It seems impossible that consumers should be expected to pay for a poorly functioning service, but experts say there are numerous reasons Wi-Fi can be slow – and with apartment crowding and other problems with signal interference, there is often very little most internet service providers can do to assist. Here are a few of the actions consumers can take on their own end to speed things up.
Methods to Improve Your Wi-Fi in your Home
1. Check your signal
Call the internet service provider and have them evaluate the home signal level – the decibel level of internet being transmitted to your house – not only your bandwidth. Providers usually are required to repair signal deficiencies at no cost, as outlined by telecommunications consultant Trevor Textor, and can find poor cable connectors or construction in your area disrupting the link. It’s also advisable to double check that the bandwidth of internet you are spending money on is capable of supporting the amount of devices used. Free websites like SpeedTest or others recommended by your internet service provider will show just how much bandwidth you actually have versus just how much you are paying for, allowing you to see just how much work you need to do to get internet ready to go at full capacity. Other free analytics tools can provide more insight into signal strength, interference as well as other factors. The typical household of 4 to 5 people needs a speed of 50 Mbps on downloads and 5 mbps on the upload stream, according to Wi-Fi device manufacturer EnGenius Technologies.
2. Secure your Wi-Fi
One of the most basic steps consumers can take to speed up Wi-Fi is to make sure the neighbors aren’t stealthily making use of their service. Many Wi-Fi networks come with preset passwords that can be easily obtained in online forums or guessed. Ensure that you give your network a whole new password that is not easy to guess (don’t use your address, for example) and consider using a guest network for friends.
3. Improve your hardware
Most internet bills include the cost of equipment rented out by the internet service provider each and every month, and buying your own could save hundreds of dollars over several years. Check your provider’s website for compatible devices. When selecting a router, you’ll want to search for a dual-band device that utilizes 802.11AC, the most recent wireless standard, to provide the fastest speed. Evidence also suggests routers with an external antenna provide stronger signals, but consumers may find the visible antennas unsightly and go for a built-in variety. Some experts have suggested spending at least $200 on a router to make sure it’s completely functional. However, Sam Bell of Wi-Fi element company CoCo Communications said in recent years the gap between performance of top-of-the-line hardware and cheaper models has shrunk, additionally, the type of hardware is simply one part of what comprises overall consumer experience. “Historically new and better hardware had a much bigger impact on the performance,” he said. “Now implementation of the whole package has become a much more important factor.”
4. Choose your frequency wisely
There are two different types of Wi-Fi available commercially: the older standard of 2.4 GHz as well as the newer frequency of 5 GHz. Dual band Wi-Fi routers offer both (you’ll usually see a ‘network name 2.4’ and a ‘network name 5’ whenever you set up your router) but experts suggest moving as many devices as you can to the 5 GHz network. That’s because 5 GHz has more channels to choose from than 2.4 GHz, resulting in less crowding and faster connections. This is particularly important in cities where overlapping networks in apartments are competing for connections. Free tools can scan networks and let you know which channel within the frequency may be the least crowded, but a majority of modern routers will select the least crowded network automatically.
5. Move your router
Instead of spending a great deal of time attempting to pinpoint an open Wi-Fi channel, concentrate on the location of your router and internet access point, suggests Riley Eller of CoCo Communications. “You can’t fix your neighbors, but you can fix coverage problems,” he said.
A router really should have room to breathe: place it high above ground, if possible, especially if you are on the ground floor of a building, as earth beneath the living space can reduce your Wi-Fi functionality by half. Unlike 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, 5 GHz doesn’t penetrate walls, so consider the connection originating from your router like a spotlight and provide it a way to get into all of your living spaces. Even placing a mirror near the router or putting it in front of heating ducts could guide the Wi-Fi to hard-to-reach spots and improve the connection, Eller said. Consumers should also place a router in the most central location possible in the home. The more you can reduce the distance between the furthest device and the Wi-Fi source, the faster your internet will be.
6. Adapters and extenders
If you are not able to move the router to a central location, or if you are experiencing dead spots in your home Wi-Fi network, investing in an extender might seem like an obvious solution. However, such devices can actually divide your connection and decrease bandwidth by 40% to 69%, Eller said. He suggests instead purchasing an internet access point, a device separate from the router and modem that behaves as a hub for the network and creates another gateway to the connection without dividing its power. Some examples are products like Securifi Almond and access points from brands like D-Link and TP-Link, and can be linked with your modem with an Ethernet (the option with a better connection) or a powerline adapter for connecting wirelessly. This leads to fewer dead spots and 2 to 5 times more Wi-Fi speed for your devices.
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