WiFi is a great addition to any home, but it can be difficult to set up and maintain. This article will provide you with the knowledge to optimize your network for optimal performance.
Got WiFi? is a quick and easy fix and optimize guide for your home network. It will help you make sure your internet connection is stable and faster.
Have you recently done any work from home? Do your children attend school or do they study at home? If that’s the case, I’m sure you’ve noticed how poor your home’s WiFi network may be. A sluggish home network may be very aggravating. Freezing or grainy movies, inconsistent audio through Zoom, and blocked browser searches are all very inconvenient, and they only become worse as the network grows larger. When you’re attempting to work or study, it makes you much less productive.
So, let’s get started on repairing your network.
Make sure your internet connection can withstand your maximum load.
If you’re unfamiliar with internet speed, learn the fundamentals so you can perform simple addition to figure out your overall load. The speed of the internet is measured in megabits per second (Mbps), which is not to be confused with megabytes per second. My internet package from Spectrum is about $70 per month, and my download speed is 300Mbps. I have a three-person family, and it is more than enough speed to meet our requirements. Using the data below, you may do some basic estimates about what you’re doing in your house at any given moment.
- HD video streaming at 25+ Mbps per device
- Web surfing and email checking – up to 3Mbps per device
- Up to 18Mbps per device while downloading or streaming music
As you can see from the above list of primary activities, 300Mbps is more than enough speed to cover three streaming devices at once. Keep in mind that if the network is functioning well, 300Mbps is the highest speed that may be utilized at one time. If the whole neighborhood is actively utilizing the internet, the overall speed may be slowed. If your internet speed is less than 25Mbps, you should consider switching to a better plan. You may be able to negotiate reductions based on your financial status or age.
If you have a big family and are unable to raise your speed, encourage family members to refrain from using the internet for essential work or schoolwork until it is finished.
Place your router in the best possible position.
I understand that routers are unsightly and contain many cables. You may believe that concealing it in a TV cabinet or bookcase would improve the appearance of your house, but you’re not doing yourself any favors. When physical things get in the path of a wireless signal, it degrades. Consider speaker sound waves: would you place your speaker inside a cabinet to obtain the greatest sound? Do you believe your speaker would sound nice from a distance of two rooms? The amount of things between you and the network has the same effect on internet bandwidth, and the more junk between you and the router, the worse your overall performance will be.
Cox is the author of this image.
Cox is the author of this image.Closest to the router is the quickest position in your house. As you go farther, your signal will deteriorate. There are many options for this, the first of which is free.
Remove the router from any cabinet and position it as far away from shelves and walls as feasible. Make an effort to keep it at the middle of your house. Keep it away from metal-based equipment like TVs, microwaves, and anything else that may deflect the signal. Last but not least, the higher the position, the better.
Call your provider and reset your router.
Resetting your router is another basic sense fix. We used to automatically think to reset our gadgets, but as their dependability has improved over time, we occasionally forget the most apparent thing to do. Resetting all of your connections by turning off your router and disconnecting it from the wall can help clear away any cache accumulation. It’s inconvenient, but it’s free.
It’s not always your fault when an issue arises. Providers often have malfunctioning equipment, and they may need to reset their end of the connection as well. So give them a call and request assistance. They can even diagnose a defective supplied router that has to be replaced remotely. If it’s a significant enough issue, you may be able to negotiate a reduction on your service if you ask.
Replace your router if necessary.
Consider a wireless router to be any other household device. It won’t endure indefinitely. If your router is more than five years old, it may be time to replace it. Technology advances quickly, and your house now has an increasing number of linked gadgets. An outdated router may soon become overloaded with cameras, doorbells, sprinkler systems, smart speakers, smart TVs, tablets, phones, laptops, and even smart appliances. Netgear makes one of my favorite routers, the Nighthawk AC1900, which spans 1800 square feet. Remember that the maximum amount of coverage is 1800 square feet, so if it’s not in the middle of your house and off in a corner, some of your coverage may be outside of your property.
Switch to a mesh network.
