Nothing is more frustrating than trying to use your PC or watch a video at home with slow Internet. There are many solutions available to businesses for improving Internet speed, reliability, and security, but what about at home? Spotty and unreliable Wi-Fi is irritating and almost certain to occur at the most inconvenient time, like on Friday night when you’re about to watch a movie.
To help, we have prepared 7 fixes you can do to improve your slow home Wi-Fi.
Step 1: Ensure your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is not experiencing an outage. Most ISPs will publish outages on their website. Check there first for any outages in your area using your phone’s mobile network. If there are no outages or known problems, then you can proceed to the next steps.
TIP: If you have not talked to your ISP in over a year, call and see if they have new plans that will give you more bandwidth for less money. You could also shop other providers to see if they offer a better and faster service than what you currently have.
Step 2: Update your router (especially if you haven’t done this in the last 2 to 3 months). This will not only reset your router with the latest connection speeds, but it also ensures you’re up to date with security patches. You could also try rebooting the router by powering it off and then back on again. Sometimes this is enough to fix the problem.
TIP: If your router is older than 3 years, you may want to look at getting a new one. Ideally, you should look for one with Wi-Fi 6 and dual or triple band capabilities, which allows your router to connect with multiple devices without sacrificing speed or bandwidth.
Step 3: Change the channel. Download the app Network Analyzer to help find the most appropriate channel for your connection. If you’re using the 2.4 GHz frequency, change to another less “noisy” channel. How you do this depends on the brand and model of your router, so you will need to refer to your router’s manufacturer for details.
Step 4: Upgrade to a mesh Wi-Fi router. When too many devices are connected, the Internet speed will decline. One option to alleviate this is to get a mesh router. Unlike traditional routers which broadcast their signal from a single device, a mesh router emits a signal from multiple units strategically placed around the house.
Step 5: Turn on Quality of Service (QoS). This is a router feature that lets you prioritize traffic and apps. Essentially, your router will prioritize certain uses over others, like Zoom or streaming services. Again, how this is done varies by router, so you will need to check your router’s manual for details.
Step 6: Confirm your network has not been compromised. Change your settings immediately if your Wi-Fi network is open without security or using WEP, WPA or WPA2. WPA3 encryption is the most secure and the recommended one to go with. Also disable any remote management options on your router. Viruses and hacks can suck up resources and may be the reason for your network grinding to a halt.
Step 7: Change the router’s location. Routers should be placed as up high and as close to the center of the house as possible, free from obstructions and appliances, mirrors, concrete walls and metal materials that can cause signals to bounce or be blocked. If you have a larger house, you may need to invest in Wi-Fi extenders to boost the signal.
If your business Wi-Fi is slow, spotty and problematic, click here to request a free 10-minute discovery call where we can discuss the problems you are experiencing. It’s critical for businesses to have reliable, fast and secure Wi-Fi, or else it can cost you untold frustration and low productivity.
