There's never been a better time to make sure that you're getting the best Wi-Fi speeds possible at home. More and more of us are working from home these days , and that means your home's Wi-Fi networks are more important than ever. And let's face it -- we've already got enough to be stressed about.
The last thing you want to have to deal with is a WI-Fi signal that isn't up to snuff. And yet that's exactly the problem many of us are facing. In fact, the internet and cellular plan-tracking site Whistle Out surveyed hundreds of consumers who had recently transitioned to working or studying from home, and found that more than a third reported that a weak or nonexistent internet connection had prevented them from getting work done.
Fortunately, you've got options. Even if you don't know much about your router's settings or the best way to change them, there are still some easy steps you can take to ensure that your speeds are as fast as possible. And hey, no better time than a pandemic to pick up a few new tricks, right?
Read more : Researching internet providers? Here's the best ISPs of the year. If you're going to make changes to your home network, then you'll want to do so from an informed position. The best way to get there is to run some speed tests to get a good sense of any weak links in your Wi-Fi connection -- and there are plenty of free services on the web that'll help you do just that.
Among your options, the Ookla Speedtest is the most widely used and the one I'd recommend starting with. It features an abundance of worldwide servers, which lets you choose from several nearby options to measure the speed of your connection. And, like most speed tests, it's also really easy to use -- just click the big "go" button and wait about a minute.
From there, you'll get a look at the current upload and download speeds for whatever device you're running the speed test on, plus the ping, which is a latency measurement of how long it takes data to travel back and forth to whatever server you're testing with. Start by focusing on the download and upload speeds -- run a couple of tests at a time in various spots throughout your home where you'll be working and ballpark the average to get a sense of how your speeds hold up. If you're seeing download speeds that are less than half of what your internet plan allows for, or if your upload speeds are dramatically lower than your download speeds, then that might be a spot where you could improve things.
As for the latency, you shouldn't need to worry much about it unless you've got a lot of devices running on your network, or if you're sharing bandwidth with family members or roommates. In that case, run some tests while your roommate is on a FaceTime call or while your kids are playing Fortnite -- that'll give you a good sense of how their activity might be impacting your own speeds.
If that ping number seems to be jumping, there are some basic steps you can take , but the best thing to do if you can is to separate that side traffic from your own.
More on that in just a bit. Read more: Which internet speed test should you use to test your connection at home? If you're able to work in close proximity to your router, then a wired Ethernet connection to your computer is the best way to ensure that you're getting the fastest speeds. A former colleague at Pocketnow, Joe Levi, explains that Bluetooth devices, wireless peripherals and even some microwaves cause a lot of noise in the 2. To cut down on the noise and drop-offs, consider switching your router to 5GHz in the administrator panel.
If the option for both 2. If you live in a crowded neighborhood or in an apartment and share a lot of the same signal space with your neighbors, choosing the right channel can cut down on interference and help speed things up a bit.
For starters, channels 1, 6 and 11 are most frequently used in the 2. If you've switched to 5GHz, you have whole host of channels to choose from. The selection of channels varies by model. You can use an application like Wifi Analyzer on Android or WifiInfoView on Windows to analyze the nearby wireless signals and see which channels are being used the most.
Mac has this functionality built in. It's worth nothing that many newer routers will automatically choose the least crowded channel upon rebooting, so pulling the plug may also switch the channel to a less crowded one. If you're paying for fast home Internet and feel like you're not getting what you're paying for, the hardware on your end may be serving as a bottleneck.
Wireless and Internet technology have changed a great deal in the last decade, and many routers 5 or more years old do not support newer technology, such as Internet speeds in excess of Mbps. The easiest way to determine if your router is the culprit is to look up the model number and compare its specs with those of the Internet package from your ISP. Powerline network adapters are almost always the better option to extend your wireless network's reach.
However, they won't work across separate circuits. When you need to extend your network and power line network adapters won't do, the next best option is to put your old router to use and turn it into a wireless bridge.
This is rather involved and will usually require you to install custom firmware on your router. Not to mention, the network speeds will be dramatically cut. But it might be the only way -- short of running a wire -- to get Wi-Fi on the outer limits or your property.
If all else fails, consider calling your ISP. Yes, it's usually one of the most unpleasant things you can do with your time, but it could save you hours, days or weeks of future frustration.
If you've upgraded your Internet package and you're using hardware supplied by your service provider, they can get the right hardware in your hands. Without a newer modem and router, you may not experience the full effects of the free upgrade. If it's any other issue, they can usually help diagnose the problem and deploy a fix. Often, unfortunately, those solutions will come at the expense of your own purse. If that comes up short, you may need to rethink your Wi-Fi. A mesh network covers holes that can develop in your Wi-Fi system by literally creating a blanket of signal across your home.
When you first move into a new home or apartment, the modem is usually installed along the wall in one of the far reaches of the house. This is simply because that is where the line comes into the house and the technician's job is to set up the connection -- not optimize your network. That part is on you. It's tempting to just leave everything where the technician set it up. But it's unlikely that this is an optimal location to have your router.
Routers send the signal out in all directions, so if it's left in the corner of your home, a significant percentage of your wireless coverage is being sent outside your home. It's best to move the router to a central location to optimize the signal. Installing a router across the house from the modem may prove troublesome. It may require manually running a CAT5 cable under the floor or enlisting the help of powerline network adapters.
But the improved wireless coverage will be worth it. Routers tend to spread signals downward, so it's best to mount the router as high as possible to maximize coverage.
Try placing it high on a bookshelf or mounting it on the wall in an inconspicuous place. Try to pick a location that's away from other electronics and large metal objects.
The more walls, large obstructions and electronics near your router, the higher the chances are that something will interfere with the signal. One electronic to especially avoid is the microwave, which emits a strong signal in the 2. Some routers have no antenna at all, but some have up to eight. These antennas help direct the signal.
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