There are many devices we use to access the internet, from our smartphones, routers, modems among others. Sometimes you feel that the WiFi speeds are no longer the way they used to be and need a boost.
Here are 5 ways to increase and optimize your WiFi speeds on your routers or other devices to allow more internet juice pass through.
1. Cut off bandwidth thieves by updating your security
Sometimes improving your home internet speed is as easy as tightening up your router’s network security to increase your WiFi speeds. Failure to add protection to your WiFi network means opening your network to leeches. Extra users slow your internet connection by taking up internet bandwidth. It is recommended that you protect access your their router with a complex password and WPA2 security.
2. Change WiFi channel
Try switching your router from a standard 2.4 GHz WiFi channel to a 5 GHz channel to boost your WiFi speeds by getting more bandwidth and less interference. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies offer multiple internet transmission channels, but 2.4 GHz only offers 14 channels, and those 14 transmission channels overlap. The channel overlap can cause data packets traveling back and forth on neighboring channels to interfere with one another which clogs up bandwidth and slows down your connection. In contrast, 5 GHz offers 23 non-overlapping channels. Choosing a channel on the 5 GHz band could minimize the number of other users on your frequency. However, some routers are limited to the 2.4 GHz band. If your router is limited to 2.4 GHz, choose either channel 1, 6 or 11. These channels experience the least overlap from other channels, especially if you can get your neighbors to use only channels 1, 6 or 11.
3. Optimize your router’s settings
Testing different settings on your router could improve signal strength and WiFi speeds.
- Some routers have entertainment settings that prioritize bandwidth while you play video games or stream content. This strategy is less effective when multiple users share a WiFi connection simultaneously, so try turning off the entertainment settings.
- Although it’s technical, you can try to reset the Request to Send (RTS) thresholds on your router. Essentially, the RTS threshold protocol clears a data transmission channel before data packets are sent on it. In a crowded WiFi network, such as an apartment complex, setting your RTS threshold to a lower number could help improve WiFi performance.
- You can also fiddle with the router’s fragmentation and RTS threshold settings. Setting your fragmentation threshold to a lower value can help data packets transfer more efficiently and improve network reliability issues. However, setting the threshold to a smaller data packet size can decrease network performance if you already have a reliable network.
4. Purchase a newer, high-end router
The biggest issue holding back your home’s WiFi connection may be your aging router. Thankfully, there are numerous advantages to purchasing a brand new router, so you invest in more than faster internet WiFi speeds. A new router could also give you improved security features and be compatible with a wider spectrum of devices.
5. Reset your router
It sounds simple, but sometimes resetting your router can increase your WiFi speeds and your internet. Just as restarting your computer can suddenly fix unknown computer issues, rebooting your wireless router can alleviate internet connection problems and boost your speeds.
