There are just too many examples where services have stopped working or have suffered intermittent performance problems. Using Ethernet is simply the best approach; it just works and cables are cheap. Optimise Wi-Fi for 5 GHz rather than interference-ridden 2. Several of our tips are concerned with setting up and optimising Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi routers typically use two frequency bands — 2. While 2. As a result, maximum speeds at 2. Furthermore, there is generally significantly more interference at 2. If you do not have any Wi-Fi devices that operate only at 2. This will force all Wi-Fi connections to use the superior 5 GHz band. If you have any Wi-Fi devices that only use the 2. Then, you can connect 2. It is critical to note that, since 5 GHz signals do not generally travel as far as 2.
Wi-Fi has limited range and it was never designed to provide excellent coverage across a typical house or office with a single box.
Wi-Fi signals do not take kindly to going through walls. Also, Wi-Fi range at 5 GHz is significantly less than at 2. For the best results, we strongly recommend that you invest in additional Wi-Fi Access Points and, most importantly, connect them together using Gigabit Ethernet. This will ensure that your devices will handover seamlessly to the best Access Points while preventing multiple Access Points from interfering with each other.
If you really must choose a wireless backhaul solution, opt for a more advanced mesh product and avoid an extender. With the widespread availability of low-priced, flat Ethernet cables, which can be easily hidden beneath carpet, laying Ethernet cables is not a huge hassle, particularly given the performance benefits you will reap. Also, basic Access Points tend to be very affordable. Measure Wi-Fi interference levels and manually select optimum channels and bandwidths.
With a proliferation of WiFi-enabled devices in most homes, your Wi-Fi connection is generally being bombarded by lots of unwanted interference. With the increasing number of devices in most homes and with a drive, by equipment manufacturers and users, to increase Wi-Fi speeds necessitating the simultaneous use of more and more Wi-Fi channels , interference particularly in the 2.
As explained in our comprehensive Wi-Fi guide , using one of a number of applications and software programs, it is easy to measure Wi-Fi interference levels on a channel basis and manually configure your Wi-Fi router or access point to use Wi-Fi channels with the least interference.
We use an application called Wi-Fi Explorer. Using such an application allows you to view the interference your Wi-Fi network is experiencing on every Wi-Fi channel. This information enables you to manually select the channel s with the least amount of interference. While some equipment manufacturers claim that their equipment does automatic channel selection, we have found that such functionality generally does not work very well and you are out of control of the process. With 2. There are only three 20 MHz discrete channels 1, 6 and 11 at 2.
Restricting Windows Update is great; you should consider doing the same for other apps. Some, like backup and cloud storage apps, let you restrict bandwidth usage in their settings. For example, with Dropbox, you can click its icon in your System Tray, then click your profile icon and choose Preferences.
In the resulting window, select the Bandwidth tab and you can limit the Download rate and Upload rate. What if you want to limit the bandwidth usage of an app that doesn't have this option built-in?
We've covered apps that let you limit the internet bandwidth programs use on Windows. At the top where you see your current connection, click the Data usage button and you'll see a breakdown of usage by app.
This gives you an idea of which ones you might need to limit. Windows 10 allows you to set a connection as metered.
This is handy when you need to conserve how much data you use on a Wi-Fi hotspot from your mobile provider, for example. But if you accidentally enabled this option for your home network, certain apps and features can slow themselves down to save data. On the Status tab, click the Properties button that appears below your current connection name. In this menu, under the Metered connection heading, disable the Set as metered connection slider if it's on.
If nothing above has worked to increase your Wi-Fi speed, you might consider adjusting the DNS servers that your computer or entire network uses. DNS, or Domain Name System, is a protocol that translates human-readable website names like makeuseof. When your computer has to make a DNS request, it goes through a server equipped for this purpose.
To do this, type Control Panel into the Start menu to open that utility. Change the View by field in the top-right to Large icons or Small icons if needed, then choose Network and Sharing Center. There, next to the Connections text, click the link with the name of your connection. In the resulting window, click the Properties button at the bottom. In the list that appears, double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4. Then, at the bottom, select the Use the following DNS server addresses button.
The more widely adopted Just as newer routers can utilize available frequencies more efficiently, new devices will be designed to work with them. There was a significant difference between the two speed tests. In fact, on the HP Envy, the more limited processing power often results in more than 90 percent lower speeds run through that computer. Part of that lower speed from Speedtest.
