My cousin told me when I use the laptop, it “steals” internet from him and I stop using it as it makes the internet stop working for everyone. Is that actually possible?
if you are using the same internet connection (for example his phone connects to the internet from the same wifi that you use to go online from your laptop) then this is possible. normally modems are supposed to regulate bandwidth in a balanced way but it needs adjustment and uploading stuff can affect other people’s download (and therefore surfing) speed.
If you are all connected to wifi, there is a finite amount of bandwidth to go around. Everybody actively using the internet on that wifi signal takes up some of that bandwidth, so each devices connection will get a little bit slower the more devices that are actively being used. Depending on the quality of the internet connection, a dip in bandwidth can greatly affect the performance of the devices connected to it, so imagine when your laptop is conmected to the wifi, whatever he is doing begins to buffer or gets noticeably slower. This dip in bandwidth can be really noticeable when playing online games like COD or Fortnite or streaming on Netflix or something similar. I think it’s safe to say that that is what he is referring to, but he is communicating it poorly.
It is partially possible, if let’s say you have limited data plan, then yes, you’re using up his allocated data (GB’s per month).
If the data plan you have is not limited (basically unlimited internet) then it could do with the bandwidth as another commenter mentioned, then the data gets split based on how much you need it at that time, so if for example you’re downloading a game, while your cousing is trying to do it too, then the internet speed gets cut in half for both of you, making it slower for him.
Generally though, it just sounds like a bit of a cheap excuse in all honesty, especially if it’s an unlimited data plan + you’re not abusing it too much, such as watching very high quality videos non stop, downloading games etc.
Are you together in the same house? Is your phone on the same wifi network at the house?
If so, what he is saying is possible. If your house doesn’t have a great plan with your internet service provider, then you may not have enough bandwidth to support multiple heavy users simultaneously. Everyone connected to the same wifi is sharing the same “pipe” for internet traffic between your modem and the internet service provider.
If you google “speed test,” you should be able to see your upload and download rates for your internet connection at that time. Do it at some times when he’s not complaining so you have a baseline, then test again when he’s complaining it’s bad to see if there’s a noticeable difference. It could also be just his computer misbehaving, it could be downloading a software update in the background or running too many things. The problem could also be whatever website or server he’s connecting to being slow – e.g trying to play an MMORPG on the day of new content being released.
Now, if he’s not on the same wifi network as you, he’s bullshitting you.
Depends on the quality of your router/modem and what you pay for in internet bandwidth (MB/s up and down), and what you are doing specifically on the laptop
This was a really common problem for eariler internet, 90s and 2000s, but with advancing tech and with bandwidths getting pretty high even for basic packages, this shouldnt be a problem normally
Its most likely going to be what you (or whoever) pays for download, if your maximum download speed is 1mb/s then having multiple people do bandwidth heavy things, like some videogames, downloading files, streaming video, will cause connection issues and slow everyone down. Any internet package above id say 3mb/s should never have these problems, and frankly if your package doesnt give you more bandwidth than that, youre being scammed
If not the above, its the router/modem, thats a simple hardware issue, either buy a new one or call your ISP for a replacement, they break down or have trouble routing data sometimes and that can cause your issue
On low speed connections it’s very apparent when bandwidth is being shared especially while streaming or gaming. It can result in longer buffer times for videos, longer downloads, lag or rubber banding.
If you are using his network then it’s possible. I’d need to know your exact speed and what you are both doing but if you have a relatively cheap plan and are both streaming things they could very likely interfere with eachother.
My brother used to tell me the same nonsense until I caught him playing League of Legends during my Zoom meetings. Turns out he just wanted all the bandwidth to himself. Pretty creative excuse though, I’ll give him that.
Good gravy. How much is he using? At any time in our house we’re running two PS4/5s, two Roku TVs, one laptop, and a tablet. Not to mention there are five phones hooked up to the wifi. We have no problem with connections or speeds, even when the PSs and the laptop are running MMOs. We aren’t even on a “name brand” system. It’s the local, rural Co-op. They don’t allow others to play with their stuff up here.
I used to have shitty internet. I could run all my devices on WiFi, but the moment I turned the laptop on, everything would get fucked. PC will always take the bandwidth unless you configure the WiFi settings to balance it out.
He needs to clarify what he means by “steal” and “stop working”.
If it’s just a matter of limited badwith then other devices would just see slower loading of things while you are doing things like watching video.
If they can’t do anything, then it’s possible your computer is either doing something “bad” like starting up a rogue dhcp service or the router is doing soenthing bad like switching the entire network to a newer protocol like wpa3 despite current connections on the older versions.
The bandwidth gets shared among everything that uses internet at the same time, if you’re streaming or something similar, it will slow everyone else down.
This is only an issue in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Also in third world countries and homes in the country side. So unless you live in either of those situations, he’s lying or an idiot.
If you are using a shared internet connection, then the more you use, the less is available for anyone else.
However for this to be noticeable, it would have to be a low bandwidth or limited data connection. Most home internet services nowadays have high bandwidth and unlimited data.
Also you would have to be doing a very intensive data transfer task in your laptop. Such as downloading very large games one after another.
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It’s definitely possible but chances are he is exaggerating. What do you even use your phone for that could possibly cause that?
I think he is referring to bandwidth
if you are using the same internet connection (for example his phone connects to the internet from the same wifi that you use to go online from your laptop) then this is possible. normally modems are supposed to regulate bandwidth in a balanced way but it needs adjustment and uploading stuff can affect other people’s download (and therefore surfing) speed.
