Do you have problems with your WiFi signal? Does your signal drop constantly, is streaming your shows a nerve wrecking activity? If the answer is YES, you are not alone in this. We’ve all experienced slow Internet speeds, wireless blind spots and so on. Before you pull your hair out of your head or think about spending money on all sorts of magical boosting devices, you should first cross off all other possible solutions.
Here are some things you should do that might do the trick for you and imhttps://calgary.com/home-wifi-improvement-guide.phpprove your WiFi signal.
- Be careful where you place your router. The placement of your router affects drastically the quality of the signal. When you choose a spot in your house for your router, make sure it is as central, high and exposed as possible and avoid placing the device near other electronics, your microwave, cordless phone or any magnets. These will interfere with your signal. Keep the antenna up and don’t hide the router behind any obstacles.
- Choose a less crowded channel for your router. They can work on several different channels and you should choose one that interferes as little as possible with your neighbors’ devices. In order to find the best channel for your router, you can use programs such as WiFi Analyzer, Network Analyzer Lite and the like.
- Make sure you use a secure connection. Another reason why your wireless signal might be poor is when others are using your connection without you even knowing it. Make sure you protect yourself from WiFi thieves by using a strong password and hiding your network’s SSID, so others won’t know the name of your network and have to type it manually if they want in.
- Update the firmware. Manufacturers release regular updates for their products, which enhance the speed and performance of the router. That’s why you should check for firmware updates for your device periodically and install them from your admin portal.
- Reset your router on a regular basis. This might seem useless and too simple to actually work, but it does. Oftentimes, all you need to boost your WiFi signal is simply reboot your device.
- Use metal cans or pots to concentrate the WiFi signal. This is a useful trick that helps you direct the signal to the main areas of the house, instead of letting it disperse chaotically. One way to do it is like in the picture below, but you can check for other methods online:
Photo source: Digital Trends
- Change your frequency if your device allows it. If your router supports the 5 GHz frequency, instead of the traditional 2.4 GHz one, switch to that. You’ll have more available channels with it, higher speeds and it won’t be as overcrowded as the 2.4 one, since it is newer and not all devices support it.
If all these tips still prove to be useless, it might be time to think about making some investments and get yourself a new router or a WiFi extender.