Connecting a router to the network to surf with PC and mobile phones is easy, making it go at full speed is another matter. Unlike the wired Ethernet network, wifi has weaknesses that can cause data transmission slowdowns in the network caused by signal degradation, interference, dead zones and other things.
To optimize the wifi network and speed up the data transmission of the router there are several things that can be done, simple configuration operations that can really change the situation for the better.
1) Limit interference and change the channel
This is certainly the most relevant problem of Wifi internet connections in highly populated environments.If you use a smartphone or a computer to scan nearby networks and you notice that there are many, consider the possibility that they interfere with each other creating disturbances that slow down the network speed.
Given the importance of the problem, we have dedicated a specific guide on how to avoid interferences on wifi from neighbors' networks, reassuring everyone that there is nothing difficult on a technical level.
Basically, those who live in a place heavily populated by wifi networks, would do well to buy a router that supports the 5GHz band that has many non-overlapping channels on which to transmit data.
About the wifi channels, read the guide on how to change the wireless channel to use the most powerful wifi signal .
2) Restart the router every day, automatically
Most newer routers wouldn't need to be rebooted often, but something healthy remains for this type of electronic device, which costs nothing.It is no coincidence that every time you call the support call center for network problems the first thing you are asked to do is a restart of the router.
Another article explains how to restart the router automatically with a .vbs script to be written to a text file and saved in scheduled Windows operations.
3) Change antenna and extend the wifi signal
The antenna (or antennas) on most routers is of poor quality.The consequence is a short or uncommon signal in the home or office.
There are a few ways to expand the Wifi signal, as seen in another article.
You can then use a Powerline adapter that passes the signal through the electrical network or a wifi extender, which acts as a signal amplifier in more distant rooms.
In many routers it is possible to change the antenna by unscrewing it and replacing it with a longer one or with one that, by wire, can bring the signal to an area more free from obstacles, walls, mirrors and glass.
Antennas can be bought on Amazon .
4) Disable the older Wireless protocols (change wifi network card)
The most recent routers work on the 802.11ac protocol or at least on the 802.11n which is very fast.However, if you had an old PC, whether fixed or portable, it is worth checking, in the device manager or in the details of the wireless network card (go to the Control Panel, then to Network and Internet > Network connection center -> Change settings tab > right click on the wifi network> Properties> Configure> Advanced ) if you have a Wireless N, 802.11ac network card or if it is 802.11g or 802.11b.
If you find a bog type wifi network card then you must change it by buying a new network card from a desktop PC or USB (for laptops).
We realize that we have an old network card also in the general card of the wifi network connection where a maximum speed of less than 100 Mbps is indicated.
In another article you can find how to change or add the wifi card to the PC and which one to buy.
5) Update the router
Just like any other electronic device, routers receive regular firmware updates from their manufacturers.These updates are often security fixes and are unlikely to have an impact on network speed, but are nonetheless helpful in resolving any problems in particular configurations.
To update the router's firmware, enter the router's configuration panel and find the Upgrade item to understand which version is installed.
If the update is not automatic, search Google for the manufacturer's website or the firmware found to see if there is a newer version, download it as a Zip file and then upload it to the configuration panel by pressing the Choose file button.
If you want to tinker and with some router models it is possible to update the firmware by installing a DD-WRT, an open source firmware full of configuration options and very performing.
6) Move the router to a better location
The location of the router is very important because it must be placed in an area without interference and without impediments that can block the signal.In addition, the structure of the walls, the hardness of the concrete and the building material of the house could interfere with the wireless signal, weakening it a lot and preventing it from entering all the rooms with good intensity.
In another article it is explained how to have better coverage of the wifi router at home, perhaps by drawing a network map to know where it takes the best signal .
READ ALSO: 10 Main Options on the Wifi Router: web access and configuration
7) Secure the router to prevent us from stealing the wifi connection
It is obvious that if other people connect to our wifi router, the connection can slow down even considerably if they start downloading large amounts of data.To avoid this, we have seen how to secure your home Wifi connection and protect yourself from network intrusions and how to configure a Wireless Router to install a secure wifi network at home .
8) Activate QoS
As explained in another article, it is possible to activate QoS (Quality of service) on the router to enhance the internet. QoS is simply an option that allows you to direct and optimize the internet bandwidth towards an application (a program or a hardware device) compared to others.These are not difficult from a technical point of view, on which, however, you should spend some time to get the best possible from your wifi network, to optimize the signal and speed up the router to the maximum.
