Improving your Wi-Fi Coverage
Home connectivity and reliable Wi-Fi are essential in today’s modern world. We rely on the internet for remote working, staying in touch with friends and for smart device operation. There’s nothing worse than a broken Zoom connection, slow loading email sends or apps that won’t download. But what happens when your Wi-Fi coverage just doesn’t quite go far enough? Well, don’t tear your hair out just yet…
Smart Home Wi-Fi
Let’s start from the beginning in a bid to avoid problems down the line. If you’re building or renovating a property, it’s important to consult smart home installers who are capable of designing and installing networking and Wi-Fi solutions that work within your property, taking into account the construction and materials used in the build as well as the interior design and where the Wi-Fi coverage needs to be strongest. Believe it or not, this is a fairly detailed design process that requires careful consideration to ensure that your home always remains connected, even if you add additional smart home systems in the future.
But What If I’m Struggling Now?
If you can’t get Wi-Fi in a particular room or are struggling with a slow connection now, it’s important to take action as this will drive you bonkers. Typically, Wi-Fi is installed in a property by connecting a single router to a modem provided by an internet service provider. This router then transmits a signal that can be picked up by multiple devices. The further a device is from the router, the weaker the internet signal might be. You might even experience ‘dead zones’ where the internet doesn’t work at all. This is common. But there are ways to improve Wi-Fi coverage in a property. For example, you can:
- Change the Location of the Router
Did you know that walls, furniture and even accessories such as mirrors can affect the speed of your Wi-Fi? For this reason, it might be worth placing the router in a relatively open part of your home in a bid to improve the signal. Make sure that the router is above any furniture such as tables and sofas and that it’s away from other electronics which could cause signal interference.
- Invest in Newer Hardware
Your router might be operating via an outdated Wi-Fi standard such as 802.11n. So this should be your next point of investigation. If your router has seen better days, consider investing in more modern hardware. This should also come with the latest firmware and drivers and be able to automatically update the software.
- Use a Managed Wi-Fi Point-to-Point Installation
If your router is doing all the heavy lifting to provide a reliable Wi-Fi service, it might need a little helping hand in the form of a managed point-to-point Wi-Fi network. With this, various Wi-Fi access points are placed around the property to help improve signal and eliminate ‘dead zones.’ If a wall stands between the router and part of your home, for instance, an access point can improve coverage and allow devices to connect easily without relying solely on the router.
There are many ways to improve the Wi-Fi coverage in your home. But it’s always worth speaking to smart home installers such as New Wave AV for expert advice.
