How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Russell Kidson
Apr 2, 2023
Updated • Apr 5, 2023
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Struggling with a poor Wi-Fi signal? Here are some ways you can boost your speeds.


 

The challenges of slow browsing, streaming difficulties, dropped Wi-Fi signals, and wireless dead zones can be immensely frustrating in the contemporary world where internet access is deemed as vital as any other basic requirement. Although not as fundamental as breathing, it still holds significant importance for many.

If you are experiencing sluggish Wi-Fi, several tools can assist in testing your internet speed, while a few troubleshooting techniques can help address network problems. In the event that standing next to your wireless router is the only way to get decent reception, implementing some simple tips can help optimize your network and improve its performance. We’ll review these tips for increasing your Wi-Fi signal below.

Opt for a VPN

One of the top ways you can improve internet speeds is with a VPN. Many of these providers have top speeds that you maybe can't obtain from your ISP. When you connect to their servers, you'll have improved internet browsing, streaming, downloading, and more.

The challenge is finding a VPN provider that will suit your needs. While there are some free ones, they are limited in how many countries you can connect to with slow speeds. If you want ultimate performance, you'll sadly have to pay for it. Fortunately, there are some VPNs that stand out above the rest, and I recommend you try one of these:

Here are some other options you can try at home if the VPN service isn't boosting speeds at much as you thought.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Test your internet connection

Don't be too quick to blame your Wi-Fi if you're experiencing slow browsing. First, ensure that your internet connection is functioning correctly by directly connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable. If your laptop lacks an Ethernet port, don't worry! Just get yourself a USB-to-Ethernet adapter.

Next, run a speed test to determine your internet speed. If the speed doesn't match what you're paying for, it's time to call your ISP or replace your modem or router. However, if the speed test does match your internet bill, but your internet still seems slow, it might be worth upgrading to a better plan.

If everything checks out, try running the test again wirelessly while standing right next to the router. If you get good speeds next to the router, but experience connectivity issues elsewhere in the house, it's possible that your Wi-Fi coverage is to blame. But if your internet is still slow while standing right next to the router, it might be time to upgrade your equipment.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Update your router’s firmware

Before you start making any changes to your Wi-Fi setup, consider updating your router's firmware. Router manufacturers are always working on improving their software to enhance performance. The process of upgrading your firmware can be simple or complicated, depending on your device's manufacturer and model.

Most modern routers have the firmware update process built into the administration interface, so all you need to do is press a firmware upgrade button. However, older models may require you to visit the manufacturer's website, download a firmware file from your router's support page, and then upload it to the administration interface. While this may be a tedious process, updating your firmware can often provide a simple solution to any issues you may be experiencing.

In fact, it's advisable to update your firmware regularly, even if your wireless network is working fine. This ensures that you benefit from performance improvements, new features, and security updates. If you need assistance with this, we have a guide on how to access your router's settings.

If you're looking to optimize your router's performance further, you could consider using a third-party firmware such as the open-source DD-WRT. This option can provide you with access to more advanced networking features, including the ability to install a VPN directly onto your router. While it may be a bit more complex to set up, tech-savvy users may find it to be worthwhile.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Find the best location for your router

It's essential to understand that not all homes distribute Wi-Fi signals equally. The placement of your router can significantly impact your wireless coverage. While it may seem reasonable to keep the router inside a cabinet or close to the window where the cable comes in, it's not always the best option. Here are some tips to ensure optimal placement:

  • Keep your wireless router in an open space, away from walls and obstructions to avoid interference and overheating.
  • If possible, place the router in the center of your house to enable the signal to reach every corner of your home effortlessly.
  • Eliminating even one wall between your workspace and the router can significantly enhance the performance of your Wi-Fi network.
  • Avoid using heavy-duty appliances or electronics near the router, as they can negatively affect Wi-Fi performance.
  • If your router has external antennas, orient them vertically to extend your network's coverage.
  • Elevating your router by mounting it high on a wall or on the top shelf can also help to improve signal strength.

Several tools are available to help you visualize your network coverage. Ekahau's Heatmapper or MetaGeek's inSSIDer are excellent options that identify the weak and strong spots in your Wi-Fi network. Additionally, mobile apps such as Netgear's WiFi Analytics can be useful for this purpose.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Check your frequency

To ensure optimal performance of your network, it's recommended to check your network's administrator interface and configure it accordingly. If you have a dual-band router, you may obtain better throughput by switching to the 5GHz band instead of the more commonly used 2.4GHz band.

