Internet connections have come a long way in speed, connectivity, and quality since the dial-up modem of the ’90s. Who could ever forget the days of that horrible screeching sound or those annoying, constantly dropped connections? Worst of all, if you did get a connection, there was the constant wait for a web page to load, only to have the connection, you guessed it, drop again midway through. Thankfully, the introduction of WiFi improved all of those enraging problems we used to have with the Internet.
However, since we are never quite satisfied with the way things are, modern day wireless internet has posed its own set of problems today. Surprisingly, these new problems seem to be a slower internet connection, dropped connectivity, and range of availability (go figure?!). Won’t we ever be satisfied? So here are some helpful tips on how you can get the most out of your connection and make your WiFi work faster and reach farther.
Replace Your Old Router
Router performance has greatly improved over the past few years. This is why you can solve a lot of the problems you experience with a poor wifi by simply upgrading your router.
This is especially true in the case of those who use a router supplied by their internet carrier, which isn’t always the best unit available for the price. You can normally find inexpensive, decent WiFi routers outside of your internet provider. Thus, this makes replacing your old outdated router a non-issue.
Buying a router from your internet provider can sometimes mean getting average quality at an exuberant price.
Source: acma.gov.au
Your Frequency is Important
There are two different frequencies available on newer routers: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. To dramatically improve the reach and reliability of your network you need to figure out which frequency works best for your location.
Generally, a lower frequency works best with powerful signals and around obstructions. However, a higher frequency has more channels if you live in a densely populated area, so your router will need to find a channel that isn’t being used.
Find a Channel
Your router will search automatically for an available channel so that it doesn’t interfere with other networks. However, for optimal output, it can sometimes be more beneficial to program your own channels.
Lower Your Router’s RTS Threshold
Another way to minimize interference in your network is to lower your router’s RTS (request to send) setting. In short, the RTS setting works to lessen the issues that arise with several users on the same channel.
This becomes an issue in densely populated areas like apartment buildings and heavily populated neighborhoods.
Encryption
It’s always a good idea to password protect your wireless network. However, for better performance, you should always set your security option to WPA2. When you choose WPA2, your router will use an AES (advanced encryption standard) which is only available on the fastest wireless networks.
Source: thestar.com
Try Powerline
Occasionally, the reliability of your wifi has nothing to do with your connection at all. Sometimes the problem is simply the size of your home. If you have a large home and are trying to stretch your wifi signal so it’s available throughout and find there are areas with an exceptionally bad signal (if any at all), you may want to try a device called Powerline.
How effective Powerline proves to be depends on the wiring system in your home. You may continue to experience problems with your wifi signal if the wiring in your home is old. However, the potential improvement to your internet reception is still worth trying!
Featured Image Source: Joshua Hodge Photography via Getty Images