Do you get frustrated when your Wi-Fi signal goes in and out? Are you tired of slow wireless networks speeds because the Wi-Fi is so weak? If so, the article will tell how to improve your wireless networks. We will talk about how to improve Wi-Fi coverage at home or work. You can do some simple things like moving your router or getting a better antenna. If that's not an option, there are products that you can buy online which will boost your wireless connection!
Why Does Your Wireless Router's Signal Deteriorate?
There are many reasons for poor WiFi signals, such as an old router, walls, and concrete between your device and the router, interference by other devices on the same channel (such as wireless security cameras), or faulty antennas.
Indeed, there are very many reasons for poor signal, but we can identity the most common problems and fix them.
How to Know if Your Wi-Fi Speed is Slow or Fast?
Internet speed test is a good way to know your Wi-Fi speed is slow or fast. And there are a few ways to test your Wi-Fi speed. You can use an online tool such as Speedtest, or you can download an app like Wi-Fi Analyzer. Speedtest is a great way to know how fast is your speed. You can download App on your devices connected or test on the website on your computer:
- Go to Speedtest's website:
- Click on the "Begin Test" button.
- Select the server location closest to you.
- Wait for the test to complete.
The results will show your download and upload speeds as well as your ping rate. By doing this, you can find out what your Wi-Fi speed is. Ideally, your Wi-Fi speed should be close to what your bandwidth can bring. Notice: The amount of bandwidth is not equal to the amount of internet speed.
When you find that your Internet speed is normal, then you don't need to change anything. If your internet speed is slipping from the ideal state, then the next thing to do is to find out the problem and fix it.
How to Know if Your Wi-Fi Signal is Strong or Weak?
Wi-Fi Analyzer is an app that shows you the strength of your Wi-Fi signals in decibels (dBm). It also tells you the channels that are being used and how much interference there is. You can download Wi-Fi Analyzer for free from the App Store or Google Play:
Or there is another way; it's more simple, check on your mobile phone how many bars is the wireless signal: More bars means a stronger signal. If there is only 1 bar of the Wi-Fi icon, it means you have a weak signal.
How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength
There are many ways to boost Wi-Fi speed, for example, from adding antennas to adding signal repeaters to upgrading mesh network cable systems, all of which are ways to enhance the signal, and you need to l which one works better for you.
Now that you know the reasons why your signal is weak or slow, it's time to take action. Here are some suggestions on how to improve Wi-Fi strength:
Get a router with external antennas if possible.
If your router uses an internal antenna, it would be a good idea to add an external antenna, as the latter tends to put out a stronger signal. Your router probably comes with WiFi antennas that you can add yourself, but if it doesn't (or if you got rid of them long ago), many router manufacturers sell antennas separately.
Add extra antennas will have more range than one without external antennas. You can also try getting a router with higher power output. The external antenna will make the WiFi signal better.
Check Your Wireless Internet Connection and Network
First, make sure that your wireless internet connection is working properly. Check if the access point and port connection are normal. The router has a lot of access points. Make sure your network cable is connected correctly.
If you're only getting a weak WiFi signal or no Wi-Fi signal, but you have a strong wired connection, the problem is likely with your router. You might need to upgrade your router's firmware or buy a new one altogether.
Call the internet service provider if the network is normal or not. Generally speaking, you will be notified if there is a problem with your network service provider, but it is also a matter of determining whether the network is your own.
Are you using many wireless devices and connected at the same time, many wireless devices connected to the network at the same time will also affect the network speed and network signal.
Move Your Wireless Router to The Best Place
There is one reason is that If your wireless router is in a bad spot, for example, it's hidden behind a cabinet or in a corner, then the signal will not reach as far as it could. Obstacles can affect the transmission of radio waves, i.e., the propagation of signals. If you are living alone, then you can place the router in the central location of the room.
Another reason is that there might be interference, such as other electronic devices or metal objects. And finally, the distance between the router and your device can also play a role in signal strength. Move electronic devices that may interfere with your wireless signals away from the router, such as the microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc. Don't leave the signal too far from where you spend the most time. For example, if you spend the most time in the living room, put your wireless router in the living room.
It should be visible and accessible to everyone at home, so you can move the device if needed.
Upgrade Your Router to The Newest Wi-Fi Standard
There are very many kinds of wireless routers on the market. Not only do different wireless routers have different configurations, but most of all their wireless standards.
Make sure you are using the latest generation of Wi-Fi to get the best speed possible, if it is an old Wi-Fi router, consider buying a new wireless router. According to the latest standards of the Wi-Fi Alliance, the latest Wi-Fi routers use the 802.11ax standard. Wi-Fi 6 routers are all using the 802.11ax protocol.
Wi-Fi 6 router uses a technology called "beamforming," which sends targeted signals to your devices instead of broadcasting in all directions at once. This will help reduce interference and give you a stronger signal. Wi-Fi 6 also uses a new wireless technology called "OFDMA," which can support multiple devices with high speed.
Make sure that your Wi-Fi router is compatible with the speed you pay for; if not, upgrade to a new router. For example: If you have VDSL 50/20 Mbit plans or Fiber plans (100Mb), then make sure that your Wi-Fi supports at least 802.11ac
Buy a Wi-Fi Repeater to Boost Your Wireless Coverage
If you have tried all of the tips mentioned above and your Wi-Fi signal is still not what you want it to be, then it might be time to buy a Wi-Fi repeater. A Wi-Fi repeater will amplify the signal and extend the range of your wireless network.
