10 tips on how to improve your Wi-Fi signal

Are you having trouble with your Wi-Fi signal again?

Wireless signals can often drop out for no apparent reason, and therefore, getting frustrated with your internet connection can seem like second nature.

However, most of the time you’ll find that the issue isn’t with your internet connection itself, but the Wi-Fi signal being broadcast from your modem or router. It’s important to understand the difference!

Here are a few ways you can improve your Wi-Fi signal and performance of your modem/router.

1. Locate the best place for your modem router

If you’re a designer, having your router out in the open may clash with your aesthetic. But if you want and need the best Wi-Fi signal in your home, this is something you’ll just have to deal with it.

Make sure your modem/router is in the centre of your home so that you have the best possible coverage everywhere. If it doesn’t lay flat on a surface, consider elevating it and mounting it on a wall for better coverage. Most importantly, never place your modem/router behind another appliance, like a TV.

2. Try to avoid interference

Modem/routers have a number of elements at work against them as they are relying on wireless signals. Appliances in your home or office, like microwaves and cordless telephones, can interfere with the signal.

A dual-band modem router (meaning a device that has two Wi-Fi networks to connect to) can assist, but that’s not always the solution. It’s very important to try and keep your modem/router away from appliances to ensure you are getting the best Wi-Fi signal at all times.

3. Find the right Wi-Fi channel

The modem/routers in other buildings or nearby homes may also interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. Wireless routers can operate on a number of channels, so finding the right one will save you plenty of headaches.

You can try using a tool like Microsoft’s Wi-Fi Analyzer on your computer to locate the best channel and then log into your modem/router and change the channel on your Wi-Fi bands. You can test different Wi-Fi channels and see which channel works best for your devices and your home environment as this will always vary.

4. Keep your network secure

Your neighbours or people nearby who want to siphon your internet connection can mess with your signal if they know what they are doing. Make sure you lock down your network and enable password protection to prevent other people using your internet connection.

5. Control your bandwidth applications

There are certain applications that will use a lot of bandwidth, making it difficult for everyone else in your home to get a strong internet connection. Online gaming, HD and 4K Netflix, video chats and other applications should be put in order of Quality of Service (QoS). This will help you prioritize applications so the most important apps get the most bandwidth, therefore providing a better experience.

6. Increase your range

There are a few different things you can do to extend your Wi-Fi range. Getting yourself a mesh system to add on would be the best solution. A Wi-Fi mesh router will help your Wi-Fi connection stay strong in and around your home and is much recommended over a Wi-Fi range extender, which we find can cause other issues.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems usually consist of a main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of modules placed around your home to provide the best Wi-Fi coverage. They link together and form part of a single wireless network, so this means they share the same Wi-Fi name and password.

7. Set a reboot schedule

If you find yourself having to repeatedly reboot your modem/router from time to time, putting it on an automatic schedule can be helpful. Put it on a timer to reboot when you don’t usually use the internet (when you’re sleeping). This way, it will reboot on its own, and you won’t have to worry about interruptions to your Wi-Fi signal, especially if the modem/router is in a spot that is not easily accessible.

8. Avoid network overload

If you have a large family, chances are your network is being used triple time. When you are having an event, or one of the kids are having a study session, that’s the additional use of your Wi-Fi. This may cause your network to become overloaded, and devices will disconnect. One way to ease this problem is to take some devices off the network that you aren’t using. You can also use software that controls bandwidth to prevent dropping.

9. Get a new modem/router

If you’ve had your modem/router for a number of years, there’s no question – it’s probably outdated. You want to make sure you are capitalizing on your bandwidth, so getting an up-to-date router that is more efficient can work wonders.

10. Update your firmware or network driver

This is an easy fix. If you are experiencing issues and you have a fairly new router, update the network driver and the firmware on your device and you should be good to go.