A Wi-Fi connection can be very difficult and fickle. One minute you enjoy a fantastic connection and a moment later your stream will stick. Recognizable things that we have all had before. Fortunately, there are also plenty of solutions that allow you to tackle most problems. With these 7 tips you will come a long way when you want to improve your wireless connection in and around your home.
Before we start the solutions, it is important to know what factors you are dealing with. Things to consider when optimizing your connection. A list of factors you probably knew, but good to think about again.
Distance from router to device - Most people use the wifi router they received from the internet provider. These are often simple devices with the simplest hardware. This also means that antennas are used here that are not high-tech and cannot bridge large distances. Distance is a factor that annoys many people when connecting to Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi obstacles - Wireless connections can be partially or even completely blocked by obstacles. For example, you can have objects in your home that absorb a part of your connection, such as walls and ceilings. But other objects in your home can even block a complete connection. This can be due to, for example, an aquarium or a certain type of pipe that is incorporated in the wall. Especially 5Ghz networks suffer from obstacles.
Frequencies - Like other wireless equipment, Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies. When you have multiple frequencies in the house, they can disturb each other. For example, a baby monitor can cause a poor Wi-Fi connection, but also microwaves and walkie-talkies have a bad influence on the radio waves of your Wi-Fi connection.
Bad hardware - The standard router you receive from your internet provider is sufficient for an average Dutchman. If you want to get more out of your Wi-Fi, you better buy your own hardware. Most routers that are on the market today are many times better than the standard router of the provider. By improving your hardware and possibly expanding it, you can achieve quick results.
Provider - When you are sure that you have a perfect wireless network in-house, it is time to check whether your internet provider adheres to the agreements made. It is possible that there is a bad connection from the outside in your house. You can't even change anything about this. All you can do is contact the provider and discuss your issues. The connection will then be tested by the provider and possibly a mechanic will be sent to solve it.
Enough about the factors to consider when optimizing your Wi-Fi connection. In short, you now know the most common things that can cause your Wi-Fi connection to be not good. Time to solve it!
Not every place in the house is equally well suited for placing a router. It is not wise to place the router in a place with metal objects nearby. Metal is the biggest disruptor of a Wi-Fi signal. Especially if they also send radio waves that disrupt other frequencies. Other materials can also disrupt the Wi-Fi signal, but to a much lesser extent. It is best to place a wifi router in an open space centrally in your home. The meter box, the most common place where a router is located, is not the right place to put this device down. It is full of metals, is behind a closed door and is often not central to your home. If you do not know which place is best, you can always move your router and test which location ensures the best connection.
As with your smartphone, other devices should also be updated regularly with the latest software. This also applies to your router. The software that a router uses can be outdated and no longer function properly. This will ensure a worse Wi-Fi connection. By always installing the latest software you can be sure that this does not cause problems. Also, installing updates is important to keep your Wi-Fi safe. Software updates mainly exist also security updates and ensure that no one can get unwanted on your network.
Adjust your antennas well or buy powerful antennas
Most wifi routers come with small, weak antennas. It's not that manufacturers want to save every penny, but powerful Wi-Fi antennas are usually hideously large. This does not alter the fact that it is important to aim the antennas correctly. You get the best result by spreading them and aiming them up. When your router is hanging down on the wall with the antennas down, you will experience poor Wi-Fi signal. Compared to the antenna that comes with your router, which is probably only a few centimeters long and has about 4 dB reinforcement, a 10 dB antenna can be anywhere between 10 and 15 centimeters long. If you don’t mind the size, a new, powerful Wi-Fi antenna is a great way to amplify Wi-Fi at home without having to buy a new router.
Wifi uses different channels. You can compare this to lanes on a highway. When everyone starts driving on the same lane, you will get congestion and there will be no traffic, but only standing still. This is exactly the same with data. If everyone in your area sends Wi-Fi signal over the same channel, you will experience a poor connection. By changing the channel of your Wi-Fi in the router and testing which one works best, you will see quick results. All Wi-Fi routers supplied by an Internet service provider are set to the same default channel. If no one in your neighborhood changes this channel, all traffic is therefore over the same lane and you get traffic jams (data congestion).
When you have tried everything and nothing works, you better buy extra hardware to improve your Wi-Fi. First, you can replace the provider’s router for its own more powerful type. Most routers you can buy in the store are many times better than the standard thing of the provider. This will make your wireless connection much better, more stable and larger. If you have a big house and really want wifi everywhere, placing Wi-Fi amplifiers can certainly help you. There are several types of boosters available that provide a larger wireless network. For a stable network, it is best to choose access points. If you do not have internet cables at your disposal, choose repeaters.
Wireless internet can be difficult to install and optimize properly. For some people, it is wise to leave the job to an expert. For an IT specialist, it is easy to set up a solid wireless network. Within a few hours you will enjoy fast internet everywhere in the house. Certainly adjusting and setting up equipment properly can be tricky when you don’t know what everything means. Engaging an expert is sometimes the quickest solution.