The 5GHz band offers faster speeds and is less likely to be impacted by interference from other wireless networks and devices due to its less frequent use. However, it may not reach as far or handle obstructions and distances as efficiently as the 2.4GHz signal.

Most modern dual-band routers allow you to use the same network name or SSID on both bands. Check your router's administration interface for the 5GHz network option and use the same SSID and password as your 2.4GHz network. This ensures that your devices will automatically select the best signal available.

If your router does not provide an option to use the same SSID, give the 5GHz network a distinct name and try to connect to it manually whenever possible.

Related: Wi-Fi 7 - The future of wireless networking

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Change the channel

Wireless signal interference can be a significant issue, especially for individuals residing in densely populated areas. The impact can be felt not only from other wireless networks but also from cordless phone systems, microwaves, and other electronic devices.

Do you recall playing with walkie-talkies as a child? The units had to be on the same "channel" for you to communicate with each other. Even if someone else was using a completely different set, if they were on the same channel as your neighbor, you could eavesdrop on their conversation. Similarly, modern routers can switch across various channels when communicating with your devices.

While most routers automatically choose the best channel for you, signal congestion can occur if neighboring wireless networks use the same channel. A high-quality router set to "Automatic" mode will attempt to choose the least congested channel. However, older or less expensive routers may select a predefined channel, even if it is not the most suitable one, resulting in problems with your wireless network's performance.

If you're using a Windows PC, you can determine the channels neighboring Wi-Fi networks are using. Open the command prompt and type "netsh wlan show all." This will display a list of all wireless networks and the channels being used in your vicinity. Additionally, network analyzers can also present this information in an easy-to-read graphical format.

For 2.4GHz, it's best to use channels 1, 6, and 11 since they don't overlap with other channels, which can reduce performance. In contrast, 5GHz typically utilizes non-overlapping channels, making it easier to choose the appropriate one.

If the "Auto" setting isn't delivering satisfactory results, sign into your router's administrator interface and go to the basic wireless category. Try manually selecting a channel, ideally one that isn't used by many networks in your area. Conduct another speed test to check whether it provides a better signal and faster speeds in your problem areas compared to the "Automatic" setting.

Note that channel congestion can change over time. If you manually select a channel, you should periodically check to ensure that it's still the most suitable option.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Kick leeches off your Wi-Fi

The cause of your Wi-Fi problems may not be interference or range-related. If your network is open or has a weak password, you could have unauthorized users leeching off your network. If a neighbor is streaming multiple 4K movies on your Wi-Fi, it will impact your video chats. Tools such as Wireless Network Watcher can help you detect all the devices connected to your network and expose neighbors who may be stealing your Wi-Fi. Your router's admin interface may also include a traffic analyzer that can identify which devices are consuming excessive data.

You may even discover that one of your children is using up your bandwidth without your knowledge. If that's the case, you can learn how to remove them from the network.

After you've identified the intruder and fixed the issue, it's essential to secure your network with a robust password. It's best to use WPA2 encryption because WEP is easy to crack, allowing others to join your network.

 

Quality control

Modern routers typically come equipped with Quality of Service (QoS) tools to help manage bandwidth usage. These settings can usually be found under advanced settings in the network's admin interface, such as the Netgear menu shown above. With QoS, you can prioritize certain types of traffic over others. For instance, you could prioritize video calls over file downloads to ensure that your call with your grandmother won't suffer just because someone else is downloading a large file. Although the file download may take longer, the video call should remain stable. Some QoS settings even allow you to prioritize different apps during specific times of the day.

Some routers even offer a one-click multimedia or gaming setting to make it easier to prioritize these types of traffic. If you're trying to stream games while sharing a network, there are additional steps you can take to improve your experience.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Get rid of old hardware components

It's important to make the most of the equipment you have, but if you're working with older hardware, you can't expect top-notch performance. When it comes to back-end devices like networking gear, we often subscribe to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. However, if you've had your router for several years, you may still be using the older, slower 802.11n standard (or even worse, 802.11g).

These older routers have limitations when it comes to bandwidth and range. For example, 802.11g has a maximum throughput of 54Mbps, while 802.11n caps out at 300Mbps. All the tweaks we've discussed so far can only do so much for these outdated models. But if you upgrade to a new router with the latest 802.11ac standard, you'll have support for 1Gbps. Next-gen Wi-Fi 6 routers can theoretically reach speeds of 10Gbps, and Wi-Fi 6E routers have access to even more spectrum that can provide additional coverage.

