Tips to make your home Wi-Fi stronger

Is your home Wi-Fi slow, making it difficult to watch movies online or work? It's time to upgrade.

In many cases, after a period of use, Wi-Fi suddenly becomes weak. For example, when you just moved to a new apartment, the Wi-Fi signal is weak even though the transmitter is still very new without understanding why.

Here are some 'tips' to upgrade the power of your Wi-Fi transmitter.

Wi-Fi transmitter location

Users often do not pay attention to the location of the Wi-Fi transmitter, but in fact, location plays an important role.

For example, placing the Wi-Fi signal in some rooms is good but the bedroom is bad, and placing it in another place will have the opposite effect. Therefore, it is simply a matter of changing the location of the wireless transmitter.

Distance is also a deciding factor: The further away from the transmitter, the weaker the signal.

If you place your computer, tablet, or other electronic devices near the Wi-Fi router, the signal quality will be affected.

You should place the router where your computer can see it if it is your primary Internet access device. In other words, the line of sight between the router and the computer should not be blocked by devices such as microwaves, refrigerators, or landline phones.

Walls: Walls can limit Wi-Fi signals. The thicker and stronger the walls, the more likely they are to weaken the signal. Wi-Fi signals are most vulnerable to solid reinforced concrete walls.

Height: If the house has two floors, you should place the transmitter on the upper floor for better signal. If the house has three floors, you should place the transmitter on the second floor for more even signal coverage.

Transmitter antenna

Usually when installing the Internet, the network provider will give you a router with built-in Wi-Fi function. Although it is a promotional item, the quality of this router is quite guaranteed.

However, if you find that this router is not up to the mark, you should consider replacing it with a better one. A better router means a stronger signal and better quality antennas.

Just like TVs of old, the bigger and stronger the antenna, the clearer the picture. Router antennas work on the same principle, plus more antennas means better signal.

If you don't want to buy a whole new router, consider replacing the transmitting antenna. Most antennas are easily replaceable.

Point your antenna in the direction you want the strongest signal. If your transmitter has multiple antennas, point them all in the same direction for better performance.

USB antenna

If your router doesn't have an external antenna, you might consider purchasing an antenna that connects to your computer via USB to boost the signal.

Solution using USB antenna.

This antenna works as a built-in one but can be repositioned for optimal performance. Make sure you buy an antenna that comes with a cable so you can easily adjust it to the optimal position without moving your computer.

Wi-Fi Range Extender

Another solution is to buy a Wi-Fi range extender, or simply a receiver and repeater.

These devices are fairly inexpensive and compatible with most routers and modems available today. They are useful if you have a large home, and can also help eliminate Wi-Fi “blind spots” in your home.

Update router firmware

Firmware is like the brain of the router, a type of software that helps the device operate stably. The latest firmware also means the router works best.

Most new routers allow you to update the firmware right from within the router's software. It's just that this feature isn't automatic, meaning you have to do it yourself.

So, be sure to search the manufacturer's website to download the firmware update for your router.

Wi-Fi channel

Wi-Fi is just like traffic. If you live in an area with a lot of Wi-Fi signals, like an apartment building, you might experience this.

Technically, routers only operate on certain frequencies, usually 2.4GHz, with 13 different channels. Each channel is only 20 MHz apart from the other two channels. And so, one channel will partially overlap with the other two channels.

When this type of overlap occurs, the signal will weaken, sometimes completely lost if the interference is too strong. Basically, you should choose channels 1, 6 and 11 for the router to avoid this situation.

You can download the free WiFi Channel Scanner application online to see which channel your router and surrounding areas are broadcasting Wi-Fi on, then go to the router's management software to change to the desired broadcasting channel.

Most users leave the signal channel on default and this will inadvertently reduce the signal quality if there are too many transmitters in the same area.

Router frequency

If your router has a 5GHz frequency, use it. This is a new frequency that regular routers don't have, helping to reduce the risk of interference that weakens the Wi-Fi signal.

You can change to 5GHz frequency right in the router's admin page.

Replace new router

The last solution is to buy a new router if the router you are using is too old. An old router means poor performance, low data processing speed and ineffective signal transmission.

According to Zing