If you are all connected to wifi, there is a finite amount of bandwidth to go around. Everybody actively using the internet on that wifi signal takes up some of that bandwidth, so each devices connection will get a little bit slower the more devices that are actively being used. Depending on the quality of the internet connection, a dip in bandwidth can greatly affect the performance of the devices connected to it, so imagine when your laptop is conmected to the wifi, whatever he is doing begins to buffer or gets noticeably slower. This dip in bandwidth can be really noticeable when playing online games like COD or Fortnite or streaming on Netflix or something similar. I think it’s safe to say that that is what he is referring to, but he is communicating it poorly.
It is partially possible, if let’s say you have limited data plan, then yes, you’re using up his allocated data (GB’s per month).
If the data plan you have is not limited (basically unlimited internet) then it could do with the bandwidth as another commenter mentioned, then the data gets split based on how much you need it at that time, so if for example you’re downloading a game, while your cousing is trying to do it too, then the internet speed gets cut in half for both of you, making it slower for him.
Generally though, it just sounds like a bit of a cheap excuse in all honesty, especially if it’s an unlimited data plan + you’re not abusing it too much, such as watching very high quality videos non stop, downloading games etc.
Some routers have options to limit bandwidth and limit the number of active users. Check with those and see if you can remove that limitation
Are you together in the same house? Is your phone on the same wifi network at the house?
If so, what he is saying is possible. If your house doesn’t have a great plan with your internet service provider, then you may not have enough bandwidth to support multiple heavy users simultaneously. Everyone connected to the same wifi is sharing the same “pipe” for internet traffic between your modem and the internet service provider.
If you google “speed test,” you should be able to see your upload and download rates for your internet connection at that time. Do it at some times when he’s not complaining so you have a baseline, then test again when he’s complaining it’s bad to see if there’s a noticeable difference. It could also be just his computer misbehaving, it could be downloading a software update in the background or running too many things. The problem could also be whatever website or server he’s connecting to being slow – e.g trying to play an MMORPG on the day of new content being released.
Now, if he’s not on the same wifi network as you, he’s bullshitting you.
No
Don’t you have as much right to use the Internet as him. If he is hogging all the bandwidth then he is the one creating the problem.
Depends on the quality of your router/modem and what you pay for in internet bandwidth (MB/s up and down), and what you are doing specifically on the laptop
This was a really common problem for eariler internet, 90s and 2000s, but with advancing tech and with bandwidths getting pretty high even for basic packages, this shouldnt be a problem normally
Its most likely going to be what you (or whoever) pays for download, if your maximum download speed is 1mb/s then having multiple people do bandwidth heavy things, like some videogames, downloading files, streaming video, will cause connection issues and slow everyone down. Any internet package above id say 3mb/s should never have these problems, and frankly if your package doesnt give you more bandwidth than that, youre being scammed
If not the above, its the router/modem, thats a simple hardware issue, either buy a new one or call your ISP for a replacement, they break down or have trouble routing data sometimes and that can cause your issue
On low speed connections it’s very apparent when bandwidth is being shared especially while streaming or gaming. It can result in longer buffer times for videos, longer downloads, lag or rubber banding.
If you are using his network then it’s possible. I’d need to know your exact speed and what you are both doing but if you have a relatively cheap plan and are both streaming things they could very likely interfere with eachother.
My brother used to tell me the same nonsense until I caught him playing League of Legends during my Zoom meetings. Turns out he just wanted all the bandwidth to himself. Pretty creative excuse though, I’ll give him that.
Good gravy. How much is he using? At any time in our house we’re running two PS4/5s, two Roku TVs, one laptop, and a tablet. Not to mention there are five phones hooked up to the wifi. We have no problem with connections or speeds, even when the PSs and the laptop are running MMOs. We aren’t even on a “name brand” system. It’s the local, rural Co-op. They don’t allow others to play with their stuff up here.
I used to have shitty internet. I could run all my devices on WiFi, but the moment I turned the laptop on, everything would get fucked. PC will always take the bandwidth unless you configure the WiFi settings to balance it out.
Back when we didn’t have great internet, whenever my sister would watch Netflix I would lag like crazy in online games
Maybe. First of all, the internet they have is probably really slow and not much bandwidth to begin with. (this is called the cheap internet plan)
When you fire up the laptop, you are using some of the bandwidth. This might slow everyone down.
He needs to clarify what he means by “steal” and “stop working”.
If it’s just a matter of limited badwith then other devices would just see slower loading of things while you are doing things like watching video.
If they can’t do anything, then it’s possible your computer is either doing something “bad” like starting up a rogue dhcp service or the router is doing soenthing bad like switching the entire network to a newer protocol like wpa3 despite current connections on the older versions.
Either of those scenarios would be very unlikely.
The bandwidth gets shared among everything that uses internet at the same time, if you’re streaming or something similar, it will slow everyone else down.
This is only an issue in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Also in third world countries and homes in the country side. So unless you live in either of those situations, he’s lying or an idiot.
If you are using a shared internet connection, then the more you use, the less is available for anyone else.
However for this to be noticeable, it would have to be a low bandwidth or limited data connection. Most home internet services nowadays have high bandwidth and unlimited data.
Also you would have to be doing a very intensive data transfer task in your laptop. Such as downloading very large games one after another.