For many consumers, upgrading equipment can be an understandably expensive affair. Alternatively, you may be able to update just your PC or laptop with network cards and processors. This can allow you to enjoy faster speeds without paying for entirely new equipment. Or, you can purchase a USB wireless adapter that can utilize newer standards, saving money over purchasing a new computer.
Web browsers are a key offender, as are online file storage applications like Dropbox, or automatic data backup services like AOMEI Backupper. On a Windows computer, you can check your Task Manager to see which apps are pulling down data. After opening Task Manager, do a simple scan of your Network section.
If you find a process drawing data on your network, you can close it down easily from task manager. Related: You can also look into using a bandwidth limiter to control application usage. Software issues can range from old firmware running on your router to viruses infecting your computer.
If your router has a touchscreen, you can check for firmware updates there. Are you using the latest version of your internet browser? Alternatively, you might want to explore various other web browsers to see which one might offer you the fastest, most secure browsing experience.
As you can see, the web browser you use can make a difference in both upload and download speeds. And this, again, goes back to processing power. Different browsers are built to process data more or less efficiently, so the browser can have an impact on how quickly websites and video streams load.
Your browser stores cookies and other files to help you load sites faster. However, the cache can also be the reason you might find slower page loading results or loading errors.
Clearing cache can help load pages and services faster in the long run. Mysteriously slow connections could also be the result of a virus on your computer. Malware, spyware or other types of viruses could be hiding on your system, sending and receiving data. As a result, you could be getting less speed than you want because a virus on your machine is using up a chunk of your available bandwidth. Additionally, malware could be drawing on your processing power, resulting in a similar effect on the infected machine.
We suggest starting with a free antivirus or malware removal program first. Beyond that, you may find some valuable protection using a paid malware removal option. For some internet users, moving the wireless router to a more centralized location is just not an option.
In those cases, you may want to purchase a wifi repeater, range extender, or upgrade to a mesh network. As the name suggests, a wifi repeater will get the signal from your wireless router and rebroadcast it outward. There are obvious limitations here. A wireless extender works almost the same way as a repeater.
The key difference between the two is that a wireless extender typically sends the signal it receives over a different channel. Some network extenders work through a wired method that allows you to extend your network signal at the same strength as the router, but from a different location, eliminating some of the issues with typical repeaters or extenders. Among the newest types of wireless systems, mesh networks get their name from the way they create wifi coverage.
This helps eliminate dead or weak spots. The devices in a mesh network operate similarly to a repeater, except that each device operates like an individual wireless router instead of just repeating a signal. And each device communicates with the other devices in the mesh network to help ensure you get the best signal regardless of where you are located.
Google Wi-Fi is currently one of the most popular mesh networks available, but there are others on the market as well. These systems are typically more expensive than a simple repeater or extender, however, and are more designed for larger homes and buildings. Only consider this option if you have a large home and need the extra coverage. A firewall is a form of network security that filters your incoming and outgoing data. Simply by the nature of its operation, a firewall will slightly slow down your potential internet speeds.
If you happen to have additional software installed, such as a virtual private network VPN or antivirus, you may experience additional slowdowns as well as these services may add additional layers that result in slower connection speeds.
Antivirus programs often include their own firewalls on top of the one already included with your operating system, while VPNs add multiple layers of protection to your connection and ultimately lead to decreased download speeds.
To increase your speed, you may want to go down to just one firewall. See Your Providers. Wi-Fi is great, but wired connections are faster and more reliable. If you have high-priority devices like a desktop, gaming console, or smart TV, it might be worth your while to plug them in to your router with an Ethernet cable instead of relying on Wi-Fi. Your Ultimate Guide to Speeding Up. The Consumers Guide to Internet Speed. Author - Rebecca Lee Armstrong.
Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet. Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.
When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span. Before we begin. After that, enter your zip code below to find a faster plan in your area if needed : Search by zip code Search Providers. Turn things off and on again. Move your router to a better location.
Connections best for 2. Prune unnecessary connections. Change your Wi-Fi frequency channel. Replace your equipment. Extend your Wi-Fi network. There are a few different devices you can use to increase the reach of your network: Wi-Fi boosters sit between your router and the dead zone and either amplify or redistribute existing Wi-Fi signals into the new area.
Wired access points connect to your router via an Ethernet cable and can distribute Wi-Fi and LAN signals as an extension of your router, similar to a Wi-Fi booster. Many devices can be used as access points, including old routers. Powerline extender kits come with two devices—you connect one to your router via Ethernet and plug it into an outlet.
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