How to boost Wi-Fi signal Leave a comment
In a world where a consistent and reliable Wi-fi connection is crucial, slow speeds disappoint and halt work. But don’t worry, there are usually explanations and solutions as to why your connection is so inconsistent, and today we are here to help you fix it!
Start with speed
The first place to look when investigating poor Wi-Fi signals is speed. You may have heard of speed tests to work out how strong a Wi-Fi connection is; A speed test is a simple check you can perform to measure your current connection’s maximum speed and how fast it can upload/download data. This is done by accessing test servers.
To perform a speed test by yourself, the easiest way is to download an app on your phone or simply search for one online.
Some great free speed test apps that we recommend to give you a more in-depth overview of your data are:
Once you’re set-up, run your speed test and make sure that the connection speed result you are seeing mirrors that on your internet bill.
If the speed comes back slower than it should, it’s worth reaching out to your provider, or it may mean it’s time to replace your router/internet modem.
If the speeds you’re seeing on the test match your bill, but they’re still looking suspiciously slow, you might need to investigate your internet plan. Some plans can have similar speeds, but it’s important to look at whether your plan has a slower data transfer rate, which could be the reason your signal seems so dull.
If the speed test is as expected, run it again wirelessly in different locations in your home/office space. Sometimes the reason a Wi-Fi signal seems so slow is because it’s actually struggling with coverage. Your coverage may be the cause of the problem if your connection is fine close to your router, but you have dead zones in other areas further away. A simple solution to this problem would be to deploy some access points to target those areas that aren’t receiving a great connection.
Access points are a fantastic way to balance the load and avoid lots of congestion around the home or office. Read our access points explained blog for our recommendations and more information regarding what they do and why you may need them.
Generally, a good internet speed is at least 25 Mbps download speed, and 3 Mbps upload speed, but you should ideally aim for a plan that provides higher speeds than these to ensure you have a fast and reliable connection.
Outdated kit
Another culprit for poor Wi-Fi signal is of date networking kit.
Lots of us are unaware that it’s our old router that is the main problem when trying to tackle those pesky Wi-Fi disruptions, but routers are pretty important in terms of maintaining a consistent signal and are a good place to look when searching for answers.
Routers manage every internet connection you have in your home, so when they start to get old, they can cause problems that in turn, slow your Wi-Fi down such as disrupting connections and exposing your network to security risks too
Generally, replacing your router around every 5 years is good practice to avoid security breaches and painfully slow connections. Think of it like a mattress: typically, we should replace our mattresses every 6-8 years or so, because as they get more and more worn down, they lose their shape and their ability to properly support us as we sleep, an old mattress means a worse night’s sleep, just like an old router means a much poorer Wi-Fi signal.
A pretty easy way to know if you need to replace your trusty old router is if it is too hot to touch comfortably when operating. Similarly, to most Wi-Fi devices that handle heavy loads, routers do heat up as they work harder: this is normal! But, if your router is so hot that you can’t keep your hand on the surface, that’s an obvious sign that it is overheating, and struggling to keep up.
If upgrading your router isn’t an option for you right now, you can also choose to add Wi-Fi extenders to your setup. Extenders are a great option as they’re typically small and affordable, and still extend your Wi-Fi coverage when placed in the correct spots (e.g., in between dead zones and your router).
However, not all hope is lost on the router front! Updating the firmware could be the solution to the problem you’re having.
Most routers do have firmware updates built into their interface, but some require you to manually update it yourself by visiting a web page. Updating the firmware means that your router will be able to handle demands better whilst still keeping up its speeds, so, it’s definitely worth a try.
It’s also important to know that routers aren’t the only bits of outdated kit that could be potentially slowing your speeds down. Older devices may be relying on previous, slower Wi-Fi standards so investing in a USB Wi-Fi adapter may be a good choice to pick up the pace.
Router placement
Did you know that the placement of your router in your home/office actually has more to do with coverage and signal than you think?
Wi-Fi is pretty cool, it’s able to connect billions of people together all over the world, but when it encounters a wall, it may be no match…
Wi-Fi signals have trouble penetrating solid objects, such as walls. Other arch nemesis of Wi-Fi include brick, Metal appliances (such as your fridge), and lots of water (Got a fish tank? It could be blocking your signal!).
So, as we can see, placing your router in a hard-to-reach location that is surrounded by lots of walls or other dense materials means that you won’t be able to get the best out of your router. To optimize your router to its full potential, try to place it in a centred, open space so that there are minimal obstacles in the way of you and your Wi-Fi signal.
