To get the best performance from your Wi-Fi, you can do a lot more than simply place the router close to your gadgets. If you have multiple users at home or play resource-heavy video games, you’ll want to milk every drop of power out of your router—and there are a few ways to do so.
1Wi-Fi Bands
There are three Wi-Fi bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. The Wi-Fi band you use has an impact on your network speed. The second fastest of the three bands is 5.0 GHz. The benefit of this frequency is that it’s more than twice as fast as the 2.4 GHz band. If you’re using a lot of resource-intensive programs, it’s best to use this frequency. The issue is that the 5.0 GHz frequency doesn’t travel well. If you have a big home and only one access point, it’s possible that the Wi-Fi signal isn’t reaching the far corners of your home. If that’s the case, you may want to switch to 2.4 GHz.
There are three Wi-Fi bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. The Wi-Fi band you use impacts your network speed and range.
If you’re using data-hungry programs or services, you’re better off using the 5GHz Wi-Fi band. However, if your devices are further away from the router, you’ll need to use the 2.4GHz band to ensure good connectivity.
Thenewest Wi-Fi frequency is 6GHz. This frequency delivers twice as many gigabits per second than the 5.0 GHz band. However, while most routers allow users to choose between 2.4 and 5.0 GHz, only the newest routers have 6GHz.
2Quality of Service (QoS)
What if you could prioritize the data being sent to certain devices? Let’s say, for example, that whenever you stream a movie on your Roku TV, it experiences a high jitter rate, causing it to buffer. If this is the case, you can go into your router settings and configure the QoS setting to prioritize traffic sent to your Roku TV.
Your home resembles a tiny office, with many devices using up resources simultaneously. This can cause traffic to build up the same way it does during rush hour. Prioritizing certain devices over others is like cutting the line to ensure one device’s needs are addressed before another’s.
3Wi-Fi Channels
AWi-Fi channel is a frequency rangeon which a router broadcasts its signal. 2.4GHz Bands use 14 channels, 5.0GHz bands have 34, and 6.0GHz bands boast 59 channels. Routers transmit their signals using radio waves, just like radio stations. However, routers must use different channels, or they may cause interference.
The same thing happens to your Wi-Fi when you’re surrounded by other routers using the same channel you’re on. If you live in an apartment building or densely populated neighborhood, it’s possible you’re sharing a congested channel. To find a channel with less interference,use a tool such as a Wi-Fi analyzer.
4Router Firmware Update
It’s second nature to update the apps and operating system on your smartphone, computer, laptop, and so on. But when was the last time you updated your router’s firmware?Firmware is a type of software that interacts with the hardwareand allows it to communicate with software.
Your router might automatically check and run firmware updates. If this process is not automatic, you’ll have to manually check for and run updates. Firmware updates aren’t as common as application updates. However, they do happen. Be sure to check for firmware updates every six months or so. If your device needs a firmware update, it’s because it has a vulnerability or bug that needs addressing or because performance improvements can be made. Regardless of the reason, if you receive a notification for a firmware update, you should accept it.
While these are all technical adjustments, perhaps the easiest and most effective change is moving your router closer to your devices. Considering how much time we spend online, a slow connection can be the bane of our lives, but using these features to turbocharge your home internet speed is a simple process!
