5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Home WiFi
By: Darren Chu
These days, there is nothing more frustrating than dealing with choppy video feeds or sound that cuts in and out during a video conference call. Or trying to send and receive files, and having to wait while they transfer...slowly.
As Internet users, we know it’s never perfect, but there are ways to get more out of your home WiFi network without having to upgrade your Internet speed.
1. Location, Location, Location
The first and easiest way to maximize your home WiFi is to make sure your router (or modem-router combo if you just have the one device) is located centrally in your home. This will provide you with the most coverage throughout your house without the need to add boosters or a mesh network. The quick explanation is that as a device’s distance from the router doubles, the signal strength decreases by a factor of 8.
For some, this might not be possible. Depending on the kind of Internet service you have, whether that’s cable, DSL, or fibre, you might be limited to the location of wall jacks. If that’s the case, just make sure your router is out in the open, and away from other electronic devices that broadcast (cordless phones, baby monitors, wireless audio systems). We know routers aren’t the most “stylish” devices, but hiding them away in entertainment units or cabinets actually reduces the WiFi signal strength.
2. It Doesn’t Hert(z) to Think About Frequency
Now that you’ve adjusted the location of your router, let’s talk about frequencies. Most older routers are single-band which means they only broadcast on a 2.4 GHz (gigahertz) frequency band. Newer routers are often dual-band which allows them to broadcast on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. Dual-band routers enable you to have 2 WiFi networks, one for each band.To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with a single-band router; the 2.4 GHz band is pretty reliable over longer distances so it should be fine for covering your entire home’s WiFi needs. This frequency uses longer waves so it works better for getting through walls and floors, which makes it ideal for smartphone use when you might be moving around the house.
The 5 GHz band is a little faster but is less effective over longer distances, which means it is better suited to nearby devices that need WiFi access. If your router is in your living room, this means the 5 GHz band would be great for smart TVs, streaming boxes, and gaming systems.
An easy way to think about it is to spread your devices out across both frequency bands to reduce competition for the same access. This is like routing cars down parallel roads to reduce congestion.
3. Change that Channel
WiFi networks can also become overcrowded, this is especially true for customers who live in high-density housing like apartments or condos. When there are multiple overlapping WiFi signals on the same frequency, this can cause variations in stability and reliability of signal strength. In order to reduce the impact of interfering WiFi signals, you can change the channels on the routers. You might need to refer to your router’s manual on how to do this, but it can have quite significant results if done correctly.
When connecting to the 2.4GHz frequency band, the channels range from 1 to 14. The best channels to use are 1, 6, and 11 because they don’t overlap and therefore provide the best results. For the 5 GHz frequency, there are 25 channels ranging from 36 to 165 (165 is reserved for military use). The best channels to use are 36, 40, 44, and 48.
4. Stop Hogging my Bandwidth
Another strategy we recommend is to power down devices that also use WiFi when they’re not in use. This is kind of like “phantom power” for electricity; a device might be off, but it’s still consuming tiny amounts of power all the time. WiFi-enabled devices are also using up tiny bits of bandwidth even though you might not be using them.This is especially true of smart home devices that are tied to your smartphone. If ever there was a time to disable the smart home devices you normally use to keep an eye on your home while you’re at work, now would be it.
5. Time for an Upgrade
Finally, if your router is a little older, it might be time to invest in a new one or contact your ISP to see if they can upgrade your current model. You’ll want to make sure your router is no more than three to five years old.If your ISP can provide you with an upgrade, that’s great. If not, look for models that are dual-band and are defined as 802.11ac (the “ac” is the important part). These routers are backwards compatible with older models like 802.11n.
Just bear in mind that routers will boast max speeds, but your router cannot make your Internet speed faster than what you are paying for in your Internet plan; it will simply maximize the bandwidth you’re already getting.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for improving your home WiFi, but hopefully, with these tips, you can get the most out of your home network. Happy surfing!