Top 7 Tips to Improve Internet Speed and Performance

Internet is imperative for working these days, but sometimes your reliable connection will cut out with no warning. Other times, dead zones in your home make checking your email or receiving a simple phone call almost impossible. If you’ve been trying to mitigate these problems, here are the top seven tips to improve internet speed and reliability. 

Relocating Your Router

Sometimes the simplest tricks will yield the best results. Since modems provide needed internet to your electronics, adjusting how their signal is sent out could bolster speed and accuracy. 

The first trick is to take your router off the ground. Putting your modem somewhere elevated can help the signal travel without being blocked by furniture or other obstructions. Place the router on top of a shelf or table for best, unhampered usage. 

Routers can also be obstructed by materials and substances such as metal, tile, and water. Even having something like a fish tank could hinder the efficacy of a router’s signal. Be mindful about where you place your router regarding these materials for better, faster internet. 

Buying an Extender 

If you live in a one-floor apartment, there aren’t many obstacles for a modem to overcome. A router’s signal becomes exponentially weaker once you add multiple levels to the equation. For those living in homes or wider spaces with numerous rooms, buying a WiFi extender will fix this problem easily. 

An extender for your router is a relatively cheap solution for a dampened signal. Plug in the device in one of your home’s dead zones or on a different story than your modem. The extender will multiply and redistribute internet frequencies into the space, strengthening an internet connection for hard-to-reach devices. 

Disconnect Certain Devices 

Every computer, iPad, gaming system, and phone in your home may be connected to your WiFi simultaneously. Though we live in a golden age of technology, an average modem can only connect to so many devices before its speed is inhibited. Before upgrading your internet or buying a new modem, try disconnecting devices you don’t use regularly. Though this may seem simplistic, freeing up your modem’s connectivity could greatly increase its efficacy. 

Angle Your Router Antennas 

Many routers on the market will come equipped with two separate antennas. Like an old television set, angling antennas could help improve a device’s accuracy. 

As stated above, dense materials and piping in the home can easily dampen an internet signal. Push one of your modem’s antennas directly upward and the other horizontally to better expedite its frequencies through furniture and walls. Ensuring that the modem’s signal covers all areas of an apartment and can travel through floors easily will improve your devices’ connections drastically. 

Changing WiFi Frequency 

For those who aren’t tech enthusiasts or part of the Geek Squad, one’s WiFi and various frequencies aren’t common knowledge. If you didn’t know, a basic modem has two different channels for speed, usually 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Routers instantaneously pick the optimal channel for your device, but that won’t necessarily yield the best results. 

If you’re still having trouble with WiFi speed, try manually connecting to the second GHz frequency. Alternating the connection might be your solution if many devices are plugged into one channel. 

To switch your WiFi frequency, you must access and log in to your router. You can log in through a web address or an app, depending on your router. Modems from NETGEAR will have an address provided, while Google’s modems have an app that’ll help you switch your WiFi channels.  

Buying A Router Instead of Renting

For many internet users, renting equipment from a telecommunications company is the cheapest, most efficient option. But for better control over your WiFi signal, buying your modem might alleviate bandwidth troubles.

Purchasing your own router helps owners have stronger autonomy over factors like speed and privacy. If you plan on getting a store-bought mode, you can also ensure that you recieve an up-to-date device without prior issues.   

Finding a Replacement Router

Replacing equipment is the absolute final and last resort step while having bandwidth issues. If none of the steps above have helped improve internet speed, contacting your provider to switch your modem could be the necessary solution. 

If you’re renting a modem, contact the company to see how old your model is. Sometimes, you can upgrade your equipment if newer models are on the market.

Improving internet connection doesn’t have to be an impossible feat. Luckily, there are plenty of troubleshooting ideas to help your modem out. Try any of these seven tips if you’re becoming too frustrated with your WiFi’s speed and inefficiency.