Make Work From Home, Work For You
Working from home has its own unique challenges, add in complications with technology at home, and it can turn into quite the headache. We’ve put together a list of common tech problems users working from home often experience, provide information on why, and offer solutions for a better experience.
The situation:
My video meeting feels slow while on a call.
Let’s talk tech:
There are a few different things that could be the culprit for your slow connection and choppy video. When Google Meet (or another similar video call application) runs on your computer it is consuming a lot more of the central processing unit (CPU) than something that uses less of the CPU like a word processor. Meaning your computer is working harder to run a video call, resulting in a slower overall computer speed. If your computer has quite a few applications running in addition to a video call, you’ll also notice a slower connection.
Your home internet speed can also affect the speed of your video calls. If you have other individuals working or studying from home, chances are high you’re all using the same internet and bandwidth. As there’s greater distribution of these among everyone at home, it may result in a poorer connection — especially if everyone’s watching videos online or on video calls at the same time.
The internet speed you need all depends on what your use case is. 25mbps (megabits per second) is considered minimum for average use, while average internet speed in Canada is 110mbps. For comparison, Google Meet consumes ~2.2mbps (megabits per second) of bandwidth for group video meetings and can increase based on how many people join the call.
The solution:
If you are in a Google Meet and your connection is slow try turning off your video and only using audio. This will reduce the bandwidth used and should provide a better connection.
One solution to consider (if you have flexibility in when to participate in video calls), is to select times when other members of the household are not participating in video calls or watching videos online. This will help distribute bandwidth throughout the day.
Another solution to try is to download the dedicated client for your video call application (if available) to your computer rather than using the application through a web browser. For example, if you’re using Zoom download their desktop client instead of using Zoom through the web. Using the dedicated application reduces use of the central processing unit (CPU) and may improve overall performance.
The situation:
My Internet feels slow.
Let’s talk tech:
The internet speed you need all depends on what your use case is. 25mbps (megabits per second) is considered minimum for average use, while average internet speed in Canada is 110mbps. If you feel your internet is slow it’s best to speak with your internet service provider (ISP) to find out what your current speed is and what options are available. You can also describe your specific use case and they can recommend an internet speed based on your use. If you’d like to test your internet connection to check speed, test it here.
If you have other individuals working or studying from home and all sharing the same bandwidth there may be a slower connection as there’s greater distribution. This is why if all members of the household are on a video call or watching a video online on different devices, at the same time, chances are high you’ll experience a poor video connection.
The solution:
Distribute bandwidth use throughout the day. If at all possible, stagger when members in the household are watching video online or participating in video calls. Wireless may also be prone to interference depending on the number of wireless signals in the area. If you have the ability to plug in an ethernet cable, that may solve the problem. If not, consult your manufacturers documentation for how to change wireless settings to use different channels.
The situation:
My Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) or virtual desktop environment feels slow.
Let’s talk tech:
A remote desktop connection allows you to connect to your work computer from home for access to specialized applications unique to your work. IST offers a few different services that allow remote desktops such as Terminal Services and direct connections to your desktop computer. Some of these services use more bandwidth than others but a primary factor is what you’re using your remote connection for.
The solution:
Consider lowering the amount of data moving through the remote connection by lowering your remote desktops screen resolution, changing the amount of animations and effects on your remote desktop and not watching videos. Specific uses may change from role to role so consult IST if you’re unsure.
Also, distribute bandwidth use throughout the day. If at all possible, stagger when members in the household are watching video online or participating in video calls.
The situation:
My computer is old and doesn’t work well when multitasking.
Let’s talk tech:
In today’s age of online classes, live streams, and video call work meetings we’re asking more of our computers than ever before. It’s important to note computer standards are ever changing based on new applications and uses. The standards recommended today may not be adequate for use a few years from now.
The solution:
We’ve developed a list of recommended computer hardware standards to best support your computing needs here: Computer Hardware Standards. These are a good starting point to determine if your computer’s hardware could be out-of-date or if there’s another underlying issue.
For tips to keep your computer in shape and your information secure, visit How to Stay Secure.