What you have to take into account
Before we start the solutions, it is important to know what factors you are dealing with. Things to consider when optimizing your connection. A list of factors you probably knew, but good to think about again.
Distance from router to device - Most people use the wifi router they received from the internet provider. These are often simple devices with the simplest hardware. This also means that antennas are used here that are not high-tech and cannot bridge large distances. Distance is a factor that annoys many people when connecting to Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi obstacles - Wireless connections can be partially or even completely blocked by obstacles. For example, you can have objects in your home that absorb a part of your connection, such as walls and ceilings. But other objects in your home can even block a complete connection. This can be due to, for example, an aquarium or a certain type of pipe that is incorporated in the wall. Especially 5Ghz networks suffer from obstacles.
Frequencies - Like other wireless equipment, Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies. When you have multiple frequencies in the house, they can disturb each other. For example, a baby monitor can cause a poor Wi-Fi connection, but also microwaves and walkie-talkies have a bad influence on the radio waves of your Wi-Fi connection.
Bad hardware - The standard router you receive from your internet provider is sufficient for an average Dutchman. If you want to get more out of your Wi-Fi, you better buy your own hardware. Most routers that are on the market today are many times better than the standard router of the provider. By improving your hardware and possibly expanding it, you can achieve quick results.
Provider - When you are sure that you have a perfect wireless network in-house, it is time to check whether your internet provider adheres to the agreements made. It is possible that there is a bad connection from the outside in your house. You can't even change anything about this. All you can do is contact the provider and discuss your issues. The connection will then be tested by the provider and possibly a mechanic will be sent to solve it.
Enough about the factors to consider when optimizing your Wi-Fi connection. In short, you now know the most common things that can cause your Wi-Fi connection to be not good. Time to solve it!
Choose the right place for your router
Not every place in the house is equally well suited for placing a router. It is not wise to place the router in a place with metal objects nearby. Metal is the biggest disruptor of a Wi-Fi signal. Especially if they also send radio waves that disrupt other frequencies. Other materials can also disrupt the Wi-Fi signal, but to a much lesser extent. It is best to place a wifi router in an open space centrally in your home. The meter box, the most common place where a router is located, is not the right place to put this device down. It is full of metals, is behind a closed door and is often not central to your home. If you do not know which place is best, you can always move your router and test which location ensures the best connection.
Updating your hardware
As with your smartphone, other devices should also be updated regularly with the latest software. This also applies to your router. The software that a router uses can be outdated and no longer function properly. This will ensure a worse Wi-Fi connection. By always installing the latest software you can be sure that this does not cause problems. Also, installing updates is important to keep your Wi-Fi safe. Software updates mainly exist also security updates and ensure that no one can get unwanted on your network.
Adjust your antennas well or buy powerful antennas
Most wifi routers come with small, weak antennas. It's not that manufacturers want to save every penny, but powerful Wi-Fi antennas are usually hideously large. This does not alter the fact that it is important to aim the antennas correctly. You get the best result by spreading them and aiming them up. When your router is hanging down on the wall with the antennas down, you will experience poor Wi-Fi signal. Compared to the antenna that comes with your router, which is probably only a few centimeters long and has about 4 dB reinforcement, a 10 dB antenna can be anywhere between 10 and 15 centimeters long. If you don’t mind the size, a new, powerful Wi-Fi antenna is a great way to amplify Wi-Fi at home without having to buy a new router.
Switch between Wi-Fi channels
Wifi uses different channels. You can compare this to lanes on a highway. When everyone starts driving on the same lane, you will get congestion and there will be no traffic, but only standing still. This is exactly the same with data. If everyone in your area sends Wi-Fi signal over the same channel, you will experience a poor connection. By changing the channel of your Wi-Fi in the router and testing which one works best, you will see quick results. All Wi-Fi routers supplied by an Internet service provider are set to the same default channel. If no one in your neighborhood changes this channel, all traffic is therefore over the same lane and you get traffic jams (data congestion).
Extra hardware places
When you have tried everything and nothing works, you better buy extra hardware to improve your Wi-Fi. First, you can replace the provider’s router for its own more powerful type. Most routers you can buy in the store are many times better than the standard thing of the provider. This will make your wireless connection much better, more stable and larger. If you have a big house and really want wifi everywhere, placing Wi-Fi amplifiers can certainly help you. There are several types of boosters available that provide a larger wireless network. For a stable network, it is best to choose access points. If you do not have internet cables at your disposal, choose repeaters.
Professional help
Wireless internet can be difficult to install and optimize properly. For some people, it is wise to leave the job to an expert. For an IT specialist, it is easy to set up a solid wireless network. Within a few hours you will enjoy fast internet everywhere in the house. Certainly adjusting and setting up equipment properly can be tricky when you don’t know what everything means. Engaging an expert is sometimes the quickest solution.