UTOPIA University: 5 Hidden Wi-Fi Mistakes You’re Making
Hello and welcome back to UTOPIA University. Today we will be discussing something that we’ve all struggled with at some point, slow wi-fi. Let’s jump into it!
Imagine this, you’re paying for fast internet, but netflix keeps buffering and your video call freezes. Now your phone says it has a great connection, but you feel like you’re gonna get ghosted. Maybe you don’t have to imagine that at all – you’re really living it. That is why we’re here to talk about 5 things that could be slowing down your wi-fi and how we can fix them.
Tip #1 Router Placement:
If you have your router on the floor or behind your xbox, then we’ve got a problem. Wi-fi uses radio waves like a car radio or a walkie-talkie. Other signals interacting can cause signal degradation which is obviously unwanted. So, when your video keeps buffering or your zoom call freezes, that’s not just bad luck, it’s physics. So, what can you do? You want your wi-fi router to be placed typically in a central location in your home so that the signal can broadcast throughout the rest of your home and away from devices like a microwave or a refrigerator, as these devices do impact and degrade the signal.
Tip #2 Electronic Interference:
That brings us to tip number 2. Placing your router on something like a microwave, is a terrible idea, as the radio waves will interact and degrade your signal. Same with baby monitors or bluetooth speakers. These will disrupt specifically routers that use the 2.4 GHZ range. Be sure to place your router in a spot that minimizes electronic interference.
Tip #3 Multiple Bands and Channels
Use multiple bands and avoid congested channels. First, log on to the routers web interface to enable all available bands. Typically, you can access the web interface through the router’s smartphone app or by using instructions printed on the device itself. If connectivity issues persist after enabling all available bands, try selecting other bands using information from the router itself, or by doing some detective work with a wi-fi analyzer. The smartphone app is available on both android and ios.
Tip #4 Overloading and Outdated Equipment
If your router is more than 5 years old or if it came free with a plan from 2016, it’s probably struggling to keep up. Your smart fridge, your smart lights, your doorbell camera, even your cat’s wi-fi litter box are all connected and they’re slowing down the party. Be sure to keep your equipment up to date and don’t overwhelm your router!
Tip #5 Maintenance and Updates
Your equipment needs regular maintenance and updates. Just like your smartphone or computer, your router needs to be regularly updated in order to stay on top of the latest security issues as well as performance boosts that could be enabled by an update. Updating the router will not only make them work faster but also make them more secure from outside influence. Check the cable that runs between your router and your modem. Sometimes, these cables can wear down and cause signal degradation or even break entirely. You’ll want to make sure you’re using correctly rated cables. If you’re paying for 10 Gbps of speed, don’t use a cable that is only rated for 1 Gbps of speed.
Now, let’s recap the 5 wi-fi killers. Number 1, bad router placement. You don’t want your router to be on the floor or in a closet, you want it in a central location. Number 2, interference from other devices. You don’t want to put your wi-fi router on top of your microwave or next to a baby monitor as these devices will interfere with your connection. Number 3, checking your band and channel settings. You want to analyze using a smartphone app or similar to make sure that channel you’re gonna be using is the most available. Number 4, using outdated or overloaded equipment. Old routers oftentimes will not be able to support as many devices that new routers can. Honestly, there are a lot of security vulnerabilities out there that might get your old router. Make sure you’re using the most recent devices. Last but not least, number 5, make sure to update your equipment regularly. Since the equipment can have security vulnerabilities, updating it to the latest version will protect not only you but also provide you with a fast connection.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of UTOPIA University! We hope these tips are helpful for you. See you next time!
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