1-417-627-9878
If you’ve ever been in a hurry at work but put on pause because of a spotty internet connection, you’re not alone. Slow speeds and uneven wireless coverage can significantly impact individual productivity and your company’s overall success.
However, poor Wi-Fi connectivity can often be more than easy to fix. Here are a few simple solutions to try out the next time your connection gives you problems.
Update your hardware
If you purchased your router years ago, you are likely running on an old standard, which tends to cap at fairly low bandwidths. This means that even if you attempt to tweak your software, you will not be able to boost your full potential WiFi capabilities. The latest technology is the 802.11 AC Wave 2 standard.
Upgrade your firmware
The purpose of software updates is to ensure that your router performs well, maximizing speed and increasing security. This is something that you can discuss with a professional IT consultant. Alternatively, you can invest in a mesh network. These smaller routers typically operate with one “base station” router, which is ideal for larger spaces. This option also allows you to better track what’s going on within your network, including the devices connected and the sites visited.
Consider a wireless range extender
If your signal is typically too weak in terms of your needs, this may just be due to the size of the room and/or building. All routers are only able to broadcast up to a set distance. Once you or your devices go outside of that set zone, the signal gets weaker and weaker. In this case, you may simply need a wireless range extender (also known as a WiFi extender).
Relocate your router
If your router is tucked away in a closet, alongside other gadgets and technical equipment, you will not get the most out of your WiFi signal. While nearby technology blocks interference, the closet walls also weaken the signal (along with furniture, doors, and floors). To remedy this issue, position your router as high as possible in order to maximize coverage. Some offices even attach their router to the ceiling, ensuring that it successfully reaches as many employees as possible.
Tune into the right channel
Depending on where you are located, routers from nearby neighbors may interfere with your signal. Just as a poorly located router will degrade your signal, conflicting router signals can also result in unreliable WiFi connectivity. To combat this issue, make sure that you are operating on a channel that has little interference. There are some tools available for such a task, including WiFi Analyzer.
These simple solutions are more than capable of remedying a spotty Wi-Fi connection. But if problems persist, feel free to reach out to our team of IT experts. We’d love to lend a hand.
