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Bad Wi-Fi Signal? 4 Easy Ways to Boost the Range of Your Home Network

When it comes to Wi-Fi, the most common complaint most users have is a reduction in connection speed when using their wireless home network – and it’s a complaint that’s on the increase, thanks to drastic change in the way we use the internet today – with the advent on video streaming, online gaming and other, data-intensive content.

This can of course be incredibly annoying – with each of us relying on the internet more and more – which is why we’ve put together a list of 4 easy ways to rectify this problem, helping to increase the performance and range of your wireless network with minimal effort.

  1. Update Your Routers Firmware

The very first step you should take is to update your routers firmware – the software that is used to control and make it function – as often manufacturers will make periodic updates, designed to increase the performance and range.

For the non-tech savvy, this may seem like a daunting task – don’t despair, as most leading router manufacturers have got you covered – with it most modern router firmware being upgradable at the click of a button, through the devices web interface.

Before taking this step, please be sure to consult your routers manual or the manufacturers websites for specific details on how to upgrade your routers firmware.

It’s worth noting that Wi-Fi technology has come a long way – if you’re current router is a few years old it could be worth replacing it altogether – that doesn’t mean forking out for the best Wi-Fi router on the market, just one that supports the latest 802.11ac protocol would do the trick.

  1. Change Wi-Fi Frequency

Another easy fix to speed up your Wi-Fi is to change the frequency of your network if you have a dual-band router – from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz – as networks on the higher frequency tend to offer greater speed and bandwidth.

Switching frequencies can also help to address another problem, common for many home wireless networks – interference from other networks and devices that use the same band – something that can impeed data transfer speeds considerably.

Just like updating your routers firmware – you should be able to switch frequencies through the devices web interface at the click of a button – but again, make sure to refer to your routers manual or manufacturers website before attempting to make this change.

  1. Reposition your Router

Where you put your router can have a huge impact on the range and speed of your wireless network – with walls, particularly those made of reinforced concrete or metal, furniture and other obstructions, all working to diminish signal strength.

Other things to note are that your wireless router should be placed in an open area, at a reasonable height – not tucked away on the floor, in the corner of a room – to give it the best change of relaying a clear signal. If your router has external antennas – which most routers do these days – ensuring that these are put into an upward position, pointing towards the ceiling, can have a positive impact of Wi-Fi signal strength.

If you’re not sure where to reposition your router, there are now a good number of free Wi-Fi signal mobile apps that can help you to test your wireless network and identify dead spots – indispensable tools when trying to maximize Wi-Fi network range and performance.

  1. Get Yourself a Wi-Fi Range Booster

If all else fails, it’s time to look at investing in a wireless signal booster a device that can be placed strategically throughout your home, often into existing wall sockets, to eliminate Wi-Fi dead-spots by increasing the range of your existing wireless network.  

Wi-Fi boosters are incredibly easy to setup and use – with most supporting WPS, allowing you to connect the device to your network with the click of a button – and typically don’t require any further configuration, working right out of the box.

These devices are inexpensive – with there now being a wide range of Wi-Fi Boosters under £50 on the market – offering a wide variety in terms of speed and range, depending on the needs of your own network.

Final Thoughts

Performance of home wireless networks is a problem we have all faced at one point – some of us more often than others – however there’s no need to suffer with poor speed and range, as we’ve demonstrated in our list, as wireless signal strength can be improved following these 4, easy to implement steps. Good luck, and happy networking.