IN THIS POST
– Get rid of freeloaders
– Update your wireless router
– Set up a WiFi range extender
– Choose a new channel
– Move router to another spot
Can you think of a home gadget that tries your patience more than a router with poor WiFi signal? Probably not. If the speed of your internet has slowed down significantly or you are not getting the speed you are paying for, then it is high time you look into ways to boost the WiFi signal in your home.
More often than not, people believe the best way to improve the WiFi signal is to replace their existing router with another high-end option. Sometimes, an ageing device may negatively impact your home internet experience. However, you need to understand that a number of other factors can also affect the speed of your internet.
If a poor WiFi signal has made it difficult for you to stream movies, play video games or attend meetings while working remotely from home, you can try using these tips to boost wireless router signal and get faster internet.
Best Ways to Boost the Wifi Signal in Your House
Want to get the most out of your bandwidth? Here are a few things you can do to boost the WiFi signal in your home and speed up the internet.
- Get rid of freeloaders
- Update your wireless router
- Set up a WiFi range extender
- Choose a new WiFi channel
- Move router to another spot
Let’s further discuss these ways to boost your home WiFi signal.
Get rid of freeloaders
Did you know that extra users can slow down your internet connections?
If your home WiFi is not password-protected, has a really easy-to-guess password, or if you like giving your password to every guest who asks for it, there is a good chance that freeloaders are taking up your internet bandwidth.
To put it simply, every single device connected to your WiFi network uses a certain bandwidth. The more outside devices that use your network, the less bandwidth your personal devices will get. Failure to add sufficient protection to your home WiFi network not only opens it up to bandwidth leeches but also to hackers. Therefore, the easiest way to boost the WiFi signal is by making your connection secure.
You can secure your home WiFi by restricting access to your router using a hard-to-crack password and WPA2 security. Ideally, you should change your WiFi password every few months.
Update your wireless router
When we ask you to update your wireless router, we don’t mean you should go out and buy a new device. Instead, you should consider updating the firmware of your router to boost the WiFi signal in your house and increase the speed of your internet.
Most new routers have the update process built into their administration interface and only require a single click for an upgrade. However, the process of upgrading the firmware in older router models varies with manufacturers. In some cases, the users are required to download the firmware by visiting the support page on the manufacturer’s website. You then have to upload it to the administration interface to update the device.
Although it may take some time and you may have to call the customer support for some help, this tip is worth all the trouble you might have to go through.
Even if your WiFi connection is working fine and your internet speed is satisfactory, it is suggested to update your router firmware every few months for improved features and security.
Set up a WiFi range extender
Every home has an internet dead zone. It’s that one spot in your house where WiFi signal either disappear or are simply too weak. If your home WiFi seems to be missing a few spots around your home, you should take a step back and study its placement.
The performance of your wireless router can be hindered by a lot of things, most importantly architectural interference and metal appliances. If your router provides coverage in a large area with a lot of corners and thick walls, it is likely for the signal to get weak in some places.
The best way to strengthen the WiFi signal in this situation is by investing in a device called WiFi Range Extender. Since all routers can only broadcast signals to a certain distance, this device will essentially help you increase the WiFi range in your home and get rid of all the internet dead zones without having to set up another router. It will help you boost the WiFi signal on a laptop, PC, and smartphones as well as other devices.
WiFi range extenders may bear a resemblance to the regular wireless routers, but they work in a different manner. To put it simply, these devices extend WiFi range in the house by picking up the signal from your router and rebroadcasting it. Also, the network will only recognize it as another client with an IP address, much like an iPad. They are also known as wireless boosters.
Since these devices can help increase WiFi range and thus speed up the internet, it is suggested you place them at a spot that’s close enough to your wireless router. This will allow the device to pick up the signal and extend its range. However, even the best WiFi boosters should be placed close enough to the weak spots in your home.
Choose a New Channel
Did you ever play with walkie-talkies as a kid? Those who did would probably remember that everyone needed to be on the same channel in order to hear one another. If someone else in the vicinity was using the same channel, both of you would be able to listen in on each other’s conversations, regardless of using different sets.
Just like those walkie-talkie sets, routers also switch through a range of channels when broadcasting signals to your laptops and PCs among other devices. Most high-end routers are set to ‘Auto’ and switch across different channels to choose one with the least single congestion. However, most of the older and inexpensive routers only communicate through a predefined channel, which is not always optimal.
To boost the WiFi signal on PC, laptop or smartphone, you can consider choosing a channel with less interference. Most wireless routers are set on the standard 2.4 GHz frequency. You can increase WiFi speed by selecting the 5 GHz frequency instead. It offers a range of non-overlapping channels, making it easier for data packets to travel back and forth without slowing down your internet connection.
All you need to do is log into your administration interface, go to Wireless Setup and select the channel.
It is important to mention that some routers are limited to 2.4 GHz frequency and only allow consumers to choose between a small set of channels.
Move router to another spot
Last but not least, consider moving your wireless router to another spot in your house. Instead of stuffing the router in the back of a cabinet or hiding it behind a heavy piece of furniture at the far end of your house or apartment can weaken its signal.
As mentioned above, metal appliances and walls are among the biggest reasons why you might not be getting your desired internet speed. Sometimes, wireless signals have a hard time penetrating through thick walls. Moreover, heavy-duty metal appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves can also impact the performance of your router.
Therefore, you should always set up the router in an open space possible in the centre of your home so the signal can reach as far as possible. This will help boost the WiFi speed as well as speed up the internet. Sometimes, wireless signals have a hard time penetrating through thick walls. They can face hindrance
Some of the best places to put your internet router include the living room, hallway and the first-floor landing. Some of the worst places to install your internet router include the kitchen, a far corner in your house, the place under the windowsill and the basement.
If you are unable to try out any of these tips to boost the WiFi signal in your home, you should at least try resetting your router to fix unknown issues and speed up the internet.
Meanwhile, here are some of the best mobile broadband packages in Pakistan that everyone must know about. You can also take a look at the most popular internet service providers in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Furthermore, if you are interested in learning more about smart technology changing our homes in future, head over to Zameen Blog – the best lifestyle and real estate blog in Pakistan – for a detailed analysis.
If you have any questions or concerns about how to maximize router speed or strengthen the WiFi signal, feel free to write to us on blog@zameen.com. You can also subscribe to our newsletter on the right to receive the latest updates about the construction and property trends in Pakistan.
