If your internet has been lagging, buffering, or feeling slower than normal, your internet plan might not be the problem. A SUPERBOX or similar free TV streaming device could be using a large amount of bandwidth inside your home.
Our Help Desk team has recently helped customers who were experiencing major speed issues while using SUPERBOXES or similar “free TV” streaming devices.
In several cases, once the box was unplugged and another speed test was run, the lagging and speed issues went away.
These devices can use a lot of bandwidth, even when you are not actively watching TV. Before you blame your Wi-Fi or upgrade your internet plan, it is worth checking whether one of these boxes is connected to your network.
Here is how SUPERBOXES and similar devices can eat up your bandwidth.
1. They use internet in the background
A SUPERBOX can keep using your internet connection even when it looks like it is sitting idle.
It can be:
• Streaming content
• Downloading updates
• Sending or receiving data
• Running background activity
• Connecting to outside servers
When one device uses too much bandwidth, there is less available for everything else in your home. That can lead to buffering, lagging, slow-loading apps, frozen video calls, gaming issues, or websites that just keep spinning.
2. They create extra traffic on your network
Some off-brand or generic streaming devices do not manage internet traffic efficiently.
They can send unnecessary requests through your network, create constant background activity, or overload your router with extra traffic. When that happens, everything connected to your Wi-Fi can start to feel slower.
Your internet service might be working just fine, but your network is busy dealing with one device that is using more than its share.
3. They can create security and background traffic concerns (IMPORTANT)
This is where “free” can come with a catch.
Some unknown, cheap, or off-brand streaming devices constantly connect, or “phone home,” to remote servers in the background. Others can be misconfigured or even compromised.
That does not automatically mean the device is malicious, but constant outbound traffic still creates problems for your home network.
It can:
• Use bandwidth even when you are not watching anything
• Slow down other devices in your home
• Send and receive data in the background
• Create extra network traffic you did not expect
The biggest thing to remember is this: even if the box looks like it is doing nothing, it can still be using your internet connection behind the scenes. A device does not have to look busy to keep your network busy.
4. They keep your network busy when they look inactive
This is one of the biggest things to know.
A SUPERBOX does not have to look busy to keep your internet busy.
Even when the TV is off or no one is actively watching, the device can still be using bandwidth behind the scenes. That background activity can slow down other devices in your home, including phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming systems.
5. They can limit your speed
If the box is connected between your modem and router, or is being used like a hub, it can become a bottleneck.
For example, if the device only supports speeds up to 100 Mbps, it can limit your connection even if your internet plan supports faster speeds.
That means your internet can go faster, but the device is holding things back like someone driving 35 mph in a 55-mph speed zone.
6. They can make Wi-Fi feel unstable
If the device connects wirelessly, it can also create Wi-Fi issues if it has a weak connection, creates interference, or keeps disconnecting and reconnecting.
That can make your Wi-Fi feel unreliable, even when your internet service itself is working.
Try this quick test
If your internet feels slower than normal and you have a SUPERBOX or similar streaming device connected, try this:
- Unplug the SUPERBOX or streaming device from power. Do not unplug your GigaSpire router.
- Run a speed test.
- Plug the box back in.
- Run another speed test.
If your speed drops after the box is plugged back in, that device is likely using too much bandwidth or causing issues on your home network.
Check what is connected
If you have a GigaSpire router, the PremierHQ app can help you see which devices are connected to your home Wi-Fi.
This can be helpful if you are trying to identify an unknown device, check what is using your internet connection, or spot a device you no longer need connected.
Need help?
If your internet feels slower than usual, our team can help you take a closer look at what is connected in your home and walk through next steps.
Call us at 855-722-3450 or connect with us through our contact form.