So, you’ve just spent a hefty chunk of your paycheck on a new router, and you gradually begin to realize that its speed isn’t exactly up to par. Luckily, this normally doesn’t have anything to do with the quality of the router. The problem most likely lies with the way it is configured and/or positioned. A weak wifi signal or slow transfer speed can be troublesome, but you’ll be happy to know that there are some simple things that you can do to remedy this issue.
- Consider its position – Most people are under the impression that it doesn’t matter where in the house the router it placed because they think the signal will be great regardless of its position. This is actually very far from the truth. The truth is that knowing where exactly to place your router can be the difference between a strong signal and a weak signal. Remember, the weaker the signal is, the slower the connection will be. Place your router in a strategic place such as the center. If your house has three floors, place it in near the center on the second floor. You’ll also need to make sure that there aren’t any obstructions such as metal objects or brick walls. Obstructions such as these can really cut a wifi signal down to size.
- Purchase a repeater – You may have found that moving your wireless router hasn’t exactly solved the problem. If this is the case, a repeater is very likely to remedy the issue. A repeater is simply a device that is placed within the wireless network’s range, and it simply broadcasts the wireless signal even further. These are particularly helpful if you’ve got an exceptionally long or narrow home, or if you’ve got a multiple story home. Related read: Extend the Wi-Fi Range With These 9 Wi-Fi Repeaters
- Try changing the router’s channel – The truth is that many electronic household objects operate on a radio frequency just as your router does, and if they’re operating on the same frequency, things could get hairy. You could ultimately troubleshoot the issue by changing your router’s channel. This can be done in your within your router’s settings, and it’s simply for almost anybody to do it. However, there are a few programs on the market that will do this for you in the case that you don’t feel comfortable messing around in the settings, and one of them is called “NetStumbler.”
- Make sure your problem isn’t the wireless adapter – It’s always recommended that you don’t always narrow the problem down to your router. If you’ve been using the same wireless adapter to connect to your network all along and you’re still experiencing trouble, you may want to take a closer look at your wireless adapter. To check if the adapter is the problem, bring it to a friend’s house or public place that has free wifi. If your wireless adapter has trouble with the signal in other places too, it may very well be your culprit. Purchase another wireless adapter to rule all possibilities out other than your router.
- Try updating your router’s firmware as well as relevant drivers – The truth is that hardware developers aren’t perfect, and not all devices are going to work flawlessly. The problem you’re experiencing may be a result of outdated firmware or drivers, so go ahead and get the latest of each for your router and adapters. The router’s firmware can typically be updated through the gateway settings, and adapter drivers can usually be found on the manufacturer’s website. This is a guest post by Kip who is a writer covering technology news for a leading broadband comparison website based in Australia where you can read detailed guides to a range of fast broadband plans.
