If you live in a large house or your ISP installed your router in a strange location, your WiFi signal may not reach every part of the house adequately. This can cause lag and choppy videos when streaming media. ..
- Make sure your WiFi router is in a good location. The closer the router is to the source of the WiFi signal, the stronger it will be.
- Use a higher quality WiFi network. A better network will have more bandwidth and be faster.
- Use a different WiFi network if you are having trouble connecting to your regular one. Try connecting to a network at a nearby coffee shop, library, or other public place.
- Try using an Ethernet cable instead of WiFi when you are away from home or work and need to connect to the Internet. Ethernet cables provide a stronger connection than WiFi and are usually less expensive than upgrading to a better WiFi router. ..
If you’re having trouble connecting to the Internet, be sure to check out my article on ways to speed up your connection. ..
Use Latest WiFi Protocol
Wireless AC routers are becoming more and more popular, as they offer a better range and better signal strength. If you’re still using Wireless G or N, it may be time to upgrade to a Wireless AC router.
A Wireless AC router will be most efficient with devices that support the Wireless AC protocol. If you are using a newer device with a built-in wireless card, such as a laptop, check to see what wireless protocol it supports.
After AC, there will be new wireless technologies that will continue to be developed. You don’t always have to use the latest protocol, but you also don’t want to be several protocols behind. Wireless N and AC also support MIMO, which allows for multiple antennas.
Get a Dual-Band Router
Dual band routers allow you to use both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks simultaneously, which can give you faster speeds over a shorter distance than if you were only using the 2.4 GHz network. ..
Dual band routers are helpful because they can give you faster speeds when you are closer to the router, but you can switch to the 2.4 GHz network when you are farther away since 2.4 GHz signals can travel farther and penetrate more walls. Unfortunately, you mostly have to manually switch between these two networks.
Call Your ISP
If you have an ISP that installs routers for you, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the best one they have to offer. Most ISPs will install a cheaper router with less speeds and less features and then try to get you to upgrade later.
If you are getting service connected, you can usually make them give you the best router before you sign up with them. If you are already a customer, you can always try to threaten to leave. Unfortunately, to get a better router, you usually will have to pay a monthly cost or buy it upfront.
Use a Cable Signal Booster
If you have cable internet, there are several factors that can affect the actual cable signal strength coming from the cable company to your home. If you live in a busy neighborhood with many households, the actual cable power that your home receives may not be optimal. Aside from this, things like splitters that allow for a cable outlet in every room tend to weaken the signal, and the more splitters you have, the weaker the signal will become. ..
A cable signal booster can help improve your home WiFi network’s signal by amplifying the signals. These devices look and work just like normal coaxial splitters, but they are specifically designed to distribute cable signals in the most efficient manner. By increasing the strength of your home WiFi network, a cable signal booster can also improve the signal quality to your television.
Optimize Router & Update Firmware
To keep your wireless router running at its best, be sure to have the latest firmware. This can include updates for the router’s software and hardware, so you can keep your network running smoothly.
If you are experiencing interference, it may be helpful to change the channel on your router. Most routers have an “auto” setting, but sometimes it is worth manually configuring. Consult your router’s user manual for firmware and settings tips. ..
Re-position the Router
A wireless router should be placed in a central location within a home. It should also be positioned not too close to the floor, but not too close to the ceiling either. WiFi signals travel in a lateral pattern, and most of the time, WiFi devices, such as laptops are used at midpoint within a home. For example, you usually sit on the couch when using a laptop; you don’t lay on the floor (most of the time), and you do not stand on a ladder.
Use a Multi Router Network Setup
In cases where the distance between your home and your current router is too great, you may need to set up a second router.
Adding a second router to an existing network can help improve performance and security. ..
If you have Verizon FIOS, you can purchase a second identical router and configure it as a MoCA LAN bridge. You can configure the second router with the same wireless SSID and password, so devices will connect to whichever router is closer.
Purchase a WiFi System
The routers communicate with each other to create a mesh network. This means that you can access the internet from anywhere in your home. This is great for streaming movies, playing games, and using other online services. ..
Wireless networks are great because they automatically configure themselves and talk to each other. This makes them really easy to set up and you can add as many devices as you want to keep extending the range of your wireless network.
WiFi systems are becoming more and more popular, especially in places where there is no reliable wired connection. These systems allow you to have multiple access points and control them all from one place. This makes it much easier to connect to the internet, since you don’t need to worry about your router.
Open-Mesh is a company that I know is popular. It’s a great solution for residential purposes, and it works just fine.
Add a WiFi Booster Antenna
A WiFi booster antenna is an add-on to a WiFi router that can improve the WiFi network signal.
Use Powerline Adapter
If you can’t get a wireless signal in a certain area of your house, you may be able to try dropping a network or coax cable to that location. If that’s not possible, then an adapter might be a good alternative.
The good news is that most routers now have at least one Gigabit Ethernet port, so you can easily connect a faster broadband connection like cable or fiber. The bad news is that not all routers have this option, and even if they do, not all devices can use Gigabit Ethernet. So if you’re looking to connect a lot of high-speed devices, you’ll need to look for a router with multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports. ..
Turn Off Other Devices
If you have a lot of devices connected to your home, it might be worth turning some things off to see if there is any kind of interference.
If you have other electronic devices like microwaves or TVs in your home, it’s important to keep them away from your router. This will help to prevent any interference from happening.
WiFi in your home can be improved by using a combination of methods, including using a strong WiFi signal and using a variety of devices to improve WiFi signals.
