How to Quicken the Speed of Your Wi-Fi Connection at Home

How to Quicken the Speed of Your Wi-Fi Connection at Home

A Wi-Fi network that is both quick and dependable is no longer a luxury in today’s hyperconnected society; rather, it is an absolute must. Having a poor internet connection may be very unpleasant and distracting, regardless of whether you are streaming in 4K, working remotely, playing games online, or just surfing the web. There are a lot of methods to increase the speed of your Wi-Fi network without having to spend a lot of money on improvements. You are able to considerably increase the performance of your home network by combining strategic tweaks, suitable configurations, and strategic placement.

1. Determine the speed of your internet connection at the moment.
Prior to making any adjustments, it is necessary to have a baseline in place. If you want to assess your current download, upload, and latency metrics, you should choose a speed testing program that has a good reputation. Tests should be carried out at various times of the day and in a number of different rooms in order to detect weak spots. This information will assist you in determining if the problem is with the devices you are using, the internet package you are using, or the Wi-Fi coverage you have.

2. Place your router in the most advantageous environment possible
Wi-Fi signals become less strong when they travel through obstacles such as walls, floors, and couches. It is recommended that you set your router in a central, high location, ideally in the center of your house, and away from any obstacles or devices made of metal. Keep it away from closets and under major appliances as much as possible. The idea is to ensure that your router has a direct line of sight to the sections of your home where you spend the most time using the internet.

3. Get rid of interference with the signal
Other electrical devices in your home, particularly cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwaves, have the potential to disrupt the signal from your Wi-Fi network. In the event that your router is equipped with dual-band or tri-band technology, it is recommended that you connect your devices to the 5 GHz band. This particular band is less busy and provides greater speeds over shorter distances. By reserving the 2.4 GHz band for devices that are located farther away, performance may be more evenly distributed.

4. Bring it up to date Firmware for your router [FIR]
Firmware updates are often released by makers of routers in order to promote improvements in performance, security, and stability. When you are ready, check for available updates by logging in to the administrator interface of your router. The application of these patches has the potential to correct errors, improve signal efficiency, and even unlock new capabilities that significantly increase performance.

5 Make use of the Quality of Service (QoS) Configurations
There are several current routers that come with quality of service options that allow you to prioritize certain kinds of traffic. When compared to background downloads, for instance, you may give more priority to activities like as gaming, streaming, or video conversations. This guarantees that essential tasks continue to proceed without interruption, even while additional devices are using the network.

6. Protect Your Network from Users Who Are Not Authorized to Access It
It is possible for neighbors or even strangers to take control of an unprotected Wi-Fi network, which will result in your bandwidth being used and your connection being slowed down. Always use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, and be sure you establish a password that is both strong and unique. Make sure to check the list of connected devices on your router on a regular basis to identify any unexpected users.

7. Give some thought to upgrading your router.
There is a possibility that your router may have difficulty meeting the requirements of the contemporary internet if it is older than four or five years. Wireless protocols that are quicker, such as Wi-Fi 6, are supported by more recent routers. These standards provide increased performance for many devices, as well as enhanced range and less interference.

8. Put a limit on the number of wired and wireless devices.
Having an excessive number of devices connected at the same time might cause your network to get overwhelmed. Turn off any gadgets that you are not currently using, or put them into airplane mode while they are not in use. If you have smart home gadgets that need a connection on a continuous basis, you may want to think about utilizing a dedicated network or a guest network in order to alleviate congestion on your primary Wi-Fi network.

9. For tasks that need a high bandwidth, use Ethernet.
Wi-Fi connections are more easily accessible, while traditional Ethernet connections are both quicker and more reliable. Connecting fixed devices such as game consoles, desktop computers, or smart TVs to your router directly with an Ethernet connection is the best way to ensure connectivity. This makes wireless bandwidth available to devices that have a genuine need for it.

10. Deploy a Wi-Fi Extender or Mesh System in your network.
When you have a big house or sections that have poor service, a Wi-Fi extender may help improve the signal to such areas. A mesh Wi-Fi system, which employs numerous nodes to produce a single, unified network that does not have any dead zones, is an option to explore if you want coverage that is more seamless.

11. Reduce the amount of bandwidth used in the background
It is possible for some programs and devices to use bandwidth without your knowledge; cloud backups, automated upgrades, and file synchronization are examples of popular offenders. Change the parameters so that these operations are executed during off-peak hours, or halt them when you want the highest possible speed.

12. Change the channel that your Wi-Fi is on.
Due to the fact that they use the same channel, neighboring routers might cause interference with your signal in densely populated areas. You may manually choose a channel that has less congestion by accessing the settings of your router. A number of routers are equipped with an auto-select function that chooses the most suitable channel for you.

13. Have your Internet Service Provider (ISP) get in touch with you if necessary.
It is possible that your internet plan is the bottleneck if you have improved your home network but are still experiencing poor speeds. You should get in touch with your Internet service provider (ISP) to verify if you are receiving the speeds that you are paying for, and you should think about upgrading your plan if it is no longer sufficient to fulfill the requirements of your household.

Work, entertainment, and other day-to-day activities may all be negatively impacted by a poor Wi-Fi connection; but, with a few judicious modifications, you can significantly enhance the speed and dependability of your connection. Your online experience will be improved as a result of these adjustments, which include moving your router, replacing hardware, and optimizing settings. In addition, these modifications will prolong the life of your network equipment.