As you get farther from your network, your Wi-Fi connection drops. For greater connectivity, try these Wi-Fi signal boosting techniques!
The Wi-Fi signal is valuable. Your Wi-Fi connection will inevitably begin to deteriorate as you get farther from the router. If you travel far enough, you will reach the black region, where Wi-Fi cannot be used. You might be interested in learning how to improve your Wi-Fi signal in such case. Can you make it stronger all throughout the house? entering the yard Your neighbors, please?
You can, is the response. Here's how to improve your Wi-Fi signal and increase the range of your Wi-Fi so you never again experience signal loss.
How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal and Increase Wi-Fi Range
How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal
- Switch to an 802.11ac or 802.11ax router.
- Improve Wi-Fi connection by moving your router.
- For more widespread Wi-Fi signal, use wireless mesh.
- Invest in new Wi-Fi antennae and receivers.
- Use a Wi-Fi extension (AKA repeater) (AKA repeater).
- Build a Wi-Fi antenna booster yourself.
- Firmware updates for routers.
- Switch the Wi-Fi channel.
Let's examine each choice in more depth.
1. Upgrade Your Router to 802.11ac or 802.11ax
A router update is one of the simplest ways to increase Wi-Fi signal. Your Wi-Fi performance is subpar if you are still utilizing an 802.11g or 802.11n router from the past. A new router utilizing the most recent 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard does not have the same power or signal throughput as an older router using an earlier Wi-Fi standard.
The rate at which data may be sent across comparable transmission lengths between the older standards and the more recent 802.11ac standard may be the most important difference. For illustration:
- 802.11n, released in 2009, can broadcast around 600Mbps (around 75MB/s) over a maximum range of 300 feet outdoors and approximately 150 feet indoors. Whereas,
- 802.11ac, released in 2014, can broadcast at around 1.13Gbps (around 166.25MB/s) over a similar range.
The difference is night and day.
What Is 802.11ax?
Every few years, the IEEE updates the 802.11 wireless standards. The most popular Wi-Fi protocol in use today is 802.11ac, which first appeared in routers in 2014.
The IEEE was planning to implement the most recent 802.11ax Wi-Fi standard in 2019 with router makers and other device developers. Like all Wi-Fi standard improvements, 802.11ax boosts speed, range, and the variety of devices that may connect to a single router at once. Your network's Wi-Fi channel count has also increased significantly with 802.11ax, adding 256 sub-channels to reduce network congestion. Even though switching from ac to ax Wi-Fi has many benefits, most customers don't often prioritize replacing their Wi-Fi router.
Solution: Upgrade to an 802.11ax router if you can afford the cost. Even with 802.11be, the replacement for ax, in the horizon, you're future-proofing your home network for the subsequent generation of wireless gadgets that will unavoidably enter your house.
Don't worry too much, though; an 802.11ac router will keep your home network online for at least another ten years.
2. Move Your Router to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal
If you place your Wi-Fi under the stairs, your signal will be weaker. Or under a chunk of steel covered in aluminum foil, in a cabinet, etc. Seriously, when thinking about how to increase your Wi-Fi range, router placement is crucial. Putting your router behind a big, solid item will definitely reduce the range of your Wi-Fi signal.
In order for the Wi-Fi signal to spread widely, a corridor in the middle of your home is typically the optimum position. Of course, it's not always feasible to do that.
Move your router away from debris, heavy objects, and other objects that can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal as a solution. If it's feasible, think about relocating your router using longer connections.
3. Use Wireless Mesh to Improve Wi-Fi Coverage
A wireless mesh network is a great technique to make sure your house has a steady Wi-Fi signal. To provide a reliable Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire home (or workplace, etc.), mesh Wi-Fi often makes use of many network devices. As a consequence, your downstairs hallway receives the same signal as your upstairs bathroom, and so on.
The mesh network employs a single, unified wireless network as opposed to a Wi-Fi signal extender, which produces another extended network. Mesh networks have long been utilized in public spaces including festivals, athletic events, and malls. Mesh Wi-Fi, however, has entered the house in recent years.
