In today’s world, a fast internet connection is almost as important as fresh food in the refrigerator. Whether you are streaming a show, playing your favorite online game, or staying in touch with friends and family, your internet connection is the backbone of your daily routine. On top of that, remote work has become very common these days, further increasing the need for fast internet at home.
With such internet-dependent lifestyles, nothing can be worse than slow speeds and spotty coverage. A variety of factors, such as faulty wires or potential dead zones, can cause these issues.
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Anyway, let’s have a look at some simple steps to optimize your internet speed at home.
- Turn Your Modem Off and On
This is the most old-school solution, but it is worth a try. Simply unplug the cable from your power outlet. And then make sure to wait at least 30 seconds before you plug the cable back into the outlet. Experts even recommend scheduling regular reboots of your modem.
Well, the magic behind this trick is the power cycle. A new power cycle can eliminate any potential errors in the gateway between your home connection and your internet service provider. If this does not work, you can also power cycle your connection by turning your device’s Wi-Fi off and on. Make sure to give it a break of at least 30 seconds.
- Change the Location or Position of Your Router
This is another old-school method that resolves an often neglected problem. Not many people are aware that walls, drawers, closets, doors, or bookshelves can dampen their Wi-Fi signals. Additionally, electronic appliances that transmit radio waves, such as microwaves and Bluetooth devices, can also interrupt your internet signals.
So, if your router is blocked by any such objects, change the location. Place your router in a central position where there is as little blockage as possible. Additionally, try to place your router as close to your devices as possible.
- Get a Wi-Fi Extender
Relocating your router can often be very inconvenient. It requires finding an open space that is also in close proximity to your devices. You can get rid yourself of this hassle by simply getting a Wi-Fi extender. These devices are very easy to use and can be plugged into any power outlet. After connecting with your Wi-Fi, they extend the range of the signals.
Furthermore, extenders can connect with your Wi-Fi in 2 ways: Repeater or Access Point mode. The repeater mode strengthens and rebroadcasts the Wi-Fi signals from your router. With the Access Point mode, the extender connects to your router through an Ethernet and creates a new network that your devices can connect to. In larger homes, the second option is typically more effective.
- Upgrade Your Router
Another way to optimize your internet speed is by choosing the router that you want. Your choice of router matters a lot when it comes to internet speed and accessibility. Not all routers have the same features, operability, or price.
Although smaller homes might work with a simple router setup, larger spaces require a router with more advanced features. That is why, it is recommended that you buy a router that can connect with extenders or repeaters to extend the Wi-Fi signals. Experts also recommend a “mesh” system for larger spaces, which involves multiple routers.
- Check for Unnecessary or Unknown Connections
Sometimes your slow internet speed can simply be due to multiple connected devices. To get rid of this problem, eliminate any unnecessary devices connected to your router. To make it easy, simply reset your Wi-Fi password and then reconnect with the necessary devices only.
- Change your Channel or Band
Your router transmits signals at a particular frequency. Most routers have 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency radios. If multiple routers around you are working within the same spectrum, it can cause some serious congestion.
To prevent this from happening, you can try manually changing your channel or band. Experts suggest trying the new 6 GHz band as it is likely to be the least crowded.
Key Insights
Your slow internet speed can be caused by easily manageable problems. Make sure to check for the above-mentioned issues and try to solve them yourself before spending a pretty penny on maintenance.
