Fixing a Slow Office Network: Quick Wins for Small Businesses

Few things frustrate a workday more than slow internet. Whether you’re waiting for email to load, watching your website crawl, or struggling with video calls, a sluggish network can feel like an anchor on your productivity. The good news? Most causes are simple to identify and fix.

At MaineBizPros, we help small Maine businesses get back up to speed. Here are some quick wins you can try — and when to call for help.


1. Reboot Your Equipment

It sounds basic, but restarting your modem and router often clears up temporary issues. Just unplug them for 30 seconds, plug back in, and give it a few minutes.


2. Check Your Router and Modem

  • Age matters: If your router is more than 5 years old, it may not support faster speeds.

  • Placement counts: Keep it off the floor and away from walls for better signal.

  • Firmware updates: Manufacturers release updates that improve performance and security.


3. Use Wired Connections Where Possible

Wi-Fi is convenient, but wired ethernet is faster and more stable. For desktop computers, point-of-sale systems, or critical office machines, a cable connection is best.


4. Optimize Your Wi-Fi

  • Switch from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz (or Wi-Fi 6 if supported).

  • Consider a mesh Wi-Fi system if your office has multiple rooms or thick walls.

  • Limit non-business devices hogging bandwidth.


5. DNS Settings

Sometimes internet slowdowns are caused by sluggish DNS (the service that translates website names into addresses). Switching to a reliable public DNS (like Google DNS or Cloudflare) can help.


6. Know When It’s Your ISP

If you’ve tried everything and speeds are still low, it could be your internet provider. Running a speed test at different times of day can help identify whether your connection slows during peak hours.


Final Thoughts

A slow office network doesn’t just waste time — it costs money. But most problems are easy to fix with the right equipment and setup.

 

At MaineBizPros, we can survey your office, install faster solutions, and make sure your business stays connected without frustration.

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