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How to Boost Your WiFi Speed
How Can I Boost My WiFi Signal?
If you’re looking for other solutions to boost your WiFi signal, here are some products and ideas that can help you make connecting to the internet less of a hassle.
1. Upgrade Your Old Router
Has it been longer than five years since you invested in a new router? While technology doesn’t change much from year to year for consumer routers there is a significant difference between those being produced now and those produced more than five years ago. If a router is a few years old it might be time for it to enjoy its golden years and retire. There isn’t going to be a software update that will magically make it work like it did in its prime. Buying a new router is a good idea if you notice your internet performance has taken a nose dive. Troubleshoot the issue before investing in a new device. Buying a new router helps because issues such as frequent disconnections, restarts, and overheating can happen with older routers. If new technology comes out it may be a good idea to embrace it sooner rather than later. These newer routers are supported by the manufacturer and have ongoing software updates to address security threats unlike some of the outdated ones. Upgrading from an older single band router to one with dual-band may also make a big difference in your wireless quality. Single band routers use the same 2.4 GHz frequency as microwaves and phones. Dual band routers have a second 5 GHz bandwidth option that could significantly improve wireless performance in your home. You could even give a tri band router a try which offers a single 2.4 GHz signal and two 5 GHz which is perfect for households that stream movies and music to several rooms in the home over the wireless network. Pro tip: If your ISP loans or rents you a router as part of their service agreement see what new options may be available. They may be just waiting for you to ask for their most modern models.
2. Update Your Router Firmware
When you use a router for the first time it often downloads the most recent software update automatically. After that it’s up to you to perform manual updates or make sure that your router settings allow for automated updates. If your router is older it may no longer handle basic tasks efficiently. Router manufacturers release updates periodically. These updates tweak routers to glean more performance and speed out of them. Most modern routers have updates built right into the admin interface, you simply have to press the firmware upgrade button. Older models are where it gets tricky. You might have to download the updates directly from the manufacturer's website. While it takes a little more work to make sure your firmware is current it will help your router’s overall performance. Go to your router’s administrative dashboard to ensure that your firmware is the most updated version. If you rent or lease one from your ISP they should be running those updates automatically or alerting you to when and how it must be done. Contact your ISP if you suspect your firmware is out of date and needs an upgrade. Even if your WiFi network isn’t lagging or experiencing any performance issues it’s still smart to regularly update your firmware for access to more features, system stability, and security upgrades.
3. Change The Frequency Channels
Remember how cordless phones could pick up noise from a baby monitor or the neighbor’s cordless phone? While this doesn’t happen as much anymore thanks to technology upgrades and more channels to choose from, this same type of tech glitch can occur with wireless routers. Most routers have the ability to switch between channels when communicating with different devices like laptops and smartphones. In general, people will simply utilize the channel that’s been pre set for the router. Sometimes this is fine and you won’t have to ever worry about what channel you’re on. However, you can run into problems with adjacent wireless networks if they’re also on the identical channel. This is called “signal congestion.” You can view what WiFi network channels are being used around you if you have a Windows based PC. Once you determine which channels are most heavily used you can choose a less busy one. You’ll have to manually change the channel by going into your wireless network’s admin interface. It is especially common among single band routers which operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency as many common household appliances. To boost your WiFi signal at home you may only need to change the channel on your router. You can do this by accessing the administrative dashboard for your router and looking for channel settings. Try different numbers until you find one that works best for your network.
4. Optimize The Router Placement
While some people will place their router directly next to their modem this may not be the sweet spot for your home. If the line coming into your home from your internet service provider isn’t in the middle of your home it may help to connect that modem to your router using a much longer cord, also called an “Ethernet” or “Cat5” cable. Then move the router to a more centralized location in your home. New routers come with shorter cords than those that may be needed to get to the ideal spot. Don’t be afraid to purchase a longer cable and move your WiFi router to a place that’s easier to access from the most used rooms in your home. Just make sure you keep it away from obstacles such as fireplaces and metal shelving which can block the signal.
5. Use Tools To Find WiFi Weak Spots
Besides placing your router in an open space on a wall or high shelf, oriented away from heavy duty appliances you can also use online tools either on your PC or smartphone to figure out where the WiFi signal is weakest. After you ascertain the dead zones you can use a range extender or signal amplifier to boost the WiFi signal.
6. Use a Range Extender
Many users have had luck with a basic WiFi range extender. These easy to use devices plug into an outlet and act as a hotspot for the part of your home that doesn’t get much signal. Placing it near enough to your router to get a signal is key. Have it just around the corner from a problem spot such as your garage or a spare bedroom and you’ll likely see good results in those dead areas. It usually takes just minutes to set up an extender and it won’t usually require you to get into the router administrative dashboard or change your network settings. A wireless signal booster is a good option for even those who can’t make changes to their ISP owned and managed router.
7. Replace or Clean your Antennae
Those little things poking up from the back of your router are called “antennae,” and they work in the same manner as the ones you’ve seen on a radio or walkie talkie. If they are loose or pointing down tighten and reposition them. Also, make sure they aren’t dusty or blocked by clutter. If you can’t get them to stay in position or they’re broken or missing find out if your manufacturer offers a replacement.
8. Secure Your Network
Another reason your WiFi could be slow is that someone could be siphoning off your connection. An unsecured network is open to anyone who wants to connect, including neighbors and anyone else in range. Keep all that data to yourself by securing your network with a password that no one can guess. If your ISP owns the router you may need to contact them to change it every so often and preserve the integrity of your home network.
9. Control Quality
QoS or Quality of Service tools limits the amount of data applications can use. You can set what services and applications get first priority so you won’t experience a major decline in quality during a call or while watching a video. You can also set “prime time hours” so downloads get a lower priority during busy use hours.
10. Use a Mesh Based WiFi System
This is a great solution if you have a house that’s multi story and your router is in a room downstairs. A mesh based WiFi system has a main router and a certain number of satellite devices you place throughout your home. They all work together on one wireless network and communicate with the main router to give you unbroken connectivity with the internet. In most cases these systems come with an app that will advise you where to place the nodes for maximum coverage in your house.
WiFi Issues Don’t Have To Be The Norm
All of the solutions for how to boost WiFi are pretty easy. Most router owners who can access their administrative dashboard can perform these fixes within minutes. If you’ve tried everything on the list and you’re still running into issues reach out to your ISP to get to the root of the problem. It may not actually be your WiFi after all. A service call should help you resolve the issues so you can get back to browsing and streaming at full speed again. Don't resign yourself to a life of constantly unplugging and restarting your router and modem, it doesn’t have to be that way. Sometimes fixing your WiFi issues could be as simple as changing the position of the router. Or maybe you need to invest in a new router. Use these tips for fixing and boosting your WiFi signal and you’ll be on your way to seamless connectivity. Figuring out how to boost WiFi speed doesn’t have to be an impossible riddle to solve after all.