Most modern Internet services are measured in megabits per second or Mbps. A 1 Mbps connection provides speeds of 1 million bits per second or roughly 100 pages of plain text per second.

Typically, broadband services advertise both download and upload speeds. Download speeds refer to the speed at which you can obtain information from the network (such as by downloading a song), and upload speeds describe the speed at which you can send information back out (such as by sending an email with an attachment).

In Maine, the download speeds for residential broadband services range from 768 kbps to 15 Mbps. In practical terms, download speed affects how long it takes for a web page to load or to download pictures, or the quality of streaming video.

For example, Netflix recommends a broadband connection of at least 1.5 Mbps to stream movies online, at least 3 Mbps to stream DVD quality video, and at least 5 Mbps for HD quality video.

• If you are connected wirelessly, try moving your laptop closer to your wireless access point or router.

• Try connecting your computer directly to your router via a wired Ethernet cable, instead of relying on the WiFi in your home (newer laptops may need an adapter).
  Note: If you use a Mac, you may need to change your System Preferences to prioritize your wired network.

• Limit non-essential activities (such as Netflix streaming or gaming) by family members on your home network while you are working. Consider scheduling internet time for family members who are using bandwidth for non-essential activities.

• To prevent or address issues with Zoom:

  • Before a Zoom meeting, test your audio or video connection on the Zoom test site at zoom.us/test

  • If you are connecting from a laptop, plug the laptop into wall power. Battery use can adversely affect video quality.

  • If you are experiencing audio or video issues, turn off your Zoom video camera during a call. Sending only audio to meeting participants preserves bandwidth and improves audio quality.

  • If audio issues persist after you turn off video, turn off your audio and connect to Zoom audio using your cell phone or landline.

If your connection problems persist, try one or more of these steps:

• Connect to your router with a network cord/cable rather than using wireless internet, to get the best connection.

• Reboot your router according to the instructions from your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
  Note: Your internet router can take up to 10 minutes to fully reboot.

• If your home WiFi offers a choice of connecting at 5GHz or 2.4 GHz, connect to the 5GHz band. This higher band is less crowded but has a smaller range.

• Change the WiFi channel if the one you are using is too crowded. Check your router or Access Point manual for instructions on how to change the channel.