Tip: You can find below some router recommendation from Amazon to boost speed right now:

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Try a range extender

If you've tried all the previous solutions and still can't seem to get a strong Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire house, it's possible that your home is just too large for a single router to handle. Your router may also be struggling to penetrate all the walls and corners of your house. In this case, you might need to consider adding a range extender or investing in a mesh network.

A range extender can pick up your router's signal and amplify it to extend your network's reach. While range extenders can be a budget-friendly solution, they're often not as effective as mesh Wi-Fi systems. Mesh networks, on the other hand, replace your existing router entirely and use multiple units to intelligently route traffic back to your modem, creating a seamless Wi-Fi network that covers every corner of your home.

When setting up a mesh network, you'll want to follow the same placement rules as with your router and range extender: one node should be connected to your modem, and each additional node should be placed close enough to pick up a strong signal while far enough to extend coverage to areas with poor signal strength.

Related: How to stay safe while using public Wi-Fi

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal for Better Internet Speeds

Speed up your network easily

There are many ways to improve the performance and coverage of your Wi-Fi network. From updating your router's firmware and optimizing its settings to choosing the right channel and placement, there are many things you can do to ensure a strong and reliable connection. If all else fails, consider adding external antennas or investing in a range extender or mesh network to extend your signal. By following these tips and tricks, you can enjoy a faster and more stable Wi-Fi connection for all your internet needs.

 

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Comments

  1. Robert V said on April 3, 2023 at 10:43 pm
    Reply

    My anti-virus and firewall stopped the download as malware.

  2. Anon said on April 3, 2023 at 3:59 pm
    Reply

    The image within the first paragraph of this article is misleading. Notice how they’re different colors? The purple is upload speeds and the green is download speeds. Most of the time you are downloading data and not uploading it which is why the cable in your ground allocates the upload speeds much less space and give more to download so its faster. This is misleading and just a cash grab .

  3. wifi said on April 3, 2023 at 2:34 pm
    Reply

    1st thing listed is to get a vpn. Time to stop reading and move along and steer clear of the lies.

  4. Isambard Prince said on April 3, 2023 at 2:07 pm
    Reply

    Hmm, the article misleadingly states: “One of the top ways you can improve internet speeds is with a VPN”. Presumably that’s supposed to actually mean ‘VPN Service’, as posted below, were what look like affiliate links or adverts.

    Actual links posted by the article:
    [http://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=30&aff_id=29822&aff_sub=ghackswifisignal]¹
    [https://go.expressvpn.com/c/310668/1462856/16063?subId1=ghackswifisignal]
    [https://get.surfshark.net/aff_c?offer_id=16&aff_id=2125&aff_sub=ghackswifisignal]
    1. HTTP, not HTTPS link provided.

    Anyway, like was mentioned VPN services rarely increase Wi-Fi speed (unless your ISP uses severe throttling or capping). The VPN service in the majority of cases tends to slow down the network slightly. The VPN service would be another additional point in the network where traffic has to be relayed through.

    Most of the rest of the article is ‘generic advice’ that you’d see an in a typical “Quick start” router setup manual, pullout or single sheet page.

    The article doesn’t even discuss anything about soft rebooting the router! Checking your OS software settings for unnecessary connections by software telemetry services can sometimes help.

  5. Anonymous said on April 3, 2023 at 10:31 am
    Reply

    Good Wi-Fi is dependent on your router set manually on channels where you won’t get so much interference from other routers set to nearby channels to yours. Then you’ve got to consider the ideal channel for the Wi-Fi Band AND its channel bandwidth frequency setting (ie. 20MHz,40MHz,80Mhz) you are using for your supported tech wireless adapters.

    For example, on a 2.4GHz band Wi-Fi, setting a particular channel with a 20MHz bandwidth setting (54Mbps) will overlap 2 channels on either side. The channel selected is always the “medium”, so ideally channel 3, 7 or 11 are ideal to make use of that won’t cross over each other and cause interference and speed problems; Setting a particular channel with a 40MHz bandwidth setting (for 108Mbps or higher) will overlap 4 channels on either side. In this case, ideally channel 5 or 6 would be the choice.

