You probably started thinking about Wi-Fi speed when the movie you were watching froze. Or when your files are not uploaded to the cloud. Or when your web browser keeps spinning without loading the page you want. Millions of users around the world connect their wireless devices to Wi-Fi. No doubt these users want to know how they can increase Wi-Fi speed for better entertainment streaming, uploading and downloading large files and wireless gaming experience.
Thanks to recent innovations such as the big leap in Wi-Fi 6 technology, today's Wi-Fi is about 3 times faster than previous generations.2 Since Wi-Fi speed is usually related to internet connection range, there are several ways to improve performance in your home.
We'll show you below how to determine your device's Wi-Fi generation. Here are some additional terms you should know about Wi-Fi connections:
- 1. Speed—New Wi-Fi technologies transfer data faster than previous generations. Faster connection means faster Wi-Fi speeds. Coverage and Capacity—Wi-Fi speed is a piece of the puzzle.
- 2. You want your router to provide better Internet speed to more devices farther away. The new 160 MHz capable routers provide excellent capacity and coverage.
It can stream movies, games, videos easily with faster Wi-Fi connection; can safely run other data-intensive applications; can reduce the waiting time; You can get high quality data for images, graphics and communication.
Why Is Your Wi-Fi Connection Slow?
There are many possible causes of slow connection speed. Physical barriers such as walls and floors can interfere with wireless signals. The distance between the device and the access point and the number of devices using your Wi-Fi network also affect the connection speed. Even simple solutions like adjusting your router's ground clearance can affect performance.
Make sure you talk to your internet service provider and pay for the speed you need. Different providers offer different speeds, and you may not be using the package that best suits your connection needs.
The three main factors that affect the speed of your internet connection are: router location, technology, and number of connected devices.
Ways to Increase Your Wi-Fi Speed
1.Place your router in an open area: Since Wi-Fi stands for wireless, connection speed is affected by factors such as distance, obstacles ( such as walls, floors, ceilings ), electronic interference, and the number of users connected to the network. All of these factors cause slow Wi-Fi connection speed.
For the best signal strength, place the wireless router in an open area on the main floor of your home, away from walls and obstructions. Ideally, you should place it above the floor, above the furniture. Keep away from other electronic devices that may cause interference, such as microwaves, baby monitors, and cordless phones. You can also try placing the antennas diagonally, one horizontally and the other vertically.
Would you like to know where in your home is out of range of wireless coverage? Use a mobile app like CloudCheck* to test it. This way you can also find where the signal strength is best and determine a good location for your router. Think of it like the Wi-Fi feng shui philosophy of your wireless router.
2. Use available Wi-Fi technologies: Technologies are changing rapidly and one of the best ways to speed up your wireless network is to use the latest hardware. Wi-Fi 6 ( 802.11ax ) is the biggest leap forward in wireless technology in the last decade; higher speed2, lower latency3, higher capacity4 for computers, mobile phones, home routers and gateways. Older and lower-performance technologies such as Wireless-N ( 802.11n ) and Wireless-AC ( 802.11ac ) are still used in most mobile and IoT devices; but other technologies are now almost obsolete.
Newer Wireless-AC routers provide data transfers up to three times faster than older Wireless-B/G/N models and offer "dual band" capability, so you can free up channels for older wireless devices to access.
The new Wi-Fi 6 routers deliver data transfers about 3 times faster2 compared to standard Wi-Fi 5 solutions and offer "dual band" capability, so you can free up space in channels for older wireless devices to access.
3. Limit devices and optimize settings: Of course, you'll want to choose the latest Wi-Fi connection with WPA and password-secure your Wi-Fi network so you don't let your neighbors watch movies over your wireless connection.
You may also want to make sure your wireless router has the most up-to-date firmware and drivers. While most new routers do the internal update process, you may need to access the router settings to manually update or go to your device manufacturer's website for bug fixes.
You can also fine-tune the channel selection on your router. Most wireless routers are set to run on channel 6 by default. If your neighbors' routers are also running on channel 6, this channel may be congested due to the number of connected devices. Using a tool like Wi-Fi Analyzer* or Wi-Fi Scanner* you can identify router channels with higher bandwidth and improve Internet speed.
If your router is relatively new, it should be able to switch between two radio frequencies, 2.4 GHz (older standard) and 5 GHz (newer standard). Smart wireless routers can choose the best frequency for you and your environment. Each frequency has multiple channels: 14 channels at 2.4 GHz and 30 channels at 5 GHz. In other words, if your router has the feature of automatic switching between frequencies, it can choose from 44 channels. You can check your wireless router settings to see if it has automatic switching between channels and frequencies for optimum tuning.
