There are many reasons your home wifi could be running slow and many ways to make it go a little bit faster. If you’re having problems with slow speeds and bad reception, try a few of these tips to increase your internet’s capabilities.
- Start With New Hardware
Ensure your network connection is reliable. Make sure you are using up to date equipment. Our technology has changed rapidly over the last several years, so old technology doesn’t always work to full capacity.
- Pick A Good Spot For Your Router
Make sure your router is in an open area without any obstructions from walls or other electronic devices. Some electronic devices have the capacity to block the wireless signal. The best place to keep your router is on a flat surface without anything else near it.
- Ensure You’re Using The Correct Wireless Channel
If several routers in a close area are using the same wireless channel, they can easily reduce the speeds of your wifi. Choose a channel that has as little signal interference as possible. Your router will include instructions on how to change your wireless channel if you do not know how to change it.
- Avoid Interference From Other Electronics
A wireless signal can be blocked by many different devices including cordless phones, microwaves, and televisions. Make sure your router is positioned away from any large electronics.
- Wifi Security
When installing your wireless router, set it up as a secured connection. This means you’ll have to provide a username and password to receive wifi from the router. If you use a good password, it will be difficult for any neighbors or strangers to hack your wifi. You can also hide the SSID, which is the name of your wifi. It will not appear as an option to log on to though. You’ll have to enter the SSID manually.
- Control Bandwidth Applications
Someone in your home may be hogging the bandwidth signal if they’re constantly streaming movies or video games. You can control the quality of service to prioritize certain applications.
- Install A Wifi Extender
A wifi extender is essentially a second router that will capture the wifi signal and allow it to reach further. This is especially helpful in a home with brick walls or other blockers to the wifi signal.
- Restart Your Wifi On A Regular Basis
It is important for your wifi to be turned off and rebooted on a regular basis. This will allow it to update. It is possible to set it on a rebooting schedule so that it turns off in the middle of the night when you’re not using it.
- Switch To 5GHz
Most wifi providers offer a dual band router, which gives you two different signals to connect to. 5GHz is a faster signal than 2.4GHz, but 2.4GHz has a wider range. Older devices might not be compatible with 5GHz. 5GHz is a less congested signal than 2.4GHz, which makes it ideal for those living in condos or apartments.
- Turn Off Eco Mode
Some routers are made to save energy though they have the tendency to reduce your wifi speed and signal. Turn off the power saving, or eco mode, to restore the proper speeds to your router. These may be on by default and do not save a significant amount of power.
It’s important to have a fast wifi connection. Make sure you protect your wireless signal with a secured connection and utilize these tips to improve your wifi speeds.