    On a 5GHz band Wi-Fi, you really only have a choice setting between the unregulated channels 36,40,44,48 and 149,153,157,161 (All the other ones in-between will self-regulate upon detection of interference, bumping off routers to other channels when conflicting with other radio services due to Federal Communications Compliances.) There is interference on channels 36 and 149 so there is a reduced performance when setting the channel bandwidth setting to 80MHz (for 300Mbps+ or higher) – you can only select the first channel in these groups of 4 channels, as each channel is set individually with a 20Mhz bandwidth between channels (20+20+20+20=80Mhz bandwidth). Setting the channel bandwidth setting at 20MHz supports 802.11a (54Mbps) Wi-Fi, at 40MHz supports 802.11n (150Mbps), at 80Mhz supports 802.11n higher speeds and 802.11ac (600Mbps+). Bear in mind, that utilizing higher channel bandwidth settings above 20MHz without setting inclusion for the 20MHz bandwidth will exclude support for 802.11a wireless adapters. Old wireless tech from the 2000s worked from the channel bandwidth setting at 20MHz.

    So, at 20MHz channel bandwidth setting, you can set the channel at either 40,44,48,153,157,161; At 40MHz channel bandwidth setting either channel 40 or 44 and 153 or 157 is ideal. At 80MHz channel bandwidth setting, it’s channels 36 and 149 – else, you’re at the mercy of the available FCC regulated channels which have weaker radio transmission power allowances.

  6. John G. said on April 2, 2023 at 5:56 pm
    Reply

    VPN is not faster than ISP, as further as I know. Router location is very important, and also the power of the antenna, that can be easily found in a wide range of sites of online shopping.

  7. dmacleo said on April 2, 2023 at 5:25 pm
    Reply

    how can a vpn, using YOUR isp to connect to,run faster than your ISP??
    it can’t. the ISP is always your bottleneck.
    a vpn don’t magically bypass the wires coming into your house.

    1. Robert said on April 3, 2023 at 9:37 pm
      Reply

      They can and do throttle you. A VPN encrypts the traffic so the ISP can’t throttle you by monitoring what you are doing.

  8. Tachy said on April 2, 2023 at 4:44 pm
    Reply

    Deceptive advertising! AKA Lies!

    The reason you state this falshood makes it even more offensive, affiliate links! You lie to us for personal gain.

    VPNs by thier very functioning slow down your data flow, they can not make it faster.

    Anything in this article that’s actually true is already stated in the routers manual.

    If you really want a ‘faster network’ stop using Wi-Fi and run same Cat6 cables.

    1. Robert said on April 3, 2023 at 9:29 pm
      Reply

      There are a few additional factors that can affect VPN speeds.

      First, regarding ISP throttling, it is true that some ISPs may throttle certain types of traffic, such as torrenting or streaming services, which can slow down your internet speeds. However, using a VPN does not necessarily guarantee faster speeds because the VPN itself can also introduce additional overhead and encryption/decryption processes that can slow down your connection.

      Secondly, while UDP is generally faster than TCP due to its lack of a three-way handshake and other overhead, it is not always the best choice for all types of internet traffic. UDP is commonly used for real-time applications like online gaming and VoIP, where speed and low latency are crucial. However, for other types of traffic like file transfers, TCP may be a better option because it provides error correction and retransmission capabilities that can ensure data integrity and completeness.

      Additionally, while some VPN providers may offer their own proprietary protocols like ExpressVPN’s Lightway, the performance and speed benefits of these protocols may vary depending on various factors like server location, network conditions, and client device hardware. In some cases, established protocols like WireGuard or OpenVPN may still offer better performance and security.

      Overall, while using a VPN can potentially help bypass ISP throttling and provide faster speeds under certain conditions, it is not a guaranteed solution for improving internet speeds and may depend on various factors.

    2. Anonymous said on April 3, 2023 at 1:38 pm
      Reply

      Agree. Network engineer here responsible for the internet of 7500 people in a university, masters degree, industry certs, etc. VPN does NOT speed things up, that is woefully poor journalism. Web VPNs are designed to hide your geolocation, or keep your traffic more private.

    3. Paul(us) said on April 2, 2023 at 9:20 pm
      Reply

      Does Russel Kidson understand VPN at all?

      Even (think ADSL, VDSL, Fibre, all in 1) multi-cable (optical fiber – and coaxial cable) service providers are lightyears faster (For example think the middle of the route with 1000 Mb/s for € 23.95 p.mounth, but there are faster (think fiberglass) providers) than the fastest VPN money can buy.

      1. Paul(us) said on April 2, 2023 at 9:39 pm
        Reply

        Perhaps I should have added that those super-fast ISP home modems can already handle a 5GHz Wi-Fi signal with ease and are ready for the Wi-Fi 7 (“802.11be EHT”) future.

    4. Antonio said on April 2, 2023 at 7:07 pm
      Reply

      +1

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