There are many different types of Wi-Fi repeaters on the market, as well as brands; the name brands are usually more expensive. But there are also great quality, low-cost repeaters available.
Update Firmware on Your Router to Improve Performance
Another way to improve your wireless signals and coverage is to update the firmware on your router. Firmware is a type of software that provides control, monitoring, and communication functions for electronic devices.
Updating the firmware on your router can help with performance. It's important to make sure you are downloading firmware from the manufacturer's official website and not from a third-party site.
Some routers will update automatically, but others will require you to do it manually. Check your router's user manual for instructions on how to do it. If you have no idea how to download the latest firmware, you may call your router's manufacturer for help.
Entrance for TP-Link support
Entrance for Linksys support
Entrance for Netgear support
The Room is too Big for The Signal to Cover All
In fact, if your house has multiple floors and your house is large enough (for example, your house has a total area of more than 4,000 square feet). The router's signal might not be enough to cover the entire house. If this is your case, you will need to buy a mesh network system.
A mesh network system uses multiple routers to create a single wireless network that covers your entire house. Your entire house is in the Wi-Fi range.
Some users may ask why they don't use a Wi-Fi extender. The answer is simple: Mesh is more convenient than a Wi-Fi extender. Wi-Fi extenders work with a single router, which is just a signal range extender and they extend the signal of that specific router. The signal range extender has a limited coverage. In comparison, mesh networks create their own network and do not require you to have an existing wireless network.
Mesh can achieve seamless roaming. Mesh without WiFi signal interruptions, lagging, and a host of other problems that can only occur with wireless signal extenders. If you have a lot of mobile phones or other mobile devices, smart devices, mesh is also the most suitable wireless solution.
Upgrade to Mesh Wireless Network System
When you have completed the above methods still can not solve the problem; perhaps you should consider whether to upgrade to a mesh network.
What is a Mesh Wireless Network?
A mesh wireless network is a type of network in which each node (or access point) can communicate with any other node on the network.
This type of system usually comes with more than one node, and they all work together to create a single Wi-Fi network that covers your entire house. Mesh networks are very reliable because if one node fails, another node can take over. Mesh can be connected with limited and wireless connectivity. Imagine how convenient it would be if you were playing online games and walking around the house at will without affecting the wireless signal.
Mesh networks are becoming more popular because they are very easy to set up and they provide good coverage for large homes or offices. They also have a high throughput, which means that you will get a fast connection even if you are far away from the node.
Whole-Home Signal Range Coverage Mesh Wi-Fi Network
Mesh is a more advanced technology than repeaters because it can achieve seamless roaming between nodes. It does not matter if you are on the edge of one node or another. As long as your phone or computer is within range of any node in the mesh network, then you will have Internet access without interruption.
Seamless roaming means you only have one network with one name and password - which means when you're walking around the house. You never have to manually switch from one network to another. Whether you're playing video in the living room, kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom, there's no need to worry about buffering or connection interruptions.
You can increase or decrease the number of satellites in the mesh network system according to your actual needs. If you have a small-middle house, then one or two nodes should be enough. But if your house is large (more than 4000 square feet), then you will need more nodes to achieve full coverage.
Here are three recommended mesh routers with different performance and prices:
Meshforce M7 Tri-band Mesh
- Meshforce M7 is one of the best choices if you want to upgrade your Wi-Fi networks. The mesh router is a tri-band mesh, which it means will be faster than a two-band mesh router. Multiple data streams will improve your wireless speed greatly. M7 mesh router 1 Pack will cover up to 2000 sq.Ft and 3 Packs cover up to 6000 sq.Ft; In a mesh system, there will be a main router, and you can add more mesh nodes as needed. The router's settings are easy too. The price of Meshforce M7 (3 Packs) is about $200, you can click the link to know more. Upgrade to mesh you will never have a weak Wi-Fi signal.
TP-Link Deco AX3000
- TP-Link Deco AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System is also a good choice. Deco AX3000 is a dual-band router, but it is a Wi-Fi 6 mesh, so it can compatible with some devices that support Wi-Fi 6. The Deco AX3000 can cover up to 5800 square feet, and also has easy router settings. The price of TP-Link Deco AX3000 (3 Packs ) is about $330.
NETGEAR Orbi AX3000
- NETGEAR Orbi AX3000 is a Tri-Band Mesh with WiFi 6 System. It has a high performance. The Orbi can coverage Up to 6,000 Square Feet. High performance comes with a high price, so if you have a gigabit network in your home and need an extremely high-performance router, you might want to consider it. The price is about $450.
The router's performance is not the only factor you should consider when purchasing a mesh network. You need to consider your actual needs, ultra-high performance for most users to come, in daily life also less things to use.. You also need to take into account your budget and the number of devices that will be connecting to the network.
Conclusion
Signal coverage is one of the most frequently discussed issues among Internet users. Mesh is one of the best ways to solve the signal compared to the previously mentioned solutions. The mesh networks as a signal dome over any place you need it to be. Mesh can achieve full home coverage of WiFi signals. So if you have a large house or office and your current wireless network is not strong enough, it's time to consider whether you should upgrade to mesh.
