Improve Your Wi-Fi Router’s Performance in 6 Easy Steps

Many households experience issues, such as weak signals or no connectivity, with their Wi-Fi signals. As we all know, being unable to connect or stay connected to your Wi-Fi signal can be exceptionally frustrating so finding ways to combat these issues is in your entire family’s best interest. Here are six steps to improving your Wi-Fi router’s performance and keeping your family happy:

 

1. Place your router at the center of your home.


Your router’s placement is the key to getting the best Wi-Fi connection. For an optimal connection, place the device at the center of your home; making sure it’s away from obstructions. Ideally, it should be somewhere out in the open rather than in a closet or enclosed space.

2. Shorten the distance between the router and wireless devices.


The further your router is from your wireless devices, the weaker the signal to these devices. As such, I recommend shortening the distance between your router and devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. If your home is large and the router’s Wi-Fi signal doesn’t reach all areas, a wireless range extender can help you solve your Wi-Fi woes.

 

3. Reduce wireless interference.


A number of devices and their signals can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. A common cause of signal interference, especially for those living in condo and apartment buildings, is neighbouring wireless networks. Other causes of signal interference include microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors.

 

There are a couple of things you can do to combat signal interference. For starters, you can change the channel on your router until you find one that gets a stronger signal. Failing that, try moving your router away from devices that can interfere with the signal, such as those I mentioned above.

 

4. Upgrade your firmware.


One of the easiest things you can do to optimize your wireless signal is to make sure that your router’s firmware is up to date. Manufacturers send updates through these updates that could improve your router’s performance so it’s important to make sure it’s up to date. For instructions on updating your router’s firmware, consult your device’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.

 

5. Increase your wireless security.


Even if you have a Wi-Fi password, it’s possible that someone is stealing your Wi-Fi signal, slowing things down. To ensure that your signal is safe from thieves, I recommend setting your wireless security mode to WEP, WPA, or WPA2.

 

6. Set up automatic restarts.


Restarting your wireless router often solves signal and connectivity issues so scheduling restarts can help keep things working well. You can do this using an outlet timer and scheduling it to turn off when you know you won’t be using the network, like in the middle of the night or during the workday.

By Mike Agerbo

August 28, 2018