Having slow Wi-Fi can ruin an important moment, whether you’re trying to get into your dream college or closing a deal with a client via Zoom. Unfortunately, even though you are paying for a high-speed internet plan, you might still notice your internet speed dramatically slowing down. Fortunately, you can boost your wireless internet with easy and simple steps.
Know Your Internet Speed First
Before boosting your wireless internet, you should check your internet speed first. While it cannot help you improve your wireless connection, you can use the results as a baseline and see the improvement once you start to work on your wifi.
You can also compare it to the maximum advertised internet speed you are paying for and determine if your internet connection is underperforming or telling you to upgrade to a faster internet plan.
You must keep in mind that internet providers only guarantee their offered speeds if your device is connected via a wired Ethernet connection. So, it’s expected to have a lower speed over Wi-Fi. Nonetheless, if your browsing, streaming, or gaming experience is smooth, then you should be fine.
If you noticed that your internet speed is significantly low for what you are paying for, even over an ethernet connection, your internet provider might not be delivering the right speed, or your household is overwhelming your internet connection.
5 Ways to Boost Your Wireless Internet
1. Perform a Simple Reboot
Sometimes, your modem and router only need a short break for them to work optimally again. So, before anything else, let’s power cycle everything and see if there will be a difference.
Restart Your Modem
Your modem is the device responsible for translating the signal between your internet provider and your home network. So if your internet speed is slowing down, it’s one of the most effective ways to fix it. But in other instances, you might need to call your internet service provider and ask them to reset your modem remotely, making sure it’s properly calibrated.
To restart your modem, begin by unplugging your wireless gateway or modem, wait for about half a minute, then plug it back in. This process allows your modem to clear its virtual head.
Restart Your Router
Your router is the one that distributes the signal within your house. If it has been operating for so long without breaks, your router’s memory might have gotten overwhelmed with the heavy tasks from your devices.
To reboot your router, you just need to follow the same process as the modem. Then, you need to turn off the Wi-Fi from all your devices, including those smart appliances, wait around 30 seconds, then turn it back on. See if your wireless connection improved by doing this.
It’s best to perform this power cycle regularly because it really works wonders, as simple as it may seem. Also, we recommend you do it when no one needs a Wi-Fi connection, as this troubleshooting will leave your home without internet connection for a few minutes or so.
2. Transfer Your Router to a Central Location
The position of your router can dictate the coverage within your house. Your wireless internet can only travel so far, and its signals are easily blocked by obstructions, such as walls, electronic appliances, furniture, walls, and any large physical object in your home.
So, if you have placed your router in a corner or a crowded area, it’s likely that you’ll have a spotty internet connection. Instead, make sure to place your router in a central and elevated location near the areas where you need high speed internet, such as your living room and home office.
3. Adjust Your Router’s Antennas
While other routers already come with built-in antennas, which means you cannot adjust them, the most common routers have adjustable antennas. If your router has them, you can try reconfiguring them.
These antennas are usually typically omnidirectional, which sends signals to all directions perpendicular to your router’s antenna. So if you need to bring more signals to the upper floor of your house, you can adjust the antenna horizontally to send signals upwards.
4. Utilize Your Wi-Fi Frequency Bands
Regardless of your wireless provider, most routers today work on two radio frequency bands, 2.4 and 5 Gigahertz (GHz). So, the band you use for your specific connections can affect the internet speed you are getting and the quality of your wireless connection. In addition, these bands may experience interference, so it’s wise to switch to the other band if you notice connectivity issues.
The difference between these two bands is that 5 GHz offers better speeds but a shorter range, while 2.4 GHz provides a better range, but the speed is not as fast as the one you get from 5 GHz. The best devices for the 5 GHz band are usually personal computers, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and smartphones, while the 2.4 GHz band is best for security cameras, smart speakers, and other smart home devices.
5. Extend Your Wi-Fi Network
Even if your router is placed in the ideal location, dead zones might still be present, either your house is too large, or extra thick walls surround your home. Nowadays, you can easily purchase devices like Wi-Fi extenders or Mesh Wi-Fi systems to help amplify your Wi-Fi connection in every corner of your house.
Here are some of the devices you can use to boost your network coverage:
- Wi-Fi Extender: This device is placed between your router and the dead zones to redistribute the Wi-Fi signals into these areas.
- Powerline Extender: A powerline extender kit comes with two devices. You can connect the first one to your router via ethernet and then plug it into an outlet, while the second one is in the area where you want better Wi-Fi. The internet signals will then travel via electrical wiring.
- Mesh Wi-Fi System: Mesh systems involve two or more Wi-Fi access points around your home to create a single Wi-Fi web that covers your entire home, delivering strong signals in every corner of your home.
