In this age of endless technological advancements and innovative wireless devices galore, it has never been more important for us to maintain strong and consistent connectivity at home—especially when it comes to high-speed Wi-Fi access.
Typically relying on the usual wireless router models supplied by ISPs around the country for internet needs may prove inefficient when attempting extensive online browsing or gaming experiences for some individuals or households who often resort to upgrading to superior gadgets with additional capabilities.
Nevertheless, such updated systems alone cannot always guarantee full-fledged whole-home coverage round-the-clock!
Wi-Fi “black spots” arise frequently when there’s significant space between a wireless router & any given device since signals get weaker over time with distance traveled. Similarly, this could also stem from thick walls such as those fashioned out of stone or brick. Even disruptive surrounding technologies don’t help some situations.
The fixes vary depending on budgetary considerations & problem locations. In this article, we outline six approaches to alleviate Wi-Fi connectivity problems, making sure that you experience uninterrupted internet access in every corner of your home!
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Smart Solutions to Get Wi-Fi Access Without Going Near The Router
As we enter warmer months, individuals love venturing outdoors while maintaining their Wi-Fi connections intact. On the other hand, some people have trouble receiving strong signals within their residences.
Perhaps slow internet speeds or no connectivity at all exist in specific locations making streaming movies with ease impossible.
Luckily enough, following the recommendations mentioned below about boosting signal strength will surely enhance your Wi-Fi’s range and improve its overall connection.
1. Use a Wi-Fi Extender or Booster
Installing a range extender can be the solution if you want comprehensive internet coverage across your entire home. By establishing a connection with the router and acting as an independent source of access using the router’s specific security codes, this device expands the reach of your present Wi-Fi connection.
Simply put, Wi-Fi extenders (sometimes known as repeaters or boosters) intensify signals by catching them from the router and disseminating them again.
While Wi-Fi extenders may seem like a good solution for extending internet coverage, they do pose some difficulties and restrictions worth noting. Firstly moving around the house can become more complicated as each device needs to repeatedly log into the range extender and then back into the router due to the unique security credentials of each device.
The second issue arises in sharing available bandwidth among all connected devices; a range extender cannot interact with all of your devices and router collectively, leading to reduced transmission capacity ideal for high connectivity functions such as video streaming or work-from-home tasks.
Keep in mind that the extender is only amplifying the signal. It will just spread the poor signal around if it is installed in a location where Wi-Fi is already weak. It will also send out a stronger signal if you place it in a location with better Wi-Fi.
A range extender works best when placed halfway between your primary router and the desired wireless devices, ideally in an open hallway or large room as opposed to a packed area. It should be far from obstructions like microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and cordless phones.
2. Move Your Router For Better Signal
To achieve optimal Wi-Fi signal throughout your home, make sure that your router is positioned in a central location. Since these routers send out signals in all directions, scoping for an open spot closer to the center of your home will help boost coverage quality.
Also, remember that elevating the device may strengthen its reach but take caution and avoid putting it next to metal objects like the fridge, which could cause reflection instead of transmission of signals. Equally important is avoiding locations close to fish tanks because water can weaken or completely hamper signals.
For adequate signal strength across multiple rooms at home, ideally, keeping the Wi-Fi router centered in a main hallway works well; however, this layout might not work for everyone with different household settings.
Therefore finding an open space where neither big furniture nor other hindrances can interfere with wireless communication would suffice to ensure maximum throughput capacity for internet data at all times.
In case of tight spots where there’s no room for dragging wires around, it helps to get long cords that provide flexibility while relocating routers away from their initial setup locations.
3. Use a Mesh Wi-Fi System
An essential element of a mesh-based Wi-Fi network is an access point or “node,” in addition to the primary router. Each node works similarly to supplementary routers, making it possible for users to boost their Wi-Fi signal range by positioning them in different rooms within the house.
Mesh-based systems allow homeowners to buy whichever nodes they need with consistent range quality under one network name and password without changing networks constantly as they move around their home from room to room, saving time and hassle while resolving Internet issues.
Mesh Wi-Fi systems have been increasingly popular in recent years as a dependable method of extending the Wi-Fi range and removing dead spots. This cutting-edge technology essentially achieves seamless connectivity over the whole range by utilizing a complex configuration of several access points dispersed throughout your home or business.
