Is the Wifi signal not performing to expectations? If so, there are several things a homeowner can do to improve this situation, before ordering an all-new router. Learn about some practical ways to boost a home’s Wi-Fi signal here.
1 . Carefully Choose the Right Position for the Router
Not all locations in a home are equally suitable for the router. To begin with, it’s a good idea to avoid putting the router close to appliances or metal objects that create electromagnetic waves.
It’s also a good idea to place it away from any electric wires. To cover an entire home with an even Wifi signal, it’s a good idea to put the router close to the center of the house.
It also helps to boost the signal by elevating the router above floor level.
2 . Keep the Router Updated
After malware has infected a router, it can begin to steal bandwidth and even spread across the network and into other devices. Even if dangerous malware was not present, routers that have old firmware don’t perform as well as routers that are updated regularly.
3 . Get a Much Stronger Antenna
The majority of Wi-Fi routers come with weak, small antennas. It’s not that manufacturers are trying to save money; strong Wifi antennas are usually quite large.
Compared to the antenna that comes on an average router, which is just a few inches tall and offers around 4 dB gain, the 10-dB antenna is usually between 10 and 15 inches tall. If a homeowner doesn’t mind this large size, a powerful, new antenna is an effective way to increase the Wifi signal without having to purchase a new router.
4 . Eliminate Wifi Leeches
A password-protected encrypted Wi-Fi is a must-have today. With more people than ever before using Wi-Fi, the surge for fast, open signals is real. Don’t ever think that people next door won’t use a Wifi signal just because they have one of their own.
In some cases, they may do so without even realizing it. This is why it is so important to encrypt the Wi-Fi and to protect it using a strong password that isn’t easy to guess.
If there are a lot of guests coming to the home, it may be a good idea to create a separate guest network and to limit the range it has, or to protect it using a different password, or by changing the password regularly.
5 . Purchase a Wifi Booster, Repeater, or Extender
While these are called many different things, a Wi-Fi extender, repeater, and booster are all the same thing. They take the existing Wi-Fi signal and amplify it, transferring it again at the boosted rate.
Quality repeaters cost about $100 and are easy to install.
Getting a Higher Quality Wifi Signal at Home
While there are some situations when a new router is needed, this isn’t always the case. As seen here, there are many situations where it is possible to boost the signal without having to purchase an entirely new router.
