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Have you felt frustrated trying to upload a file to the cloud, but it just couldn't? Or your browser keeps on spinning without loading the page you want, and you are unable to stream your favorite movie?
Today, most internet connections are instant. If your Wi-Fi is sluggish, it is time to think of ways to speed up the wireless connection.
With millions of people with wireless devices using Wi-Fi connections globally, there is a need to boost your WiFi connection speed for better experiences.
How can you improve the internet speed? Here are a few steps that you can employ.
Do WiFi Boosters Boost Your WiFi Speed?
WiFi boosters, also known as WiFi extenders (best WiFi extender for gaming) are primarily used to fill dead spots and boost the wireless signal strength in such spots.
However, they are also instrumental in enhancing WiFi speed for better experiences while streaming your movies, uploading files, etc.
For example, if your wireless router is on the first floor of your house, you can have a WiFi booster or extender on other parts of the house to boost the WiFi Signals. This will be helpful in areas with big walls and obstructions that may impede the WiFi strength.
How Can I Increase My Wi-Fi Speed at Home?
Before you can think of ways to improve your WiFi signal, first take an internet speed test. This will help you know the speed you have and compare it with the speed you get after each Wi-Fi speed boost.
After the speed test, compare the results with the speed of your internet you expect from your internet service provider. You can get the speed from your online provider on your internet bill or your online account. This will help you know if you need to subscribe to a faster internet speed plan or your router is underperforming. In addition, here's the best internet provider service review we published recently and this post on the fastest internet speed.
If the speeds of the internet are around where they should be, and you still have low-speed issues, you are likely overwhelming your connection, and you may need to subscribe to a faster plan. Also, read this post to find out why your internet speed fluctuates.
Why Is Your Wi-Fi Signal Slow?
There are several contributors to a slow internet connection. These can include physical barriers such as walls and other physical structures that affect the wireless signals. The speed can also be affected by the distance between other electronics or gadgets using the Wi-Fi network and the access points.
A simple activity such as adjusting the router's height can also help boost the speed of the internet.
Ensure you consult with your internet service provider to ensure you get the ideal package for your connectivity needs.
The main factors that affect your Wi-Fi signal speed include the number of devices connected to the router, the wireless router's placement, and its technology.
Ways to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signals
Turn the Modem, Router, and Other Devices On and Off
Everything needs a break from time to time. As such, it will help to turn off your devices to give them a break. This includes the wireless router, modem, baby monitors or camera, mobile phones, and the devices you've connected to the Wi-Fi network.
The modem translates internet signals between your internet provider and your home. If you are experiencing some speed issues with the Wi-Fi, you can start troubleshooting your modem. A simple power cycle can help in resetting your modem. Other times you may need to contact your ISP to ensure your modem is calibrated correctly with your ISP's best signal.
Turning your router off and on helps to clear its memory and give it a fresh start.
Turning your home equipment on and off will help a lot in boosting speed of your internet. It will be ideal to boost the equipment once in a few months.
Ensure You Are on the Right Frequency Band
Modern wireless routers use two radio frequency bands which include 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Your choice of band for your connections will determine the quality of your connection and speed at different distances from the router.
The 2.4GHz band is used for Wi-Fi connection, but it is also used for other wireless communications, making the airwaves overcrowded. The 2.4GHz band also has a slower max speed than the 5 GHz.
The two frequencies appear as two different frequencies. Therefore, you should ensure you disconnect from the incorrect frequency and uplink to the correct ones.
The 2.4 GHz connection is best for smart home devices, smart cameras, cordless phones and smart speakers. The 5 GHz connection is best for smart TVs, smartphones, gaming consoles, and PCs.
If you can choose or make switching between 2.4GHz and 5GHz, go for it. 8 out of 12 Look for an empty channel. With so many people sharing the same signal area in a congested neighborhood or apartment, choosing the right channel can help reduce interference and speed things up.
Replace Your Equipment
Your modem and router are responsible for all your internet connections. If one of the gadgets is not up to the task, it may slow down your internet connection.
If your router is out of date, buying a new router will be an excellent idea. If you rent a gateway from your ISP, you can also request new equipment if yours is out of date instead of buying new equipment.
However, buying the best modem and router combo may save you money over time than renting. Buying your equipment also gives you control over the speed, security, and features you want in your equipment.
A Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 router will be an excellent pick for modern routers.
Extend the Wi-Fi Network
Is your router in a central point, but you are still experiencing issues with your internet connection? If yes, it's time to get a device to help stretch your network range.
