According to most technology experts, WiFi means Wireless Fidelity in full. However, some people argue that WiFi has no other meaning. All in all, WiFi is a technology used to connect smartphones, computers, tablets, and other devices to the internet. That way, devices can communicate with one another remotely. Since WiFi signals are not strong in all places, you need to learn how to increase WiFi signal strength.
WiFi signals are strong when you are near a WiFi router and become weak as you move further. There are various ways you can increase WiFi strength, as we shall see in this article. You need a strong WiFi connection because devices that connect to the internet operate well under a strong network connection, whether you are using cellular internet or WiFi.
Strong network connections allow you to stream high-quality content from various sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, among other sites. You can also download large content within a short time. Signal strength goes hand in hand with connection speeds.
WiFi networks have various connection speeds depending on your service provider to the WiFi plan you have chosen. The speeds range from hundreds of kilobytes per minute to hundreds of MB per minute.
How do you Install WiFi?
The following are ways you can set up WiFi for your home or office.
1) Using a WiFi router
The most common and reliable method is installing a WiFi router. This is a device that receives and broadcasts WiFi signals to the surrounding areas as per the limitations. When acquiring a WiFi router, there are various factors you should put into consideration. These include the following.
ii) Distance
When purchasing a WiFi router, the distance between the devices you are to connect is very important. WiFi routers with antennas can broadcast signals over a large area. For example, when buying a router for a school, you will consider the one with various antennas so that several offices can receive the connections. If you just need a router for your working table, you may consider a less complicated one and spend less when acquiring it.
iii) Interference
Interference is a result of other devices that use radio signals. WiFi routers operate on two types of bands: the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. If you have devices such as microwaves, cordless phones, and so on, you can get a lot of interference when using a 2.4 GHz band WiFi router. You should consider getting a router with a 5 GHz band to minimize interference.
iv) Transfer speed
WiFi routers have various transfer speeds. Some routers can transfer data to a speed of up to 450Mps, while others can transmit with a much lower speed. The more the speed, the faster it is to download and upload content. That means you can download large movies within a very short time.
v) Security
You do not want to buy a router that is easy to access by unauthorized persons. It is crucial to get the latest WiFi routers with advanced security features such as the latest encryption or WPA2. If you do not do that, people will be cracking your WiFi password and using your internet without your permission.
Your data will also be at risk since hackers can access your crucial information from an unsecured router. Once you have factored all the above and acquired the best router to your capability, you can then proceed to install the device as follows.
vi) Insert a modem
The first step is connecting your router to your modem. Check a port in the back labeled WAN/WLAN/Internet and connect it to the modem using the standard Ethernet cable.
vii) Power your router
You should also make sure that the router is correctly powered so that it can work appropriately. Check on the code specifications to ensure that you use the correct outlet.
viii) Connect to a computer, smartphone, tablet, or any other relevant device
You can then connect your device to a computer using the ethernet cable to see whether it works. You can also connect it wirelessly to devices such as smartphones and tablets once you complete the wireless settings. Most importantly, read the manufacturer’s details. When using the router with your computer, you will need to configure the necessary software.
2) Use your smartphone to create a hotspot
Your phone can be a source of WiFi connectivity to other devices around. However, you first need to customize your hotspot settings, such as setting up a password, security types, and preferred band.
Once your hotspot is ready, you only need to switch on your cellular data and share your WiFi password with others who can then connect to the internet via your phone hotspot WiFi.
How to increase WiFi signal strength
Now that you have seen how to install WiFi in your office or home, you need to know how to increase your WiFi strength. The following are ways you can increase your WiFi strength.
1) Check your wired internet connection
You might be having a bad connection because you have poorly connected wires of your router. You should check that the wires enter the ports tightly as they should be. If your computer or laptop does not have an ethernet port, you will need to purchase a USB adapter to put things right. You should also check that your antenna and other gears are well placed and up to date.
2) Update your router firmware
Sometimes poor WiFi signal may be a result of outdated software. Manufacturers keep on updating their software to increase WiFi performance. You should hit the update button to check whether there is new software that may improve your connections.
Some old routers do not support instant software updates, and you will need to visit the manufacturer’s site and download the newest software for the device. If you are using a phone for hotspot WiFi, you can try your best to update your operating system.
3) Change your router’s placement area
Sometimes poor signals may be due to poor placement. There are zones that you can place your WiFi router and achieve maximum strength while others. You can check the signal strength as you move from one point to the other.
The correct point to place your router is in the middle of your house. Furthermore, you should place your router in a place with no obstructions. Let the surrounding be free of chairs, cupboards, fridges, and other items that may obstruct signals.
4) Change your frequency
As I mentioned earlier, there are two main types of frequency bands. They include the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz band is the best to broadcast the WiFi signals over a large area. If you are serving many widely placed devices, you can consider setting your machine to use the 2.4 GHz band. However, the band has low connectivity speeds, and you may experience slow downloads and uploads.
Alternatively, you may increase your WiFi performance if you change the band to a 5 GHz band. The band offers you high speeds and maay sort your issues with poor WiFi speeds. For example, when using a hotspot on your phone over the Verizon network, you can boost the Verizon WiFi signal at home when you switch to the 5 GHz band.
However, the 5 GHz band does not cover a large area and will be of little help if your devices are widely located. If your router is not a dual-band device, i.e., does not support switching between the 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band, you may need to upgrade to a better router.
5) Change your channel
If you thought that only walkie-talkies use channels to communicate, then you have been wrong all along. WiFi routers also use channels to relay WiFi signals. If you experience poor WiFi strength, then it could be that you and your neighbors are using the same channel. You can try changing your channel to a different one to make your signals stronger.
To see the channels your neighbors are using on your computer, type netsh WLAN on the command prompt type to show all wireless networks and the channels used within your vicinity.
6) Remove unwanted users or reduce the number of users.
If you have many people using your WiFi, they are no doubt slowing your WiFi connectivity. You should strive to control the number of people using your WiFi by setting a strong password to protect it from intruders. Every time you share your password with many users, you can change it to keep them off. Also, you can log out some of the people you had allowed in your WiFi.
7) Replace your antenna
If your antenna is not functioning correctly, then there is a likelihood that your device will give you weak signals. You should replace your antenna as soon as possible and make sure that it is from the same manufacturer and fits appropriately on the machine.
Bottom line
WiFi is a technology that allows you to connect to the internet using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. You need a WiFi router and a modem to start using WiFi. When your WiFi speeds are low, it may mean that there is an error with your machine, or there are outside factors such as too many users or too many routers on the same channel as yours.