In the course of managing an event on-site, Certain users may be required to connect to the Certain application from locations with a variety of internet bandwidths. As a SaaS (Software as a Service) application, Certain is optimized to provide the best performance on computers connected to the Internet at speeds exceeding 128 kbps.

To minimize internet connection-related problems, not only should a high-speed connection be in place but it should also provide enough bandwidth for all of its concurrent users. While we provide some advice on how to deal with a local slow connection, if your connection is critical to your business, you should seriously consider a dedicated network connection.

How fast is my connection? How can I check this?

Conduct a speed test online. This should get you results indicative of the Internet connection you are on. Please keep in mind that the result will vary over time, especially if you are sharing the connection with a variable number of users.

Here is a list of test sites that will let you know your upload/download:
http://www.bandwidthplace.com/
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Close unneeded programs

While it is not critical when you have sufficient bandwidth, many applications are susceptible to using your internet connection, not to mention CPU resources. Peer-to-peer applications such as Skype are probably the worst, as they WILL use your Internet connection even at idle. In doubt, shut down all the programs you know you do not need.

Closing Browser Windows and Tabs that you do not need

With Web 2.0 came the capacity for pages to keep on requesting data. A page that you have loaded and that is still in a browser window or tab may still be using some of your bandwidth to update its contents.

Consider using a different browser specifically for low bandwidth connections

Outside of browser speed considerations, browser settings, and browser security settings affect the perceived connection speed. Using a different browser exclusively for when you have limited bandwidth allows you to set less demanding settings (pop-up blocker set, longer history allowed, less demanding security settings) for those occasions. Please note that we do not recommend lowering security settings as an acceptable full-time workaround.

Conduct regular virus and spyware scans

Viruses and spyware also use up memory and they can contribute to a connection appearing slow. While the primary reason for running antivirus software is to protect your computer and data integrity, it may also yield a speed increase.