Many of us cannot imagine a day without Wi-Fi, and since the tech came onto the scene 20 years ago, we’ve come to rely on it more and more. Connecting people to work, educational resources, news and information to stay healthy is more important than ever right now. 

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

 

We are relying on this technology more than ever before, so here are a few ways to boost the quality and speed of your Wi-Fi right now: 

 

Know that location matters. Placing your Wi-Fi access point in an open, centralized area is likely to create better Wi-Fi throughout the house. Be wary of walls and other obstructions that can hinder a clear signal transmission throughout the house. A longer Ethernet cable and a method to secure it so that it is not in the way are all you’ll likely need to move your router from its connecting point to a more signal-friendly location.

 

Reboot your Wi-Fi access point regularly. Like many devices, an occasional reboot can help improve its performance. An access point that is continually running is processing a great deal of data and even during normal operation, some data can become corrupt. A reboot can dump those errors and allow you to resume operations with a clean slate, so to speak. Simply unplug the access from the wall outlet for a few seconds, then plug it back in.

 

Update your connected devices. Each device that is actively connected to your Wi-Fi network uses available bandwidth. When a device’s operating system is out-of-date, it can become a data hog, impacting the performance of the other devices you have connected in your home. Check for software updates to improve speeds and maximize your experience.

 

Use up-to-date Wi-Fi tech, if you can. It won’t matter what other steps you take to improve your Wi-Fi network performance if you’re using old technology. Be sure your devices and access points are all compatible with the latest network capabilities. Equipment that runs Wi-Fi 5 is ideal if you’re using multiple devices. Or, if you’re running a lot of devices, consider upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 router. This latest generation, rolled out last year by the Wi-Fi Alliance, organizes bandwidth more efficiently to maximize speeds and reliability. 

 

Check your network security. Be sure to use a strong password and enable WPA2 encryption, which offers greater security.

 

Switch bands or channels. Most Wi-Fi access points broadcast on two different frequency bands, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. You may be able to prioritize one or the other if your access point allows (or switch between the two.) The 5 GHz setting is likely faster, but you need to be closer to the router and the 2.4 GHz frequency travels farther and handles smaller streams of traffic. Consider putting devices streaming classes or telepresence services on 5 GHz and other Wi-Fi devices on 2.4 GHz. If you live in a crowded building where many Wi-Fi networks are connected, you may want to try another channel within these bands. Every access point handles this differently and you will need to check the documentation for yours. 

 

So what can we do in the future? 

There are a growing number of devices requiring access to your network, and this demand is compounded by the reality that increased reliance on Wi-Fi networks isn’t just in your own home or office; it’s around the globe. Policymakers at the FCC, in Congress and industry, are working to free up more spectrum for Wi-Fi — adding another frequency band in the 6 GHz and additional capacity in the 5 GHz band — to boost our capacity and ensure our networks can handle even more traffic in the future.