How to Optimize a Satellite Internet Connection for Your Home

February 22, 2022

Satellite internet is a bit different from DSL, fiber and cable internet options, because it involves a satellite dish mounted outside the home. To speed up the connection, you should start with adjusting your satellite dish and optimizing your modem and router.

Check up on the satellite dish

Look for the cracks, chips, or other damage to the dish and cables. Maybe squirrels or birds have nibbled on them? Make sure your cables aren’t loose where they connect to your dish. If the receiver is damaged, contact your ISP and ask for a replacement.

You should check the position of the satellite dish too. Most of the receivers in the US should point toward the southern sky. If this is not the case with your satellite dish, ask your ISP to send a technician to re-configure the dish’s orientation.

If the dish is correctly placed and there is no visible damage to it,  you can consider getting an in-line amplifier to boost the signal. Your ISP should be able to provide you more insights on whether this is the right solution for you.

Remove obstructions

Trees and bushes growing around your satellite dish, as well as snow piling up in the winter, may negatively affect your satellite internet speed. Make sure you get rid of these obstructions.

Check your modem and router

We all know the drill: restarting the modem and router can reset a troublesome connection (unplug it for at least 30 seconds, plug back in and let it boot up again.)

Another quick tip for a faulty internet connection is to update the router’s firmware. Keeping it up-to-date makes sure your router operates at its maximum capacity.

You should also try to optimize the placement of your router. The closer the router, the less distance the connection has to travel to reach the devices and the stronger the signal. You can also try using a WI-Fi extender to get reliable signal in all the rooms.

If our tips didn’t help, you should probably consider checking for alternative offers or swapping the ISPs. Perhaps things have changes since the last time you checked, and satellite internet is not the only option you have.