4 simple 'tricks' to help speed up Wi-Fi at home

Almost every aspect of modern life is connected to the Internet, from work and entertainment to home utilities. When a service provider experiences a connection failure, daily activities are severely affected.

Even a small interruption can be a huge inconvenience, let alone a complete loss of connection. In fact, an unstable connection, slow speeds, and lag can be more frustrating than a complete loss of connection.

If you find that your Wi-Fi signal is strong but you're still having trouble with speed and stability, the problem may lie in the location of your router. Placing your router in an awkward location, being blocked by walls, or being too far away from your devices can degrade network performance.

Therefore, optimizing the router placement is one of the important steps to ensure a smoother and more stable Internet experience.

1.PutWi-Fi router in a suitable location and ensure wide enough coverage to meet usage needs

Router placement is always the most important factor in ensuring the quality of Wi-Fi connection. However, the performance of the router depends not only on the location but also on the area and structure of the space in your home.

Small houses and apartments (under 140m²):A single wireless access point is usually enough to provide a stable signal throughout the space. However, if there are many obstructions such as thick walls or large furniture, performance may be degraded.

Larger, multi-story house:For large or multi-story spaces, a single router may not be enough to cover the entire area. In this case, a mesh Wi-Fi system is the optimal solution.

The system consists of a main access point (main router) and multiple auxiliary nodes placed in key areas, helping to expand coverage and ensure stable connection throughout the home.

Long Range Routers and Wi-Fi Extenders:These are also solutions to improve coverage. Long-range routers can transmit a stronger signal, while Wi-Fi extenders can amplify the signal to farther areas. However, extenders can slow down your network speed because they have to transmit data through multiple hops.

Regardless of which device you use, the location of your main access point is the most important. Ideally, your router should be located in the center of your home, away from large obstructions such as thick walls, metal, or electronic devices that could interfere with the signal.

If you have many devices connected at the same time or high network usage, consider upgrading your router to a newer version like Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 for optimal performance.

2.Place your Wi-Fi router in a central and high location

You should place your router in a central area of ​​your home to ensure the most even distribution of Wi-Fi signals. However, this is not always easy to do.

Technicians from your service provider often install the router near where the signal cable is brought into your home, which may not be the optimal location for Wi-Fi broadcasting.

If possible, run an Ethernet cable from your modem to a more central location in your home. This can help your router distribute the signal more efficiently, improving coverage and connection speeds throughout your living space.

Height also plays an important role in the performance of the router. Placing the router in a high position helps to minimize signal interference from furniture, walls, or even people moving around the house.

If you don't have a tall bookshelf available to place your router on, you might consider installing a dedicated shelf or placing it on top of a closet to increase coverage.

In addition to optimizing connection speed, a reasonable installation location also helps to enhance network security. When the router is placed in the center, the signal is less likely to leak out, reducing the risk of being exploited by neighbors or strangers.

3. SetWi-Fi router away from interfering electronic devices

One of the biggest household appliances that interferes with Wi-Fi is the microwave. This is because microwaves emit radiation at frequencies very close to the 2.4 GHz band that most Wi-Fi routers use.

When a microwave is running, it can degrade the quality of your Wi-Fi signal, causing slow or temporary connection drops. While most people don’t put their router right in their kitchen, in small apartments or big city homes, limited space sometimes forces the router to be placed near this area.

If possible, keep your router away from microwaves, other wireless devices like cordless phones, Bluetooth speakers, and even home printers, as they can also cause interference.

4. Adjust router antenna to optimize coverage

Every Wi-Fi router has antennas, whether they’re built into the router or protruding like the “rabbit ears” on an old TV. Don’t let their simple appearance fool you, as these antennas play a vital role in broadcasting your Wi-Fi signal. If your router has external antennas, you can adjust them to optimize your coverage.

The antenna radiates signals in all directions, creating a donut-shaped coverage area perpendicular to the antenna body. So if you live in a small house or a one-story apartment, placing the antenna vertically will help the signal cover the space better.

Conversely, if you have a multi-story home, rotating an antenna horizontally can help the signal spread more easily to the upper or lower floors.

The important point is that there is no one-size-fits-all rule. Experiment with different antenna positions and angles to find the optimal setup for your living space.