Some of the gadgets you can use to extend your network connection include:
- Powerline extenders: the kits come with connectors that help you connect to your router using an ethernet cable and an outlet. Then connect the second device where you want a better Wi-Fi connection, and the Wi-Fi signals will travel through the electrical wiring in your house.
- Mesh Wi-Fi systems: With Mesh Network, you can also replace your router with gadgets that work together to create a wireless network that covers your house from various APN.
- Wired access points: you can connect to wired connection via an ethernet cable and distribute Wi-Fi and LAN signals as extensions of your router. You can also use an old router as an access point, among other gadgets.
- Wi-Fi signal boosters: Wi-Fi boosters come between your routers and the dead zone or spots in your home due to walls and obstructions. The boosters, range extender or wi-fi repeater help to redistribute existing Wi-Fi signals or amplify them to the new area. Installing external antennas to your wifi could also help with increasing the WIFI speed.
Upgrade to a Faster Internet
When your internet is acting slow, sometimes it's not a matter of dead zones, outdated equipment, or other obstructions.
It can be that your internet subscription is not sufficient for all your connectivity needs. If your internet subscription package is not sufficient for your consumption, you need to connect to a faster internet plan.
This will enhance the internet speeds and network performance.
Change the Wi-Fi Frequency Band
Besides making sure your connections are on the correct frequency band, you can also change your channel's frequency band.
There are a few different channels within a frequency band, and your router will automatically choose one for you though they sometimes choose wrong.
Frequency channels can also get crowded, so if you are using the same 2.4 GHz frequency band with your neighbors, you may experience speed issues.
If you want to change your Wi-Fi to the best frequency band, you'll need to log into your router's online interface. You can type the router's IP address of your router on a web browser and then log in using the admin username and password. After logging in, check the router settings and look for the option to change your band channel.
Limit Your Devices and Optimize Settings
The Wi-Fi speed can also be affected by the number of gadgets and activities. For instance, if you are conducting video games, streaming videos and movies, and playing online games, all at the same time, multiple connected gadgets can affect your Wi-Fi speed.
Some routers come with Quality of Service (QoS) settings that prioritizes which apps access the internet first. For example, if you hold online meetings a lot, you can prioritize video calls.
You should also ensure that your router runs on the latest software for its drivers and firmware. Most routers have an automatic update process, but you can also access the router's settings to update the firmware.
You also have the choice of fine-tuning your router's channel selection. Most routers run on channel 6 by default. Your neighbors' router can also be running on the same channel 6, which can cause congestion in that channel due to the large number of connected gadgets on the channel.
You can use a Wi-Fi scanner or wifi analyzer to check the channel with more internet bandwidth which offers you better internet speed.
Conclusion
Today, you can do almost everything using the internet, including making video calls, streaming movies, attend online classes, conduct conferences, etc. As such, it will be frustrating if you are struggling with low a speed of the internet. If you want to boost your WiFi speed, the above tips can be helpful.
FAQs
1. Can WiFi booster increase speed?
WiFi boosters are devices that amplify the signal of a wireless network. By increasing the signal strength, WiFi boosters can theoretically increase the speed of the network. However, in practice this is not always the case. The speed of a wireless network is affected by a number of factors, including the quality of the signal, the number of devices using the network, and the distance between the devices and the router.
2. Does having 2 routers increase Internet speed?
The addition of routers does not affect the speed of your internet, which is determined by your service plan. However, if you have a single router or second router at home, they will assist your workplace or home network in optimizing and utilization of the Internet Service Provider-assigned speed (ISP).
3. Why is my WiFi so slow?
The most likely explanation for your slow WiFi is that there is too much traffic on the network. When multiple devices are trying to use the same network at the same time, it can cause a slowdown in performance. You can try to improve your WiFi's speed by moving closer to the router or by using a wired connection instead of WiFi.
4. Is there a device to increase Internet speed?
Any gadget that boosts or expands a wireless network is referred to as a WiFi booster. However, numerous WiFi boosters operate in radically different ways. This means that certain WiFi boosters will perform better than others. WiFi signal boosters are classified into two types: repeaters and extenders.
5. Does Aluminum foil increase WiFi speed?
There has been some speculation that using aluminum foil can actually improve your WiFi signal. This is because the aluminum foil is said to act as a reflector of the signal, sending it back towards your device in a more concentrated form. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim, and in fact, some experts believe that using aluminum foil could actually have the opposite effect and slow your WiFi down.