Additionally, wireless mesh networks make extension simple. Most wireless mesh network devices join to the current network fairly instantly, saving you time from having to configure a Wi-Fi extension or booster. Wireless mesh networks are a great option in this regard for a number of Wi-Fi range extension scenarios.
Mesh Wi-Fi kits are available at a variety of pricing points, which mainly rely on the coverage, throughput, and quantity of bases needed to cover your entire home with opulent Wi-Fi.
To significantly improve your home network's stability, think about switching to a wireless mesh network.
4. Upgrade Your Wi-Fi Antennas and Receivers
- One of the most tempting advantages of a high-gain router is the potential for an increase in your Wi-Fi broadcast range. It seems like a brilliant concept to provide Wi-Fi in every area of your home from a single router.
- Control over Wi-Fi broadcast: By switching out your high-gain omnidirectional antenna with a directional antenna, you may precisely control the direction of your Wi-Fi broadcast.
- Faster Wi-Fi: In addition to the wider broadcast area, there may be a possible improvement in throughput for greater efficiency.
It's simple and quick to improve your router's antenna in order to increase Wi-Fi signal.
Upgrade Your Wi-Fi Receivers
If you have a device using a plug-in receiver, you can upgrade this. Make sure it utilizes at least 802.11ac, for instance, if your PC connects to the internet using a Wi-Fi dongle. You'll notice a reduced Wi-Fi speed if your device's receiver is outdated.
Solution: Verify the wireless standard of any Wi-Fi receiver twice. It's time for an upgrade if it isn't up to par, at least in terms of 802.11ac.
5. Use a Wi-Fi Extender (AKA Repeaters)
You can utilize a wireless extender if your Wi-Fi connection is still spotty despite having a contemporary 802.11ac router. With the help of wireless extenders, you may increase the Wi-Fi coverage throughout your house without having to deal with extra connections or challenging networking. Wi-Fi extenders are often plug-and-play, however this does depend on the type.
A powerline Wi-Fi extension is maybe the simplest solution. Plug-in powerline adapters fit into the existing power socket in your home. You put in a different outlet close to your router and link the two devices with an Ethernet wire. Then you add another adapter where you need a stronger Wi-Fi signal, and before you know it, every level and room are covered by Wi-Fi.
However, powerline adapters are only as reliable as your home's electrical wiring. A powerline Wi-Fi extension might not provide the signal increase you need if your house is very old. A Wi-Fi extender and a powerline adaptor differ in the following ways.
Solution: Take into account the age of the wiring in your house. A dual-band Wi-Fi extender is a fantastic choice for enhancing Wi-Fi signal if it is quite old. Alternately, look at powerline adapters with dual-band Wi-Fi. Powerline adapters also feature Gigabit Ethernet connections, which is a benefit!
6. Upgrade Your Router Firmware
Router firmware that is in need of repair is one factor that can be harming your Wi-Fi connection. It's usually ideal to update to the most recent version of your router firmware whenever feasible, despite the fact that this is fairly improbable given how seldom router firmware changes occur. If you've been having trouble with Wi-Fi signal or connectivity, a firmware upgrade may bring security and bug improvements.
There are many different custom router firmware choices available, and upgrading your router's firmware is a rather straightforward procedure.
Solution: Check your router's model to see if a firmware update is available. Install it if there is.
7. Change Your Wi-Fi Channel
The Wi-Fi channel that your router utilizes has an impact on your Wi-Fi signal as well. You see, your router most likely transmits on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. There are several channels inside the two bands, some of which overlap and cause interference. By eliminating interference, changing the Wi-Fi channel on your router may help your Wi-Fi connection.
In addition, the most recent Wi-Fi generation, 802.11ax, sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, now includes a second 6GHz Wi-Fi band. You're quite likely to be the only person on your block utilizing the new technology if you can find a router with 6GHz Wi-Fi, which will result in a stronger Wi-Fi signal than ever before.
Change your router's Wi-Fi channel to one with less interference by going into the router's settings.