It works well at work, so I don't think it's the programs running. The same laptop, the same programs, etc. run well (primarily internet--I tried Safari, Firefox, etc. so that's not the problem) at work. So it isn't just the laptop.
By the same token all other devices run well at home. Husband's laptop, iPad, phones--all run fine. So it isn't the home router. It's the combination of the two that doesn't work.