox engineer. Alternatively, our Self-Install process allows you to install your free-to-use Wi-Fi router, by following an easy step-by-step guide.
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- Fun fact: Different Wi-Fi devices work according to varying frequency bands. Older routers work on the 2.4 Ghz frequency, while newer phones and laptops use the more stable 5Ghz range. A dual-band device that supports both frequencies is ideal.
Not all routers over a few years old are necessarily bad, but if you’ve upgraded your Internet plan or added more devices to your network, an older router might have a harder time juggling the extra work than a newer model.
Signs that you might need a Wi-Fi router upgrade include the following: slow speeds; a weak connection; malfunctioning equipment; incompatibility with new devices and even overheating.
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- Fun Fact: Old smartphones, tablets, and other devices can slow also down your Internet access, even if you have a new, fast router and an upgraded Internet plan.
At Home with Vox
The moral of the story is that new tech needs to meet its match – in other words, more new tech.
As outlined, older routers and network equipment can affect the household’s Wi-Fi speeds, especially when there are multiple users. We believe the issue of having the wrong Wi-Fi router for an upgraded Internet plan with Vox is highly unlikely, because we take care of that level of detail, and the responsibility, for you.
For Customer Service and General Queries, our Vox teams are on hand from 08:00 to 17:00, Monday through Friday, and from 08:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays and non-religious public holidays. You can reach us at help@voxtelecom.co.za or call 087 805 0530.
With Vox, upgrading your FTTH Internet usage plan is a straightforward process, and our Technical Support team is always able and willing to help you. We have a Wi-Fi solution for every need.
Sign up with our Fibre to the Home offerings and say goodbye to buffering and hello to hassle-free, connected weekends – for the whole family.
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