How To Speed Up Your Wi-Fi For Free Now That You’re Working From Home
Image via Shutterstock
Now that you’re relying more frequently on the Wi-Fi at home, you might be concerned about its speed, especially if it’s noticeably slower than the network in your office. Thankfully, it’s not always necessary to pay for an upgrade.
The Washington Post technology columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler has put together a step-by-step guide on how to fix your Wi-Fi connection without forking out any money.
Scroll down for some tips on how to speed up your connection and read the full post here for more details.
Is it your internet or device that’s causing the hiccup?
If your device is years-old and you’ve been getting a wonky connection each time you log into Zoom, there’s a possibility your computer’s horsepower might not support heavier software like video call applications.
First, try restarting your computer because a reboot might be all it needs. If you’re communicating through your phone or tablet, close all open apps except for the one in use.
If all else fails, consider using a separate device dedicated for video calls, even if it’s an older one.
Speed tests
If you suspect your Wi-Fi network is the issue, a few quick speed tests might tell you more.
Go to where your Wi-Fi router is and get as close as possible, then switch off the Wi-Fi on your device(s) before turning it on again. When you’re logged in to the internet, head over to speedtest.net to assess your Wi-Fi connectivity, which should take only a few seconds. Take note of the numbers for the upload and download speeds.
Next, go to a place in your house where you’ve been experiencing slower connectivity and switch your device’s Wi-Fi off and on. Then, visit speedtest.net again and take down the same numbers.
If the speeds in the second part of your house are much lower, it means there’s an issue with your Wi-Fi network and you might be standing in a “dead zone” where signals can’t really get to.
The ideal speeds for video calling or watching Netflix in HD are at least a 10mbps download and 5mbps upload. However, you’ll need a much higher number if there are more devices—including tablets, smart speakers, smart televisions, and video doorbells—and people in your home.
If the speeds between your router and the other part of your home are similar, it means it’s more likely a problem with your internet service than your Wi-Fi; you can attempt to fix that by learning more here.
Move your router
Hit a dead zone? They’re pretty common in houses that are larger or shaped differently, according to Fowler. The rule of thumb is to get as close to your router as possible if you need a higher-speed connection.
You can relocate your router to where you can see it—it’s best to remove obstacles containing water or metal in the way as they’re hindrances to Wi-Fi waves.
Between your floor and the top of your shelf, the latter would be a more suited place to put your router. “Upstairs is better than in the basement,” Fowler added.
Alternatively, try moving your router to the middle of your home so Wi-Fi waves can travel to more places in your abode. If you place the router in a corner, chances are you’re wasting 75-percent of your signal as it could be traveling to your neighbors or to the street.
For more tips on boosting your Wi-Fi speed without added costs, check out Fowler’s full article on The Washington Post.
[via Washington Post, cover image via Shutterstock]
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