Mistakes You're Making That Cause Your Wi-Fi to Slow Down, Here's how to Fix it!

Thu, Mar 16, 2023 8:43 PM Internet Bundles Broadband Deals Technology Wifi

Wi-Fi that is too slow is the worst. However, if your Zoom calls are continually plagued by buffering, lag, and strange distortions, there are a few things you can do at home to boost your signal and (hopefully) resolve your issues. Cheapinternetserviceprovider-jna.com's home networking experts give these basic Wi-Fi troubleshooting tips.

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Your Wi-Fi router is tucked away in a cabinet or a room.

The equipment used for home networking isn't particularly attractive. You may want to cover your router because it resembles a spider, but doing so will reduce your Wi-Fi speed. Since physical obstructions (such as TVs, walls, doors, and other objects) get in the way of Wi-Fi signals, hiding your router in a closet or behind your TV weakens them. Although Wi-Fi waves can still pass through most of these obstructions, you might be obstructing your Wi-Fi from the outset.

What can be done about it?

Wireless routers distribute Wi-Fi signals equally in all directions outwards from their place, so if you want the best coverage, put your router in the center of your house. You're wasting half of your signals if yours is at the far end of your building. If you use the internet mostly in one area of your house, however, choose a central location in that area.

The best places to put your router

In close proximity to your television
Living Room
Home Office

The Worst Places to Install a Router

Closets
Bathrooms 
Basements 

Your Wi-Fi password is in the hands of far too many people.

Wi-Fi, apparently, is not a limitless resource. And if you've shared your Wi-Fi password with guests, neighbors, relatives, and anyone in your home, you could run out of internet speed when you need it the most.

What can be done about it?

There are a few things you can do to keep this from happening again. You should update your Wi-Fi password and be more cautious about who you share it with in the future. If you do need to provide visitors with Wi-Fi connectivity, consider creating a separate guest Wi-Fi network to keep them off your main network.

Your router's antennas aren't pointing in any particular direction.

The majority of router antennas are omnidirectional, meaning they broadcast signals in all directions perpendicular to the antenna. As a result, if all of your antennas are pointed straight up, you'll get a decent signal all the way around the router. However, if you have a multi-story home, this configuration won't extend as far above or below your router.

What can be done about it?

Try laying a router antenna on its side if you're having problems with Wi-Fi on your second floor or basement. This would improve the up-and-down spread of Wi-Fi signals.

The same Wi-Fi band

Most modern routers have two Wi-Fi bands, resulting in two separate Wi-Fi networks. When you cram all of your gadgets into one Wi-Fi band, you risk creating a data traffic jam that slows everything down.

What can be done about it?

Reorganizing the Wi-Fi connections is the perfect solution. To see what devices are connected to the network and which band they're on, log in to your router's GUI or management app.

The 2.4 GHz band is better for slower connections or connections that are far away from your router. Although it is slower than the 5 GHz band, the signal has a greater range. Smart home devices can most likely be connected to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band.

The 5 GHz Wi-Fi band is faster than the 2.4 GHz band, but it has a shorter range. For faster Wi-Fi, use the 5 GHz band for gaming connections, tablets, and smart TVs.

Your router is overburdened

You know how you have to restart your machine every now and then if it's running slowly? After a long period of use, your router can become clogged and need to be rebooted. It's also a good idea to search for router firmware updates on a regular basis to keep your router's software current.

What can be done about it?

Simply switch your router off and on to restart it. You'll need to log into your router's settings and check for updates to upgrade the firmware.

Your internet plan has not been upgraded.

Limited bandwidth can be frustrating at times. If you're doing all right but still getting poor Wi-Fi speeds, it's time to update.

What can be done about it?

You have two options: contact your internet service provider (ISP) to see if you can get a faster connection or move to a different ISP that provides faster speeds or lower rates. In any case, it's a good idea to do some preliminary research so you know exactly what you're getting.

We typically suggest a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps per person on your network. More bandwidth, on the other hand, is never a bad thing if you can afford it.

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Xfinity 
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CenturyLink
Starting price: $49.00/mo.
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Connection type: DSL

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