I made the switch to a mesh network and haven’t looked back. I no longer have any connection problems and would enthusiastically suggest this solution to anybody. It will be a significant financial commitment to update your network, but if you need reliability and performance, a mesh network is the way to go.
Google image credit
“A mesh network is a collection of devices that work together to form a single Wi-Fi network, allowing you to have various sources of Wi-Fi throughout your home rather than relying on a single router.” – From Google
When one of your access points goes down, all internet traffic is redirected to the next network point that is still operational. On the other hand, if you put everything via a single router in a conventional configuration, you’re out of luck throughout the whole house if it goes down. Another useful aspect of nearly all mesh networks is that they self-update to ensure that you have the most up-to-date software and firmware, keeping you secure from attackers.
There are hundreds of network mesh solutions to choose from these days, but I’ll mention a few distinct ones based on your requirements. One piece of advice: never pay full price for a mesh network. At some time, they always go on sale. This is true for virtually all electronics, but it is especially true for networking equipment.
GOOGLE NEST WIFI is my favorite mesh network.
In my house, I utilize the Google Nest WiFi mesh network. It’s very simple to set up after you’ve downloaded the companion app. You follow a step-by-step tutorial and are up and running in less than 10 minutes. You may have as many mesh points as you like in your house (Google advises no more than five mesh points per network), but I prefer to go for over coverage. Because my house is around 2000 square feet, I want my mesh work to cover at least 4000 square feet. Because my house is two stories, I make sure that each floor has at least one mesh network point. You may always begin with a modest number of mesh points and add more as needed.
Nest WiFi is useful because it allows you to prioritize which devices get the greatest speed, shut off individual connections (for example, for children at night), set rules for certain users, and create a guest network for guests. While nearly all networks offer these capabilities, Google’s is extremely user-friendly, and its products have a lot of online assistance. One last feature that distinguishes Nest WiFi is that each access point has the Google Assistant for voice control. It’s great for setting alarms, checking the time, turning on and off smart lighting, and listening to music.
AMPLIFI HD is the best mesh network for big houses or homes with thick walls.
My folks live in a big three-story house from the late 1800s. It features strong walls constructed of lathe and plaster, as well as sturdy wood doors that block WiFi. They also have a large backyard, where my father enjoys listening to music while mowing the grass through WiFi.
The Amplifi HD mesh network by Ubiquiti Labs is the greatest mesh network I’ve had experience with in their home. It includes two strong antennas that connect into power outlets and a main point with a color display for configuration. The mesh antennas are convenient since they do not need a table to function; instead, they just dangle from the wall socket. For big houses with thick walls and furnishings, this mesh networking solution is ideal. This three-part mesh network can cover up to 10,000 square feet of space.
EERO is the most cost-effective mesh network.
Eero was the first firm to release a high-performing mesh network. I evaluated the company’s initial system and was quite pleased. It was straightforward to use, set up, and maintain, and it even looked good. At $500, it was an expensive system, but it was well worth the money at the time.
Amazon bought Eero a few years ago and released the next-generation platform, which currently costs $199 and includes a free Amazon Dot. While usually reliable, I’ve found the Eero to be the slowest of the group in terms of performance. That said, most households should be unaffected — only those with avid gamers who strain the WiFi network to its limits should be concerned. At $199, the three-piece Eero system is more inexpensive and covers 5000 square feet.
To summarize, start with the simplest and most cost-effective solutions. The suggestions are simple to implement and may help you address your issues. However, if you can afford it, I strongly advise you to invest in a mesh network. You’ll be so happy with the reliability and speed of your network that you’ll want to work from home all of the time.
Keep yourself protected. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Related
Got WiFi? A quick and easy fix and optimize guide for your home network is a blog post that talks about how to boost wifi signal through walls.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I optimize my home Wi-Fi?
A:
How can I improve my home network?
The best way to improve your home network is by using a router that has the most advanced wireless technology. You can also use a wired connection if you have one available, as it will be faster than wireless.
How do I optimize my router?
If you are trying to optimize your router, it is best done by consulting the manufacturers website.
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