In this day and age, pretty much everyone owns a router. After all, it is a requirement for getting connected to the Internet. Routers have undoubtedly improved over the years. Unfortunately, they’re still not perfect. They have many limitations and restrictions. For instance, the speeds delivered are often less than impressive. At the same time, many routers offer very limited distances.
This can cause your home to be flooded with dead zones. The good news is that you can take steps to improve your router’s speed and signal. Within this guide, you’ll learn how to do just that.
Table Of Contents
Reboot It
There is a good chance that your router is going to start acting funny out of nowhere. This can be a hassle and you might not know how to rectify the problem. The good news is that fixing a faulty router is sometimes easier than you could ever imagine. Go ahead and reboot it. Believe it or not, this will work 8 times out of 10.
Newer routers shouldn’t need to be rebooted very often. However, it is still a good idea to set up a reboot schedule just to be safe. If that doesn’t fix the speed and signal issues, you’ll need to contact your ISP and see what advice they offer.
Antenna Switch
If you are experiencing range issues, there is a chance that something is wrong with the antenna. After all, most manufacturers provide consumers with the worst antennas. This means that you’re not going to be able to get the best signal strength.
Thankfully, you might be able to fix this problem by investing in an amplified aftermarket antenna. This will ensure that your signal strength is perfect. These antennas can be a little expensive, but they’ll prove to be well worth it in the long run.
Use The Right Protocol
While you’re at it, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using the right protocol. The 802.11ac protocol is the latest and it is going to provide you with the best speeds and signal. Unfortunately, older devices might not be compatible with the protocol. If you’re able to use this protocol, you should definitely do so! It’ll ensure that you’re going to receive the very best speeds and the greatest signal strength possible.
Read More: How come my Belkin wireless internet is very slow ?
Perform An Upgrade
You also need to understand that router manufacturers are constantly releasing new updates. There is a good chance that you have not upgraded to the latest firmware. If that is the case, you might be experiencing issues for obvious reasons. Thankfully, you can remedy this problem pretty easily. Go ahead and upgrade your router’s firmware. With a little luck, this will rectify the problem and your router’s performance will be greatly improved.
Upgrade Routers
You also need to realize that routers are going to become outdated at some point or another. When this happens, you might need to upgrade the router altogether. A simple firmware update might not fix the issues that you’re experiencing. Thankfully, routers have gotten much less expensive over the years. Still, you should do your research and make sure that you get one that is actually worth your money. Otherwise, you might be required to make more and more upgrades.
Location
You also need to realize that your router’s location is vital. If your router is placed in the wrong location, you’re going to experience issues with your signal and speed. There are many different things that can diminish your router’s performance. It might be a mirror, a microwave, or a brick wall.
To ensure that you get the very best performance from your router, you need to experiment a great deal with the router’s placement. Try to find a centralized location with little to no obstructions. That will ensure that you get the speed and signal that you need!
Changing Channel
All routers come with multiple channels. If you live in a heavily populated area, there is a good chance that you’re using a channel that is overused. If that is the case, you can pretty much guarantee that your router’s performance will suck.
Thankfully, you can fix this problem pretty easily. There are tools that can help you find the best channel for your unique situation. Be sure to use one of these apps and choose the channel that is recommended.
Using Another Band
Finally, you should know that most new routers are dual-band. This means that they’re going to operate on two band frequencies. You can even find some routers that offer three bands. If one band becomes over-congested, you’ll definitely want to try switching to another one.
This could very well fix the problem right away. If you have ten or more devices running simultaneously, you may want to upgrade to a tri-band router. That can help ensure you have plenty of room for everyone.