Unlike traditional routers that depend only on one central unit for maximum coverage; however, in contrast with conventional routers that have only one device to provide extended reach, with mesh networks, users can experience uniformity and consistency by distributing the load extensively amongst many access points.
4. Powerline Adapters
While mesh Wi-Fi may have pushed out Powerline adapters from households when it comes to extending internet reachability, they are not obsolete yet, and many products still use this technology.
Traditional Powerline adapters can be especially handy if you’re seeking wider coverage in specific zones or singular structures nearby, such as garage units, since they offer economical options for addressing these cases easily.
The process involves plugging in one end of an adapter near your router and connecting it to the Ethernet cable to extend the Wi-Fi signal.
Creating an additional hotspot in a different location of your property can be accomplished by utilizing a Powerline adapter containing built-in Wi-Fi technology. This method involves acquiring an adapter and inserting it into any available power socket within the intended area devoid of functioning Wi-Fi access.
Consistent wireless internet connectivity can be challenging to provide when network signals must pass through thick walls or travel great distances. You may solve this problem by using Powerline adapters, which offer stable communication across your entire home without interruption. They are simple to set up, and you may use the internet with no interruptions.
5. Invest in a Wi-Fi Antenna
Suppose you’re looking for internet access away from home – perhaps at an outbuilding such as a granny flat in your backyard. An extender may struggle to provide coverage due to being too far away or by obstacles along the way. This is when an antenna may prove useful.
Depending on what type you select can potentially extend Wi-Fi coverage significantly while also being suitable for outdoor use.
There are compromises to be made when using such longer-range antennas, notably in terms of connectivity speeds when farther from the original sources becomes slower than proximity zones.
Longer-range antennas come in two forms: directional or omnidirectional variations. Directional type focuses on enabling radio waves to travel longer distances achieving higher chances of loss with distance while covering smaller angles, whereas Omnidirectional prefers a broader view at nearer distances but isn’t much help beyond expected coverage.
6. Change the Frequency
In some cases, adjusting your WIFI’s frequency might improve its performance. Precision matters here, though, since simply shifting from a higher 5 GHz band to a lower one at 2.4 GHz can curtail its internet speed.
This can cause decreased speed capability when engaging in bandwidth-hungry activities such as gaming. However, this approach could enhance range and coverage for more relaxed tasks such as email replies.
The fundamental law of waves indicates that at higher frequencies come shorter wavelengths, a principle common in electromagnetic radiation as well as other types of waves.
As for wireless communication technology like Wi-Fi networks whose data transmission takes place in GHz bands or gigahertz regions- we find that within this range are two primary options, namely- 2.4 GHz and its newer counterpart -5 GHz signals.
In comparison to its older variant, 5GHz faces some limitations, given how they get blocked by physical obstructions such as walls or objects made from materials like wood or metal. Even humans can cause interference issues at times!
Nonetheless, despite this downside, it is promising much greater speeds mainly due to employing millimeter wavelengths hence able to support much bigger data transfers than ever before seen on Wi-Fi networks!
Final Thoughts
It’s natural to face issues with Wi-Fi signals at times in today’s fast-paced world but there are practical solutions that can help you get back on track swiftly. Boosting Wi-Fi signals inside a home is possible now more than ever, expanding coverage even down to gardens and garages.
Rather than bear with frustrating disruptions any longer, explore one of the solutions above that best suits you. On occasions, after attempting various methods shared in guides available online – issues persist nonetheless, which may require a restoring back to factory setting point for either router or laptop/computer for smooth working once again.
While executing this move will wipe out all settings and data previously saved! It is vital to process the required backup so that no vital information gets misplaced/ lost unintentionally!
Once things settle after resetting, wait patiently as it takes time for routers to detect networks properly and allow reconnection once more successfully without any hiccups! And if that isn’t enough and there’s more that needs expert guidance, then contacting your ISP for further assistance or exploring alternate methods beyond the internet service provider is always a good option.
Chris loves technology, specifically smart home technology! With both hands-on and executive leadership experience in his corporate career, Chris stays abreast of emerging technology and solutions and immerses himself in BCCA when not in the office.