You can’t seem to get full internet speed through your router. If you rely on Wi-Fi for your home network, then it’s important to optimize Wi-Fi reception in your house.
1. Test Your Internet Connection
Before investigating your Wi-Fi network, you should rule out whether the problem lies with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
If you have a laptop, computer, or games console, test your internet connection by plugging your device directly into the router with an Ethernet cable.
Using this setup, if the internet still doesn’t work, then it’s likely a problem with your ISP. Many providers can perform remote diagnostics, so it’s worth contacting their support team to try and get to the bottom of the issue. However, if the internet works then, you may have a problem with your Wi-Fi network.
If you were trying to access a particular website, use a site like IsUp.me to see if the website is down for everyone or just you. While still connected via an ethernet cable, run a speed test.
This will help you get an idea of the average Wi-Fi download speeds you should be getting on your network. Keep in mind that cabled connections will have higher speeds, so you should expect a small drop on Wi-Fi connected devices.
2. Update Your Firmware
As with other areas of your digital life, you should ensure that your router’s firmware is up-to-date. Along with essential security patches, these updates often come with many bug fixes which can make your Wi-Fi speed faster solve all connection issues.
Make sure to update your firmware before diving into any further troubleshooting, as it may save you hours of fruitless work. If you were already running the latest firmware, then reboot the router to clear the cache and reset the software.
3. Switch Wi-Fi Channels
Wi-Fi networks broadcast on many different channels and two separate frequency bands. In the US, there are 11 standard Wi-Fi channels, while worldwide there are usually 13. In the early days of wireless networking, routers only broadcast on at 2.4 GHz.
However, as more of us have come to have home Wi-Fi networks the amount of channels has needed to expand. Many modern routers can now broadcast at either 2.4GHz or 5GHz.
While this gives you more options, it’s always possible that another nearby Wi-Fi network or other electrical equipment is already broadcasting at your network’s frequency. Overcrowding a particular frequency may cause your network to slow down, and could be the root of your Wi-Fi problems.
To rule this out, make sure you pick the best Wi-FI channel for your router.
4. Check Bandwidth Consumption
If you find that your Wi-Fi speeds drop periodically or at certain times of day, then it’s possible software or other devices are eating away at your bandwidth. Large downloads, video streaming, or online gaming can be bandwidth-hogs so check for these first.
You can find out who’s eating your Wi-Fi bandwidth directly from the router or a third party program. Delving into your router’s settings should let you find out which devices are connected to your network. If there are any you don’t recognize, then you should remove them.
Malware could also be to blame for your slow speeds, so be sure enable protection and run an antivirus scan.
