Browsing slowing to a crawl. Dropped Wi-Fi signals. Wireless dead zones. Every one of these problems is maddening in a world where getting online has become, for some, as necessary as breathing. (Well, maybe not that critical...but still important.)
If you feel like your Wi-Fi has gotten sluggish, there are many tools you can use to test the speed of your internet. There are also a few tricks you can try to troubleshoot your network issues. However, if the only way you can get decent reception is by standing next to your wireless router, these simple tips can help optimize your network.
Before you blame the Wi-Fi, make sure the internet coming into your house is performing as it should. You can do this by connecting your computer directly to the router using an Ethernet cable. If your laptop doesn't have an Ethernet port, you will need a USB-to-Ethernet adapter.
Run a speed test to see your internet speed. If it doesn’t match the speed on your internet bill, you may need to call your ISP or replace your router or modem. If your speed test does match your internet bill, but it still seems slow, it may be time to pony up for a better plan.
If everything seems okay, try running the test again wirelessly, standing right next to the router. If you get similarly good speeds here, but not elsewhere in the house, then your Wi-Fi coverage may be to blame. If your internet is still slow standing right next to the router, you may have some outdated gear that needs an upgrade.
Before you start tweaking things, it’s a good idea to update your router's firmware. Router manufacturers are always improving software to eke out a bit more speed. How easy—or how hard—it is to upgrade your firmware depends entirely on your device’s manufacturer and model.
Most current routers have the update process built right into the administration interface, so it's just a matter of hitting a firmware upgrade button. Older models still require you to visit the manufacturer's website, download a firmware file from your router's support page, and upload it to the administration interface. It's tedious, but still a good thing to do since it would be such a simple fix.
In fact, even if your wireless network isn't ailing, you should make it a point to update your firmware on a regular basis for performance improvements, better features, and security updates.Once inside, look for an update tool within the System section of your settings.
Not all homes will distribute Wi-Fi signal equally. The fact is, where you place the router can hugely affect your wireless coverage. It may seem logical to have the router inside a cabinet and out of the way, or right by the window where the cable comes in, but that's not always the case. Instead, here are some pointers:
Take a look at your network's administrator interface and make sure you have it configured for optimal performance.If you live in an apartment building or a heavily populated neighborhood, you might be susceptible to wireless congestion created by nearby devices running on the 2.4GHz frequency band. If you have a dual-band router, you'll likely get better throughput by switching to the 5GHz band instead of using the more common 2.4GHz band.
Not only does 5GHz offer faster speeds, but you'll likely encounter less interference from other wireless networks and devices because the frequency is not as commonly used. Note, though, that it doesn't handle obstructions and distances quite as well, so it won't necessarily reach as far as a 2.4GHz signal does.
Interference is a big issue, especially for those who live in densely populated areas. Signals from other wireless networks can impact speeds, not to mention some cordless phone systems, microwaves, and other electronic devices.
Ever play with walkie-talkies as a kid? You may remember how the units needed to be on the same "channel" in order for you to hear each other. And if you happened to be on the same channel as your neighbor, you could listen in on someone else's conversation, even if they were using a completely different set. In that same vein, all modern routers can switch across different channels when communicating with your devices.
Most routers will choose the channel for you, but if neighboring wireless networks are also using the same channel, you'll encounter signal congestion. A good router set to Automatic will try to choose the least congested channel, but older or cheaper routers may just choose a predefined channel, even if it isn't the best one. That could be a problem.
If you're on a Windows PC, you can see what channels neighboring Wi-Fi networks are using. From the command prompt type netsh wlan show all, and you'll see a list of all wireless networks and the channels being used in your vicinity.
If you find the Auto setting isn't working well for you, sign into your router's administrator interface, head to the basic wireless category, and try selecting one manually (ideally, one that isn't in use by many networks in your area). Run another speed test to see if that provides a better signal and faster speeds over the Automatic setting in your problem areas.
Keep in mind that channel congestion can change over time, so if you choose a channel manually, you may want to check in once in a while to make sure it's still the best one.
It's entirely possible the problem has nothing to do with interference or Wi-Fi range. If your network is open, or has a weak password, you could have an unwanted guest or two piggybacking on your network.
A tool like Wireless Network Watcher will show you all the devices using your internet and help you sniff out someone who might be stealing your Wi-Fi. Your router’s admin interface may also have a traffic analyzer of some sort that will tell you which devices are using lots of data. You may even find one of your own kids is sucking up bandwidth without you realizing it.
Once you find the intruder and remedy the problem, secure your network with a strong password—preferably WPA2 or WPA3, since WEP is notoriously easy to crack—so others can't join in.
Most modern routers come with Quality of Service (QoS) tools to limit the amount of bandwidth that apps use. QoS settings can typically be found under advanced settings in the network's administrator interface.
For example, you could use QoS to prioritize video calls over file downloads. The file may take longer to download, but it should keep the video call looking nice. Some QoS settings even allow you to prioritize different apps at specific times of day.
Some routers may make it easier by offering a one-click multimedia or gaming setting, so you know those applications will be prioritized. If you're trying to stream games while sharing a network, there are steps you can take to make things better.
If your router uses an internal antenna, adding an external one would be a good idea, as the latter tends to send a stronger signal. Your router may have come with antennas you can add on yourself, but if not (or if you threw them away long ago), many router manufacturers sell antennas separately.
In many cases, you can choose between omnidirectional antennas, which send a signal to all directions, or directional ones, which send a signal in one specific direction. Most built-in antennas tend to be omnidirectional, so if you plan to buy an external one, it should be marked "high-gain" to actually make a difference.
A directional antenna tends to be a better option, since odds are that you aren't experiencing weak spots in your network in every direction. Point your external antenna in the direction of your weak spot, and it will broadcast the signal accordingly. Check your router manufacturer's website for details on what to buy.
It's a good idea to get the most out of your existing equipment, but if you’re running old hardware, you can't expect the best performance. We have a tendency to subscribe to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality with back-end devices, especially networking gear. However, if you bought your router years ago, you might still be using the older, slower 802.11n standard.
These older routers may cap at fairly low bandwidths, and may even have shorter ranges. For instance, the maximum throughput for 802.11g (Wi-Fi 3) is 54Mbps, while 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) caps out at 300Mbps. All the tweaking we've outlined above will only get you so far with one of these older models.
However, if you upgrade to a new router with the latest 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard, you get support for 1Gbps. Meanwhile, next-gen Wi-Fi 6 routers can theoretically hit 10Gbps, and Wi-Fi 6E routers have access to even more spectrum that can offer additional coverage.
Range extenders receive a signal from your router, then rebroadcast it to your devices, and vice-versa. In this way, you get an inexpensive solution that can act as a repeater to extend the range of your wireless router. However, they are often not as effective as mesh Wi-Fi systems, which replace your existing router entirely.