How to Boost Wi-Fi Signal Without Expensive Upgrades

How to Boost Wi-Fi Signal Without Expensive Upgrades

Many people experience problems with the Wi-Fi signal in their homes. It’s an unfortunate reality that Wi-Fi signals can become weak or even be lost completely in homes for many different reasons. Luckily, there are also multiple things you can do to solve this problem. It’s worth trying the options we list below because they are low-cost and don’t require you to go out and buy new equipment or upgrade your internet plan. Read on to learn more about what causes a Wi-Fi dead zone and how to boos home Wi-Fi signal. As always, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us. We are your source for Whole Home Wi-Fi and other tips to fix slow Wi-Fi!

Why is My Wi-Fi Signal Weak?

There can be many answers to this question. The signal could be weak due to your equipment settings, interference such as from walls in the home, distance from the router, and more. When we install Whole Home Wi-Fi, we look for all of these potential problems and more to make sure your signal is strong throughout the home.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve a weak signal. First, we will look at some of the most common Wi-Fi issues, then we will offer some helpful solutions that could boost your home Wi-Fi signal so you can enjoy the internet throughout your home.

Common Wi-Fi Issues

Some of the most common Wi-Fi issues we see include:

Slow Speeds

If you are experiencing slow speeds, it could be an indication that you need to find a way to boost your home Wi-Fi signal. Slow internet speeds are a common problem when the Wi-Fi signal is not strong in an area of your home. You may notice lag, stuttering video and other problems if your speed gets slow enough.

You can test your internet speed on any device with an internet connection and a browser using our speed test. Just click “Go” and you can find out if the speed is not up to your expectations.

Dead Zones

A Wi-Fi dead zone is an where you can’t get a signal. They are considered “dead” because no signal is available in the area. Usually, dead zones result from physical interference with the Wi-Fi signal. For example, you might find a dead zone in your basement if your router is located a floor or two above.

These dead zones can usually be fixed with the right approach, such as the installation of a Whole Home Wi-Fi system that extends the signal into the area. It’s also possible that moving the router to a different location could solve the problem.

Buffering During Streaming

A sign of a weak Wi-Fi signal is when streaming buffers. When you stream a show and it stops buffering, it can be very annoying. If it keeps happening, it can make watching impossible.

Buffering is typically a sign that the available internet connection is not enough to deliver the data stream necessary to display the show. The show stops to buffer so the data can catch up. Improving signal strength and/or reducing other demands on the Wi-Fi network are usually necessary to stop buffering.

Dropped Connections

If you are noticing dropped connections with your Wi-Fi network, you are probably running into interference with the signal, so it’s not strong enough in your area. That, or there are too many devices and/or too much internet usage already happening on the network.

How to Address Wi-Fi Problems

There are multiple things you can do to try and fix slow Wi-Fi, dead zones, and other related problems. These include:

Router Placement

Sometimes all you need to do to improve your Wi-Fi signal is to place the router in a better position. Some helpful router placement tips include: ➤ Position in a central location in the home ➤ Elevate the router off the floor, like on a table or shelf ➤ Place away from other electronics ➤ Point antennas toward where the signal is needed ➤ Avoid corners or closets

Settings Adjustments

You can go into your router’s settings using your internet browser. Follow the instructions provided with your router to access the settings. Some setting adjustments that might help include:

➤ Enable both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands ➤ Choose a less congested channel like 1 or 6 ➤ Update firmware

Interference Reduction

Many things can interfere with your router’s signal. These include walls, floors, and other dense objects, such as metal shelving.

Device Management

There may be too many devices connected to your network. You can go into your router’s settings to identify all of the connected devices. It’s also possible to prioritize the device connections, so you can make the router prioritize the signal to the most important devices in your home.

Your Trusted Provider of Wi-Fi Solutions

Our goal is to help you get the most out of your internet connection. You can take advantage of our self-installation guides to ensure your network is set up properly. We can also answer questions if you are having problems with your Wi-Fi. If none of the tips above solve your signal problems, it might be time to consider upgrading your internet plan and/or getting new hardware. But we advise trying all the tips above and contacting us for troubleshooting first. Still struggling with weak Wi-Fi? Let WOW! help you enjoy fast, whole-home coverage today.