Is Your Home Network Prepared to Work from Home?
The Safer at Home initiative, #StayAtHome and social distancing are our new normal. As a result (mostly) everyone is working from home right now. Which means everyone is relying on the internet.
Wi-Fi congestion is going to happen. Issues are inevitable. And internet service providers (ISPs) are not fully staffed enough to answer calls at the speed they usual do.
That’s why it’s important to get ahead of any issues. You can do things to make sure your internet is prepared to handle working from home. This way, you can get ahead of any frustrations and issue that could arise.
Make sure you can combat slow Wi-Fi and other hang-ups with these tips:
Give your Wi-Fi signal and Wi-Fi speed a boost
If you notice that your computer is going so slow, there are a few things to do. First, try rebooting your router. If that doesn’t fix the problem, you can give your Wi-Fi signal and speed a boost a few other ways:
1. Relocate your router
Maybe a reboot didn’t fix the issue, but where your router is located could be a problem. If your router is facing obstacles, your internet connection will be poor. Move your router more central in your space.
2. Switch the channel you are using
Use band steering to redirect devices the appropriate band. For example, less priority devices like gaming consoles can go to your network on the 2.4 GHz band. Then, steer your work laptop to the 5 GHz band. Separating devices onto different networks combats congestion, which will boost your Wi-Fi speed.
3. Plan out your usage
This is a similar concept as band steering, however instead of directing which channel devices are on, direct the amount each device is used and when. For example, if you have an urgent video conference call, plan ahead with your children or roommates so they are not eating up all the bandwidth video gaming during your work hours. This can reduce congestion as well.
4. Update all of your devices
If your devices are outdated, they are going to run slow. You can either invest in modern devices, or make sure you are regularly updating the devices you have. Keeping devices updated protects them. Protected devices function better and faster.
5. Manage your Wi-Fi so you don’t have to rely on your ISP
Managing your Wi-Fi does three major things to optimize your Wi-Fi:
- Identifies all devices connected to your network
- Protects your network from freeloaders and other unwanted guests
- Helps with band steering (like we mentioned above)
These three components build the foundation for a Wi-Fi network that is solid and equipped for you to work from home.
You can try to manage your entire home network yourself, but that can be overwhelming work. That’s why there are management platforms like Optim that do the work for you.
By identifying devices, Optim knows to deny access to any unwanted devices. This helps clear up any congestion risks which would slow your Wi-Fi down.
Optim also uses advanced security and advanced analytics to protect and monitor your home Wi-Fi network. So, you can focus on your work, not Wi-Fi issues.
And since Optim is Wi-Fi management, it optimizes your network usage by directing (band steering) your devices. Prioritizing where your devices go on your network helps save bandwidth.
Are you currently experiencing network issues that have you stumped? You can find more tips on improving your Wi-Fi for working from home on Actiontec’s Complete Guide to Wi-Fi Boosters. For the latest in technology and evolving tech trends, check out the Actiontec Blog.