Do you know what the most frustrating feeling in the world is? Yes, you guessed it right, having to work on a slow Wi-Fi is by far the most annoying feeling in the world.
In the present time, most of us are working from homes, and a lot of the work is done via video calls. Moreover, the remaining time that we have, we tend to spend it watching Netflix. However, in both cases, the biggest enemy to our work or entertainment will be buffering, which will result from poor signal strength.
Thus, regardless of the situation, there are more than a few ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal strength. These can help you enjoy fast and seamless connectivity all-around your home.
Boosting WiFi Signal DIY: 7 Ways to Make WiFi Signal Stronger
1. Perform a Speed Test
First things first, before you upgrade the hardware or thinker with the router, you should conduct a speed test. It will give you an idea of how fast the Wi-Fi is. It can be done from your smartphone or computer by heading to Fast.com, and then press Go.
After you get the speed result, you have to compare it with the plan you have taken. In any case, if the result shows that the upload and the download speed are significantly lower than what is advertised in your chosen plan, there is 100% something that is slowing down the Wi-Fi. Jessica, who works with TAE and offers java homework help, points out that most of the network providers, be it Cox, Charter, or Comcast, advertise the download speed, which is almost impossible to achieve in a normal circumstance. So, what should be done, now? Keep reading.
2. Reboot the Modem and the Router
After you find that the speed is low, you have to take active measures to fix it. So, you can start with rebooting the modem and the router. Rebooting, the two will reset the connection. There is a possibility that doing so will accentuate the signal strength of the Wi-Fi.
How to reboot the modem and the router? You have to nothing, just unplug them for a minute. Please know that this may alter the IP address of the connected devices. That means that you will again have to reconnect them to the Wi-Fi network once functional.
3. Update the Firmware
This helps ensure that you are employing the most recent security features on the network. It can also be helpful in fixing connectivity issues and auto-repairing the bugs. Overall, it boosts the signal strength. The steps to update the firmware depending on the router used by you. Most of the routers update it automatically.
However, there are some, which will need you to download a file from the website of the manufacturer manually. You will have to upload this file on the settings page of the router.
4. Move the Router
As the router has to send out the signal in every direction, you have to make it a point to install it in the central location. It will help you achieve the best signal throughout your home. Please know that the signal strength is badly hampered by the thick surfaces, such as floors or walls. So, you need to ensure that the router is placed in an open area.
Moreover, the Wi-Fi signal strength can also be accentuated by elevating your Wi-Fi position.
However, at all times, you must ensure that the router is kept at some distance from the metal objects. It includes such as the fridge or microwave. The Wi-Fi signal strength bounces back from the metal surface and is unable to cross through it.
Also, do not place the router near a reflective surface, such as a fish tank, a bathtub, or a pool. It is because water tends to absorb the signal and make it weaker.
5. Reposition the Antenna of Your Router
A lot of routers today come with an adjustable antenna. If that is what you have, you should not position all of them straight up or straight down. The signal from the Wi-Fi emanates out through the antenna. Thus, the ideal way to boost the signal strength is by positioning the antennas in all the different directions.
Apple Wi-Fi engineer, Alf Watt, suggests that the antennas must be pointed perpendicular to one another. He pointed out the devices, such as MacBook fetch signals horizontally, whereas other devices get the signal vertically.
Thus, positioning in a perpendicular direction can be helpful. It can also help people who live in a home with more than a few floors. It will allow you to cover one floor with the vertical signal and the other one with the horizontal signal.
Another option you can use is pointing the antennas in the opposite direction, which is at forty-five and sixty-degree angles. People who have a router with more than two antennas should spread all of them in different directions, says Xavier, who works with TFTH.
6. Change the Security Settings
Wi-Fi signal strength can also be improved by modifying the security settings. If the router that you are using gives you a choice, change the security settings and opt for WPA2, that is Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 security, says Harvey, who offers online economics homework help. In case you are not entitled to this option, you can opt for WPA.
You may not know but just updating the security setting of the Wi-Fi to WPA 2 doubles, and at times, triples the speed of your Wi-Fi, particularly if you have been using Wired Equivalent Privacy or WEP for a while. Amongst the encryption protocol, the WPA2 is indeed faster. WEP, on the other hand, is the slowest.
7. Choose a Strong Password for Your Wi-Fi
Choosing a strong password is essential to ensure that your neighbors do not steal your Wi-Fi, and disrupt the bandwidth, says Ross, who works with TrumpLearning. Moreover, if you have a weak Wi-Fi password or an open network, the intruders can breach the network and intrude into your personal information or bank details.
To ensure that your network is secure, log into the router, and modify both the password and the Wi-Fi network's username.
COMMENTS