Posted in:

10 Tips For Better Home Wi-Fi

You don’t have to suffer through slow internet speeds, weak connections or navigate around Wi-Fi dead zones. You can do something about it and often the best solution is the simplest solution that has been overlooked this whole time. From improperly placed routers, to ancient technology and microwaves; all these things can negatively affect your Wi-Fi. No matter your internet provider, whether it be Frontier, Verizon, MetroNet, AT&T or Earthlink home internet, for the very best Wi-Fi, check out these 10 tips for better home Wi-Fi. In these tips we’ll explain possible problem areas and what you can do to fix them so you can enjoy better Wi-Fi in no time.

  1. Choose A Centralized Place For Your Router

When setting up your Wi-Fi network, the best place for your router to be is where you will be using your Wi-Fi the most, while placing it as close as possible to the middle of your home. This might be a juggling act to pull off, but doing so will give you the best possible signal where you need it the most.

  1. Unstuff Your Router From The Corner Of A Room

Are you guilty of stuffing your router in the corner of a room? Pause what you’re doing right now and unstuff it from the corner. Pull your router out as far as it will go away from the floor and wall for an immediate improvement.

  1. Keep Your Router Away From Signal Blockers & Interrupters

Wi-Fi signal blockers and interrupters are all through our homes. To make the most of your Wi-Fi, try to keep your router far away from them as much as possible. Household items like microwaves, baby monitors, large appliances, cordless phones, TVs, and fish tanks can seriously cut down your router’s range and create Wi-Fi dead spots if not avoided enough.

  1. Change The Channel

If you’re experiencing major interference, just change the channel. You can change the channel your router operates on to one that is less crowded. This happens most frequently in urban areas or places where there are a lot of Wi-Fi networks in close proximity like apartment complexes and condos. Luckily not many people do this so you have a good chance of severely cutting down interference if your neighbors are truly the problem. The unlucky part is some channels overlap with other channels so it may take a few tries before it’s successful.

  1. Keep Your Router’s Firmware Updated

Make sure your Wi-Fi’s firmware is up to date and recheck it often to ensure that it remains up to date. Router manufacturers will release firmware updates from time to time to fix known issues that when fixed can seriously improve the performance of your router. The easiest way to check if your router’s firmware is up to date is to download the manufacturer’s mobile app and use it.

  1. Put A Password On Your Network

If your Wi-Fi network does not have a password on it, stop reading and start putting one on your network right now. Password protecting your Wi-Fi will keep unwanted guests off your network, freeing up bandwidth for your devices and it keeps them safer from prying eyes.

  1. Purchase An Upgraded Router

If your router is old as dirt or you’ve been leasing your router for as long as you can remember, it’s time to purchase an upgraded router. Like other forms of technology, Wi-Fi technology is constantly evolving and using several years old technology is causing you to miss out on faster internet speeds.

  1. Purchase A Better Internet Plan

Like everyone says, you get what you pay for and the same holds true for your internet. If your internet speeds are consistently poor it may be time to upgrade your internet plan to faster download and upload speeds. Depending on where you live and what your internet provider has available, simply upgrading your plan might not be so easy. If your internet provider doesn’t have a faster internet plan to subscribe to, it’s time to shop around and see what other internet providers will service your home.

  1. Purchase Newer Devices

If you have ancient devices using your Wi-Fi they can slow your network down for everyone else. Unfortunately your Wi-Fi network can only be as strong as its slowest device. If you’re using an old device that’s several Wi-Fi generations old, it’s time to pony up the dough and invest in some newer devices.

  1. Put The QoS Settings To Good Use

If everything so far on our list has been top notch, it’s time to put your Quality of Service settings to good use. You can find them within your router’s settings and from there you can set device prioritization rules for the activities or devices that mean the most to you.