How to Boost your WiFi Signal Strength at Home
Looking for ways to boost your WiFi signal strength?
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to work from home, do online shopping or just browse social media, and the connection drops out. You blame your internet connection, but the culprit may actually be your WiFi signal. A weak signal can cause a slow connection, or none at all.
So how can you fix this common issue? Try these easy at-home tips for improving your WiFi strength.
Place Your Modem Or Router In A Central Location
Yes, a WiFi router isn’t the most stylish accessory to have out on the shelf. But hiding your modem or router away can slow down your speed. If you want the best WiFi signal possible, having your router out in the open and in a central location within your house is vital. You can even elevate it by mounting it on a wall for boosted signal.
Avoid Other Appliances
Our homes are full of appliances, but did you know that they can interfere with the signal of your WiFi? Make sure that the location of your router is away from microwaves, televisions, cordless telephones, and other appliances.
Find The Right Channel
Your neighbours probably have their own WiFi modem set up – and they may be experiencing the same problems that you are. Modems and routers in nearby homes, even other buildings, can interfere with yours. Luckily, wireless routers operate on a number of channels. Finding a new one is easy using Microsoft’s WiFi Analyser tool.
Use Password Protections
We all like to take advantage of free WiFi when we’re out and about, but you don’t want your home internet being used by others! Make sure you’re locking down your network and using a password to access your WiFi, so neighbours and people nearby can’t siphon your connection.
Set A Reboot Schedule
Rebooting your modem or router can solve connection problems but doing this often is annoying and can be disruptive to your daily internet use. Try putting it on an automatic schedule instead. An overnight automatic reboot won’t interrupt your WiFi usage and will keep your modem running smoothly.
Limit Your Network Users
We get it – everyone needs access to the internet, and in a house with a lot of people, this can cause problems. But multiple devices on the network can cause it to become overloaded, making it slower for everyone. If you have devices that are connected to the network that aren’t being used, consider removing them when not in use.
Prioritise Your Applications
Some applications use a lot more bandwidth than others. If you’re struggling to work or study at home because someone else is watching Netflix all day, it might be time to have a tough conversation. Online gaming and video conferencing uses a lot of bandwidth, so if you find that your connection isn’t very strong, you can try limiting your use of these applications, or scheduling certain times for use.
Buy A New Modem or Router
It might just be that your modem or router is outdated. For faster WiFi and a stronger connection, invest in a more modern router. It may cost you some money, but will save you a lot of time and frustration!
Investigate A New Broadband Supplier
When all else fails, it might be time to change your broadband provider or plan. Consistently slow WiFi is annoying – and should be easily avoided given the wide variety of providers and plans on the market. Now might just be the time t