How To Improve Your Wi-Fi

Router in an office with a Wi-Fi signal coming out. Learn how to improve your Wi-Fi and make your Internet faster.

Written by Jay H.

A poor Internet connection can make online browsing slow and frustrating. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to improve the quality of your Wi-Fi and boost your Internet speed. Use the following suggestions to help improve your Wi-Fi quality:

6 Ways To Improve Your Wi-Fi

  1. Move your router

If your router is in the basement, far away from your laptop, the connection will be significantly slower than if it was in your office. Physical barriers between you and your router—such as walls and bookshelves—can all have an impact on the quality of your Wi-Fi signal. If possible, place your router in a central location to deliver the most consistent connection to all of your devices.

  1. Use an Ethernet cable

Despite the widespread move to wireless connections, cables still exist—and are generally faster and more consistent. Your router has Ethernet ports available on it, and plugging a cable in a spare port and then into the port on your computer will provide your PC with a better connection.

Running cables around your house may not be the most convenient option; however, if you are someone who needs the fastest Internet possible, it may be worth it for you.

  1. Change the channel

Our routers use one of two Wi-Fi frequency channels for signal: 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Some routers are dual-band, meaning you can choose which one you want to use. 2.4 GHz has extended coverage, while 5 GHz provides a faster connection but sacrifices some range.

Within these frequency bands, there are smaller Wi-Fi channels that allow networks to send and receive data. Some channels can have interference, either from numerous devices competing with or overlapping each other. Specific channels perform better than others because they are non-overlapping. If you are using the 2.4 GHz band, these are channels 1, 6, and 11. If you’re on the 5 GHz band, there are 24 non-overlapping channels in the spectrum. You can change the channel within your router’s settings.

  1. Get a Wi-Fi extender

Getting a Wi-Fi extender (or repeater) is a simple way to eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones in your home. These devices plug into a power socket and connect to your wireless Internet, then beam the connection further throughout your home. The drawback is that the signal won’t be as strong as the ones coming directly from your router, so try to use them for devices that don’t consume a large amount of bandwidth.

  1. Get a powerline adapter

An alternative to extenders is powerline adapters, which allow the electrical wiring in your home to provide wired or wireless connections to your room. To do this, connect a powerline adapter to your router, and then plug it into a wall socket. Plugin another powerline adapter in a different room and then you will have access to a wired or wireless connection in that room. Like the extenders, the downside is that there is some drop in speed, but overall, it is a useful option.

  1. Disconnect unnecessary devices

Nowadays, many household items are being made “smart”, allowing them to receive Internet connections. That being said, do you really need your fridge to be connected to your network? Connecting an excessive amount of devices to your Wi-Fi slows down its speed. So, disconnect devices from the system that don’t need an Internet connection, and you may find a speed improvement.

  1. Upgrade your router

You may want to consider upgrading your router if you have a large home that needs a further broadcast. In this instance, you will likely want a router that can pair with repeaters that broadcast signals throughout your home. Mesh routers, such as Google Nest Wifi, are gaining traction for larger homes. If you have a smaller home, this upgrade probably isn’t necessary.

  1. Call your ISP

If all else fails, contact your Internet Service Provider to see if they have any solutions to your Wi-Fi issues. They may be able to pinpoint the root of your connectivity issues and improve your network, or you may want to upgrade your Internet service plan if it is not currently meeting your needs.

Have other technical issues you need to solve? Contact us for cost-effective remote IT support and let us quickly resolve any problems you have.

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