Say goodbye to Wi-Fi connectivity issues with these simple tweaks.
A lot of home users and businesses often encounter problems regarding their Wi-Fi’s performance. Some have to endure slow internet speeds while others experience dropped signals and dead zones. Needless to say, this can be very frustrating.?
There are a number of reasons why you may be having performance issues with your laptop’s wireless networking capabilities. You may be too far from your wireless router or there might be some structural elements in your home or office that are causing signals to bounce. It is also possible that your building or apartment complex is inundated with signals from other people’s routers, or you have some software or hardware issues that you are not aware of.
Fortunately, you can improve your wireless signal with just a few simple tweaks. Here are some suggestions that you may want to try to boost your Wi-Fi connection.
Change the router’s position. Try placing your router in a central location. Make sure there are no obstructions (thick walls, furniture, large metal surfaces, etc.) nearby that may interfere with the signal. Purchase a custom length Ethernet Cat 5 cable if you need more flexibility in repositioning the router.?
Change the channel. In the US, routers typically operate on channels 1, 6 and 11 at the 2.4GHz band. If you are using an older router which does not automatically choose the least crowded channel by default, this may be one of the main culprits why you are having poor Wi-Fi performance issues. Use a free tool such as inSSIDer to see how many routers are on the same channel. If yours is crowded, go to your router’s interface and change your channel.
Do a firmware update. Sometimes, your connectivity problems can be solved by updating the firmware on your router or your laptop’s network adapter. While newer routers display notifications whenever newer software is available for downloads, older routers usually do not have this capability. So, if you have an older router, make sure you check for updates regularly. In addition, you may need to check if your laptop’s network adapter has the latest firmware.
Use antennas. If you are using a router that supports external antennas, consider upgrading to a high-gain antenna to help you direct the signal where you want it to be.
Use a repeater. You can set up a second router to extend your Wi-Fi coverage. The second router will act as a wireless access point and will retransmit the signals to cover other areas for the connection.?
Disable unused applications. Running a lot of apps in the background can significantly slow down your internet speed.
