Reliable Internet at home and at work is not only a luxury nowadays—it’s a necessity. In the age of information, everyone needs the fastest most reliable Internet that they can muster if they expect to compete at work or be able to stream their favorite entertainment at home. Fortunately, Wi-Fi routers have allowed us to achieve faster speeds and DSL modems have allowed many people to have a faster, more stable connection than ancient dial-up technology once provided them.
Unfortunately, a Wi-Fi signal can be a bit finicky if everything isn’t set up correctly or if the router is placed in the wrong place in the home. To help everyone overcome these obstacles and come up with the best Wi-Fi connection they can, we’ve decided to write this guide on the subject. In this guide, we’re going to give our readers some of the most practical advice that we have on this subject, so everyone can achieve the fastest, most stable Internet connection that they can achieve.
Choose The Best Location
When it comes to Internet routers, location is key. Although Wi-Fi signals can pass through walls, if they have to travel through too many, then the signal can be more constrained and can fail to reach all of the devices in the home. That’s why the router should be placed in a centralized location where the signal can dissipate easily and don’t have to travel through too many walls.
The consumer should also make sure to slightly elevate the router. That’s because the signal travels from the router in not only laterally but also in a downward manner. Placing the router on a tall chest, or a shelf can allow the signal to move more easily throughout the home.
Try To Position The Antenna
If the router has an antenna, and not all of them do, then a person can also try to move the antenna to see what generates the best signal reception. Experts generally agree that having one antenna face outward horizontally and one antenna face out vertically generates the best signal.
Keep The Router Away From Electronics
Electronics generate interference that can significantly interfere with the signal from a router, so it’s important to keep the router away from electronics. This not only includes televisions but also includes the computer and the computer’s monitor. Move the router as far away from these devices as possible to ensure that the Wi-Fi signal isn’t disturbed by any electronic interference.
Change The Wireless Router Configuration
If a person is comfortable with changing their router’s configuration, they can do so using DD-WRT firmware. Using this software, the consumer can change the strength of their signal and sometimes even the speed. Best of all, this firmware is free to download.
Plan Your Wi-Fi Signal
Another thing that consumers can do is to place their router in the right location in their home. How does a person determine what’s the best location for their router? Well, they can download an App that measures the Wi-Fi signal in their home to determine where they should move their router to get the best signal. These Apps are also good for finding “dead zones” in the home that may need to be addressed using a repeater or a signal booster.
Ask The Provider To Run A Speed Test
This is particularly important for people who use DSL service, but anyone can benefit from a speed test on their service every once in a while to ensure a person that they’re getting the speeds they’re paying for. Many providers provide online tools that allow the consumer to test their own DS speed to determine if a problem is on the provider’s end or the consumer’s end.
DSL Users Replace Your Filter
For consumers who have a DSL modem, they may find out that poor Internet performance is due to DSL interference. Usually, DSL modems have a filter that goes between the modem and the landline telephone line to prevent line interference from disrupting the Internet connection. If the line doesn’t have a DSL filter, then the consumer should be sure to install one to ensure the best Internet speeds possible.
Change Router Wireless Channels
Another thing that a person can do to improve the strength of their signal is to change the channels on their wireless router. This is especially important for people who live in densely populated areas. Wi-Fi signals from other routers outside the home can interfere with the consumer’s router if they’re on the same Wi-Fi channel. In these instances, changing the router’s channel can have a huge difference in performance.
Reset The Router
Of course, sometimes an Internet issue can be solved by doing as something as simple as resetting a router. Most people should reset their router once a month to refresh their Internet connection, but some people who have frequent speed issues might have to reset their Internet connection once a day to keep their Internet speeds up.
Purchase A WiFi Extender
Another thing that a person can do is to purchase a WiFi extender. A WiFi extender can increase the strength of the WiFi signal and help boost performance. It can also increase the distance that devices can be placed away from the router and can eliminate Internet dead zones.
Keep Your Browser Clean
Although some people might not think about it too much, the cleanliness of a person’s browser can make a huge difference in Internet speed. That’s why the consumer should make sure that they clear their browser cache on a regular basis and that they do regular malware and virus scan on their computer. This will ensure that their computer is in the best possible condition and that there isn’t anything messing with the Internet connection.
In Conclusion
Anyone who follows all of the above tips is sure to increase their Internet speed and get the most out of their router. It doesn’t matter if a person is using cable Internet, or is using a DSL modem for DSL service, the above tips are sure to help them out.
