How to get the most out of your fiber internet

We highly recommend that our fiber customers choose a Brightspeed Fiber router. We test and optimize these routers for optimal performance on our fiber networks, and you’ll need a Brightspeed router to use our built-in network security features and tech support services.
 

As part of your installation appointment, your Brightspeed technician will install a router selected to fit your needs and your connection. If you’d rather use your own router, you can return your Brightspeed router at any time and connect your own instead. Learn more about using your own router with Brightspeed Fiber.

Try to place your router in a central, open area of your home. If you can, avoid placing it near thick walls, large appliances, or other electronic devices. For more information on optimizing router placement, see our tips for maximizing Wi-Fi signal.

If you have a large or multi-storey home, one router might not provide enough coverage to give you fast Wi-Fi in every room. Mesh Wi-Fi extenders create a seamless single network throughout your home, so you’ll enjoy fast and reliable service whether you’re streaming in bed or gaming in the living room. Check out our options for adding Wi-Fi extenders to your Brightspeed Fiber service package.

Wired Ethernet connections will almost always give you better performance than Wi-Fi, simply because your device is directly connected to the network rather than to a radio signal. You’ll get a faster and more stable connection that’s ideal for streaming, gaming, and working from home.

To do this, use an Ethernet cable to connect one of the LAN Ethernet ports on your router to your device’s Ethernet port. Note that not all devices have Ethernet ports. Game consoles, desktop computers, smart TVs, and many types of smart appliances tend to have them, while laptops and mobile devices usually don’t.

Firmware is the semi-permanent software on your router that it uses to perform its basic tasks. Most of the time, your router’s firmware will update automatically. However, if you’re experiencing performance problems with your internet connection, it’s worth checking whether your firmware needs an update. See our firmware update guide to learn how to do it.

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e are the most-used current Wi-Fi standards and will help you get the best available performance from your Wi-Fi network. All Brightspeed Fiber routers support at least Wi-Fi 6. If you’re using your own router, check your device’s manual to verify that it supports Wi-Fi 6 or higher.

In addition to your router, any device that you want to use the internet on should also be compatible with Wi-Fi 6. Nearly all devices on the market today are at least Wi-Fi 6 compatible, but if any of your devices are more than five years old, check which Wi-Fi versions they support and consider upgrading.

Quality of Service (QoS) settings allow you to prioritize certain kinds of traffic on your network, such as voice-over-IP calling or video conferencing. This can be especially helpful if your household has multiple people using devices on the same network at once and you want to prioritize essentials like remote work or online classes. See our guide for enabling Quality of Service here.

Running an internet speed test regularly will help keep you in the know about how your fiber connection is performing. Brightspeed’s internet speed test is fast and free—check your speed now!

If you’re not getting the internet speeds you expect from your fiber connection, try the optimization steps on this page, or see all of our tips for improving Wi-Fi speeds.