Your WiFi Connection is More Important Than Ever
Think of it this way: Without a reliable Wi-Fi connection to connect you to the internet, what else is there to do?
In all seriousness, there are many ways to survive without Wi-Fi. But we also live in a world that relies heavily on wireless internet. That is why your Wi-Fi connection is so important and why it matters if it is fast, strong or neither.
When you are facing a spotty internet connection, you can find yourself with a lot of frustration and trouble.
Your situation could look like many things:
- Working from home.
- Completing online classes.
- Trying to entertain your kids (or yourself) with videos or online games.
All of these activities may look different at first, but the common denominator is that they all require a solid Wi-Fi connection.
You don’t want to be in the middle of a client call or class presentation and have the video cut in and out.
You also don’t want to deal with that frustration on top of dealing with frustrated kids because the Wi-Fi can’t support both your online work and their online gaming.
You see the issue? If you are facing poor Wi-Fi right now and need to know how to get a stronger Wi-Fi signal, here are tips and tricks to follow:
Check your router placement
First thing’s first, always check your router.
Where is it? Is it on the floor? Put it up higher on a countertop.
Is it tucked into the corner or in a back room? Bring it to a more central location in your home.
Distance, walls and metal appliances are all obstacles for your router and can be the reason you have a poor signal. If moving your router doesn’t solve the issue, then you need to check your Wi-Fi signal strength.
Check your Wi-Fi signal strength
A strong Wi-Fi signal strength means a fast and reliable connection. But if you Wi-Fi signal is weak then your connection will suffer and so will your Wi-Fi speed.
You can check your Wi-Fi signal strength by doing a few things:
- Reboot your router
- Checking your Wi-Fi in general
- Walking around your space
- Using advanced tools
Use Wi-Fi extenders to extend your coverage
Maybe your Wi-Fi connection is struggling because you don’t have enough coverage throughout your home. If your signals strength is strong and the issue is coverage, you can use Wi-Fi extenders.
Wi-Fi extenders are devices that extend the reach of your router’s signal to every corner of your home.
Adopt a wired mentality
Sometimes wireless isn’t the best way. Sometimes you have to go the wired router. But not totally wired that you are drowning in cables and tethered to one space. You can lean on tools like Powerline Adapters or MoCA Adapters. Here’s how they each work:
Powerline network adapters create a physical connection between your router and a single device. Powerline adapters are especially useful for devices that require a stable Internet connection. (Like your laptop during a video conference call.)
Powerline adapters use the existing powerline wires in your home to establish a connection. All you need is a room with a power outlet, and you are set. Overall the setup is easy:
- Powerline adapters work in pairs.
- Take one adapter and plug it into the wall outlet by your router.
- Take the second adapter and plug it into the outlet in the room where your device is.
- Connect your device to the second adapter using an Ethernet cable to enjoy a fast and stable Internet connection over your home’s powerline wiring.
MoCA network adapters are similar to powerline adapters. Instead of using your home’s existing powerlines wiring like the powerline adapters, MoCA adapters use your home’s existing coaxial wiring. MoCA adapters help create a high-speed Ethernet connection.
Again, the setup is easy.
- MoCA adapters work in pairs.
- Take one adapter and plug it into the wall outlet by your router.
- Take the second adapter and plug it into the outlet in the room where your device is.
- Connect your device to the second adapter using an Ethernet cable to enjoy a fast and stable Internet connection over your home’s powerline wiring.
How do you choose which is the right device for you? Easy. They both are going to help you get the solid internet connection you need, however MoCA adapters are limited to rooms with a coaxial wall outlet. So, if you do not have any of these outlets in your home or in your preferred space, then choose powerline adapters.
Manage your Wi-Fi
Last on our list (but surely the most important) is managing your Wi-Fi network.
A managed Wi-Fi network is optimized to perform best. A managed Wi-Fi network is also a secure network. That means fast speeds and reliable internet connection all of the time.
Managed Wi-Fi does all of the heavy lifting for you, acting as an in-home, 24/7 IT support. How do you manage your Wi-Fi in this way? By using a reputable tool like Optim™ Managed Wi-Fi Solutions.
Optim is a tool that does a lot for you and your Wi-Fi network. And as a result, you have safe, reliable wireless internet. Here’s what Optim can take care of for you:
- Monitoring how your Wi-Fi signal strength is doing Keeping track of your network performance
- Taking inventory of every device connected to your Wi-Fi network
- Booting off unwanted guests
- Protecting your network with advanced security
And so much more. Optim makes sure you, your family, and your guests can safely and quickly connect to the internet to get any task done.
So, when it comes to needing reliable Wi-Fi, your wireless internet connection is more important than ever before. Especially if many people are trying to connect to it at once. Make sure your home Wi-Fi network is prepared.
You can learn more about home networking and Wi-Fi security with Actiontec’s Complete Guide to WiFi Networking. For the latest news in technology, check out Actiontec’s blog.