Indeed sometimes you feel that your home Internet connection is not going as fast as it should. Certainly, you think that the speed had reduced compared to the first days when your technician came to install your Internet. In these cases, we don’t know what to do and hope magic will solve the problem.
You don’t have to be a technician or know anything about telecommunications. If you want data, studies tell us that a user can lose 65% of the speed for reasons that have nothing to do with the contracted operator but with details in your own home.
Here are some tips to increase WiFi speed, signal, and stability without spending any money.
Check if What You Think is True
Yes, it is obvious, but it is better to check it and take appropriate measures. You have some interesting free tools on the Net that allow you to check your speed and view the data related to your upload and download activities. We leave them to you:
However, think about what speed you have acquired. We have plans tailored to the needs of our customers for a reason. That is, do not let the price guide you.
A home with only one person who consults the Internet from time to time on their computer is not the same as a family of five members in which everyone connects simultaneously through different devices (tablet, mobile, console, computer, etc.). Remember to hire the pack that your house needs based on your requirements.
The Router is the Nerve Center of your Signal
Yes, we can say that it is the essential element for our Internet connection. And since it is not a very aesthetic gadget, we usually hide it in the least visible corners, a lousy option. The main reason our WiFi signal reaches us poorly is typically the router’s location. Here are some tips on this aspect:
The best option is to place it in the center of the house so the signal arrives adequately and equitably. It is also an excellent option to hang it on the wall or place it in a high location.
Any obstacle impedes the correct transmission of the signal.
- Some electrical appliances (emitting waves) can cause interference and make the network unstable. Then keep it away from microwaves, cordless phones, areas with many cables or halogen bulbs, etc.
- The antennas must be placed correctly, and it is not recommended to put both up (although it is more aesthetic). One should be placed horizontally and the other vertically, at a 90-degree angle.
- The coverage on our devices will improve, and they will not suffer when they move away from the router.
- Restart the router from time to time. Yes, it seems like a childish solution, but it usually has immediate effects.
Update Devices and Don’t Overfill the Network
On many occasions, our WiFi speed has nothing to do with our router but the device that receives the signal. If, for example, we have an old and outdated smartphone, the phone will not take advantage of all the signal that reaches it, no matter how powerful it is.
- If you are not using network-consuming devices, please turn them off.
- Perhaps someone is taking something that is not yours.
- It is not very common anymore, but who knows if one of your neighbors is more intelligent than you thought.
To check that they are not “stealing” your signal, you can open the browser, enter 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, and see the list of devices connected to your network. If you see one that is not yours, you know.
It takes care to set up your router with passwords that are hard to hack, but if you change it to something simpler (easy to remember), you can have uninvited guests taking up your bandwidth.
With these tips, you will surely be able to improve the quality of your signal without having technical knowledge or spending money. Another thing to consider is whether you want to take it a step further by managing and configuring your connection internally, or if you want to invest a little money in expanding your signal. In this case, you also have options that will improve the quality of your Wi-Fi… Pay attention:
- You can buy a repeater to amplify the signal (or a second router), an attractive option for homes with many obstacles.
- Get a directional antenna, which allows you to direct the signal where you are interested.
Change the router’s channel to prevent it from overlapping with other signals. Typically, the router chooses the least crowded channel, but if you don’t trust it, you can do it yourself.
Connect via a Cable
Update the router’s firmware. Some routers do this process automatically, but others require you to do it yourself.
You can complete all these steps if you have some technical knowledge. In any case, make a backup copy of the factory settings. Don’t touch anything you don’t understand, or you could mess up your entire network, making the problem much worse.
