Slow WiFi? Speed it Up!

Here Are 5 Tips to Help Improve WiFi Speeds

Several factors will determine your WiFi speed. A few of these include the age of your router and devices, how far your device is from the router, and how many devices you have connected at the same time.

1. How Old is Your Device? Age Matters. 
   Wireless technology is ever-changing, always striving to get the best output at the fastest speeds. In many cases, by the time you buy your next device (computer, phones, or tablet), it's already considered outdated technology as tech companies race to put out the next device to top them all. If that's the case then even older devices are downright antiquated. The good news is, most newer wireless devices use an 802.11ax (WiFi 6) standard, which enables faster Wi-Fi speeds. Devices using the 802.11n or 802.11ac protocol, are limited to legacy WiFi speeds. So if i've been hanging on to that 10-year-old laptop, it may be time for an upgrade!

2. The Closer You Are to Your Router, The Stronger Your Signal Will Be.
   Another way to get faster WiFi speeds is to stay within 100 feet of your router, and keep your router centrally located to all the devices you'll be connecting to it. Never set your router on the floor or behind closed doors such as in a closet. 

3. Don't Block Your WiFi!
   Dense construction materials such as concrete, metal, wood, and even drywall, can weaken or even block the radio signals that Wi-Fi networks use. Your router emits Wi-Fi signals in all directions, so it's critical to keep the top, sides, and front of your router clear of obstacles.  
4. Is Your Microwave the Culprit?
   When trying to figure out why your WiFi speeds are slow, your first guess probably wasn't the microwave being the culprit, right? Think again! And, there are several other household devices that could be using the same radio frequency as your WiFi device, causing interference. These include, but are not limited to baby monitors, cordless phones and garage door openers. 

5. Connect To A Higher Frequency.
   If signals from your microwave or garage door opener ARE interfering with your WiFi signal, all is not lost. Try connecting to your network's 5 GHz signal to improve performance. Other household items using radio frequency use the 2.4 GHz signal. So, if your WiFi is also using this signal, interference can occur. Jumping up to a 5 GHz signal can eliminate this problem.