8 Tips For Improving Your Wi-Fi At Home

ad collaborative post // Anyone who uses the internet knows that slow internet in your house is an irritating problem. Lagging streaming services and unloadable pages make it impossible to enjoy your free time or work in your home office. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to switch service providers. Try these tips for improving your Wi-Fi at home today.

1. Move Your Router

People with large homes often struggle to achieve fast Wi-Fi because their router is across the house. Move it to a central location, even if it’s in a coat closet. You’ll get more coverage throughout your home and might see a noticeable difference immediately.

2. Replace the Router Antenna

Many routers have small antennas that boost your Wi-Fi signal to every room in your house. If yours has one and the Wi-Fi is too slow, you may need to replace the antenna. It will be one of three types:

• Directional: sends Wi-Fi in a primary direction
• Semi-directional sends Wi-Fi in a specific pattern with multiple directions
• Omni-directional: sends Wi-Fi in all directions

Your service provider can tell you which antenna your router uses and potentially offer a replacement. They’re also available online and easily install by screwing the new antenna in a clockwise direction.

3. Add a 5G Network

Sometimes Wi-Fi slows down because too many people are on the same signal for heavy-usage activities, like downloading updates or media. Adding a 5G network through your provider creates a secondary internet connection that uses denser radio waves to provide equal internet access in rural and urban communities. When your internet gets slow, your devices can connect to your 5G network to transfer data faster.

4. Hang Your Router

Sometimes routers provide slower service when they sit on a floor. Their hardware sends Wi-Fi signals downward from the antenna, so hanging it can make your service faster. Many available hardware packages clamp onto routers and attach to walls, so your router doesn’t need a shelf.

5. Install a Wireless Repeater

Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters are small units that boost existing Wi-Fi signals. You can find them in most home improvement or electronic stores for purchase without contracts or service providers attached. Place a repeater wherever dead zones exist in your home to extend your Wi-Fi coverage.

6. Update Your Firmware

Just like smartphones and laptops need occasional software updates, routers can require firmware updates to maintain or improve their speed. Check your router for its address, which is typically on a sticker.

Next, you should locate your network’s default gateway entry through your laptop to find the IP address. The IP address will go into your preferred internet search engine bar and require a login username and password. Select the firmware update option after logging in to check and activate any available updates. Your internet service provider can help with any step of this process if you get lost or confused.

7. Change the Channel

People browse stations from the numerous available channels when they listen to the radio. Routers broadcast Wi-Fi on multiple channels as well. Your Wi-Fi may slow down if you live in a shared community building where everyone is potentially using the same channel.

You can switch your router’s channel on the configuration page located in your IP address gateway dashboard. After selecting the new channel from a dropdown list, you’ll move to a lesser-used frequency and get faster speeds.

8. Minimize Your Equipment Brands

Consider the hardware that creates your home Wi-Fi network. Do you have routers and adapters made by different manufacturers? Were they made at the same time?

Combining old equipment with newer hardware means you’ll have outdated router software underperforming compared to the updated equipment. It could also mean that the various manufacturers sold boosters or routers that provide different base speeds.

Replacing older equipment with newer models that match the same brand and service speed as your primary router will improve your network performance. Call your provider to discuss which hardware operates most efficiently to ensure an optimal investment.

Improve Your Home Wi-Fi

You’re not alone if you need help with improving your Wi-Fi at home. Many people struggle with poor signal quality and sudden drops in speed for various reasons. Try these tips to get the Wi-Fi quality you need to enjoy internet-based activities at home.