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The Secrets of Getting Strong WiFi Signal Revealed



WiFi is the invisible friend for a lot of people. It is always there when you need to binge-watch movies/series online all night or to chillax by immersing yourselves in music apps all day. This friend also changes the way you work. You can work from home, from a hotel in Honolulu, from Mars (if Elon Musk’s mission to put WiFi there is successful) or anywhere that WiFi coverage can reach you. Although it is a godsend to us when it works like a charm, WiFi can be one of the most frustrating innovations of the internet age. We all remember the time when the WiFi signal is weak and unreliable, right? Restarting WiFi router could solve this problem but not all the time. If you are a victim of WiFi slowdowns, dead zones, and dropouts,you can find a few basic ways to manage your WiFi router and free yourselves from those WiFi hassles here.

Use up-to-date WiFi routers

As we all know, the world is changing. And so is the internet. It has evolved over time so much that low-speed internet is now almost obsolete. Currently, 100 Mbps is the speed for starter internet plans. If you have been sticking to the same router for years, you may not reach the fastest speed that your “high-speed” internet package had promised you.  Hence, you need to get a newer WiFi router model to get the speed you have actually paid for.

Undoubtedly,WiFi router is the centerpiece of a WiFi network at your place. But, did you know that not all WiFi routers give you equal wireless network? The newer router models you have, the more powerful speed you get. Let us break it down for you. If you have internet package of 100 Mbps and use an oldest 802.11g router (Wireless G), it is impossible to get a wireless transmission speed of more than 54 Mbps. If you upgrade to a newer model (802.11n router or Wireless N), you will get a faster transmission speed of 600 Mbps. For example, the TP-Link Archer C9 AC1900 can handle 100 – 300 Mbps. Or, you may opt for the newest model - the 802.11ac router. It is capable of operating at a maximum transmission speed of 1 Gbps which guarantees the best support for the latest WiFi technology.

In order to reach the fastest WiFi speed that your router can offer, another thing you should do is update the router firmware from time to time. This will ensure you the latest software, performance, and security improvements from router manufacturers.

Pick the right spot for your WiFi router

Kevin Robinson, the vice president of marketing at the non-profit WiFi Alliance, says that placement of a router or access point is key It means the location of your WiFi router actually matters since it significantly affects your WiFi signal strength. The further away you are from your router, the weaker the WiFi signal. In other words, you will experience slow WiFi ifyour connected devices are not within the range of your router. Therefore, to make sure that you will be able to receive adequate WiFi signal in every part of your house, you should set your router up in a central spot of the house rather than in a far corner.

In addition, since WiFi signal is broadcasted in 360 degrees (like ripples in water), you should not leave your router in an enclosed area, on the ground, or behind solid objects like wardrobe and cabinet, which will block its signal transmission.

Stay away from WiFi-signal killers

Your WiFi router does not do its job well if there are mirrors and large metal or stainless steel objects nearby. These objects have reflective surfaces that dispel or bounce off WiFi signals transmitted from the router. This will lead to a drop of both WiFi range and performance.Thus, you should avoid placing your router near a big metal cabinet or on a large iron shelf. Contrasting to mirrors and metal objects, cement and concrete could obstruct the WiFi transmission from your router because they absorb a portion of WiFi radiation. To put it another way, if you enclose the WiFi router within a pile of bricks or a concrete wall, you will not get WiFi coverage anywhere beyond it. Another big enemy for your home WiFi network that you might have never thought of is large amounts of water. Since water is denser than air, it will hinder WiFi signal resulting in WiFi connection difficulty. So, placing your router near an aquarium is obviously not the best idea.

Last but not least, you have to think twice before setting up your router near devices or appliances that emit radio frequency or electromagnetic signals. You know… microwave ovens, cordless telephones, and refrigerators and others of the like. Wireless frequency from such devices can mess up the WiFi transmission signal from your router so much that your WiFi speed will be noticeably slowed down to almost like a crawling sloth.

To sum it all up, we all want “high-speed” internet. Sometimes, upgrading your internet package is not always the solution. Instead of spending more money on the upgrade, check your WiFi router first. The key to reach the maximum internet speed might be closer than you think.