Ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal range, speed and strength

John Dong, Director, Tenda India shares some tips on ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal range, speed and strength while Working from Home.

Wi-Fi connection is mandatory to carry out regular office duties from home

Here are some tips to help improve the Wi-Fi connection, speed, and range to help ensure the work from home experience is as smooth as possible.

As the world is battling with Covid-19 Pandemic, people especially office goers have been asked to work from home in order to maintain social distancing. Since social distancing is the only way out to prevent the individuals from any unwanted contact of the virus. It’s been more than 2 months since the lockdown was initiated, it has hampered various sectors and their working cultures and is also creating a lot of social trauma.

For anyone who is working from home, a proper and stable Wi-Fi connection is mandatory to carry out their regular office duties. Many people who didn’t have a Wi-Fi connection prior to the lockdown are now buying one but certainly, there are many challenges that could slow down the internet speed. These problems may not be linked with your Wi-Fi connection but can be associated with other factors. By addressing these problems, one can enjoy a steady and fast internet connection.

John Dong, Director, Tenda India

Tip 1: Purchase a router with 2 or more antennas

The biggest issue for your home’s Wi-Fi
connection is old and aging routers that your Wi-Fi providers install at the
beginning of the service. It is advised to purchase a Wi-Fi router with 2 or
more antennas as these can improve your Wi-Fi range and connectivity as these
antennas omit Wi-Fi signals and more number of antennas will result in faster
internet speed and wider signal spectrum. Also, it will help in connecting with
a number of your devices at one time.

Tip 2: Choose a Wi-Fi channel/band

Nowadays, all new Wi-Fi routers are dual-band;
2.4GHz and 5GHz, which means that they can transmit two simultaneous wireless
signals providing better performance. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies offer
multiple internet transmission channels, but 2.4 GHz only offers 14 channels,
and those 14 transmission channels overlap. The channel overlap can cause data
packets traveling back and forth on neighboring channels to interfere with one
another which clogs up bandwidth and slows down your connection. In contrast, 5
GHz offers 23 non-overlapping channels. Choosing a channel on the 5 GHz band
could minimize the number of other users on your frequency.

Tip3: Angle one antenna up and one to the side

Wi-Fi signals spread out perpendicular to your
router, but Wi-Fi signals weaken when traveling through walls at an angle. You
can angle them to help your Wi-Fi signal travel straight through walls and
retain signal strength. Boost your Wi-Fi signal by angling one antenna to be
vertical so Wi-Fi signals travel directly side to side through walls. Angle the
other antenna to be horizontal so Wi-Fi signals travel directly upward and
downward through the ceiling to other floors.

Tip 4: Move your wireless router to an elevated, clear and central part
of your home

The location of your Wi-Fi router has a big
impact on the strength of it’s signal. Position the device in a high, open a
central spot with limited obstructions for better Wi-Fi signal results.
If your router is on the ground, many of your Wi-Fi signals will travel
horizontally along the floor and reach fewer parts of your home. Placing your
router too close to materials like concrete or brick can limit its ability to
broadcast to the rest of your home. The denser the objects around your wireless
router are, the greater the signal loss.

Tip 5: Reset your router on a timely basis

It sounds simple, but sometimes resetting your
router can speed up your internet. Just as restarting your computer can
suddenly fix unknown computer issues, rebooting your wireless router can
alleviate internet connection problems and boost your speeds.

(John Dong is the Director of Tenda India. Views expressed in the article are of the author.)

Tags: Opinion