A slow internet connection is one of those few things that can infuriate even a perfectly level-headed person. When you are short on time, that little buffering symbol can cause little bouts of rage, making you feel like all hope is lost. Such problems often arise due to weak Wi-Fi signals, making your device lose its connection. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to ensure your Wi-Fi signals cover the entire place.
Update Your Router’s Firmware
Perhaps your router needs an update. Router manufacturers consistently release new updates to maximize the speed of the internet. Therefore, you need to ensure that the firmware of your router is up to date. If you happen to use the latest model, then updating the router’s firmware is just a matter of clicking the upgrade button, which is located on the administration page. However, if you are using an old modem, you are required to go to the manufacturer’s website, select the right model of your router and download the latest firmware. It may sound tedious but the results are great once you update the router.
Achieve Optimal Router Placement
The location where you place your router matters a lot. It may sound logical to place the router near the window from where the cable comes in but that is not always the case. Rather than placing your router in one corner, place it in the center of your house. This way, the signals will widespread to each and every corner of your house, ensuring all your devices are connected to the internet. Moreover, Wi-Fi routers need open spaces where there are no walls and obstructions. It is quite tempting to hide that ugly router in a cabinet, away from your eyes, but you will surely receive better signals in the open air. One more thing, keep the router away from other appliances because they might interfere with its signals. If your router has antennas, make sure that you orient them vertically as it helps enhance the coverage.
Figure Out the Right Frequency
For optimal performance, make sure that you have configured your router’s frequency to the right band. Most routers have dual-band frequencies (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and you have to figure out the one on which they work best. So, if you have a double band router, you will get better throughput with the 5GHz band because it offers faster speeds. However, the 5GHz band does not cope well with obstructions and distances, and its reach is also limited.
Modern routers come with the option to use the same network name or SSID for both bands. So, check the router’s administration interface, look for the 5GHz network, and set the same name and password as the 2.4GHz network. This way, your smart device will automatically choose the best signal quality and connect to it.
Change the Signal Channel
When it comes to Wi-Fi signals, interference is a major issue. Your router will definitely not work properly of its signals are being distorted by an outside device. Almost all modern routers have the ability to switch between channels when communicating with your smart devices. Most routers will automatically choose the channel for you but if your neighboring networks are also using the same channel, then you might encounter some problems. A good router will automatically choose the least congested channel but old routers do not have this built-in ability. Therefore, you will have to change the channel manually.
So, to change the channel, open the command prompt from your Windows PC and type “netsh wlan show all”, and you will see a list of all the wireless networks and channels being used in your vicinity. In general, the 2.4GHz band uses channels 1, 6, and 11 because these are the only ones that do not overlap with other network channels. So, if your router does not switch between channels automatically, then manually change the channel for better connectivity.
Apart from the aforementioned tricks, you can also use tools to limit the use of background applications installed on your PC. This technique has proved to be very efficient for most users. Another way to ensure high-speed internet connectivity is to avail of the services of a provider that offers reliable internet service, for example, Spectrum internet packages have many positive reviews by customers, which means that the provider offers reputable internet service. For now, these are all the tips and tricks that you can use to improve the speed of your Wi-Fi connection.
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