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10 Ways to Improve Your Wi-Fi Router Speed

Does your Wi-Fi connection have too much downtime? This guide will help you tweak the router and make a significant difference in your home network. Purchasing a good router boosts your home internet connection speed tremendously. Still, you have other avenues open if you can’t afford a top-of-the-range model. Below are the ten best router configurations that enhance faster internet. 

  1. Set An Automatic Reboot

While new routers don’t need regular rebooting, doing so can help a device that has run into a slow internet connection to get back and running. However, if you notice that your router regularly runs into the dead connection, it’s wise to set a timed reboot for a seamless connection. The Tomato and DD-WRT firmware have timed options to set the automatic reboot. It would be best if you set the daily automatic reboot during your sleeping hours to avoid interference with your productivity. The regular configuration will address the downtime issue whenever you are working.

  1. Add A New Antenna

Adding a new antenna to your router will make it faster. Most consumer-grade routers come with an awful antenna, and adding an amplified aftermarket one would be a great fix. Besides, the new antenna would improve the signal quality and enhance connection speed without needing a new router. You’ll find different types of aftermarket antenna options with prices ranging between $15 and $150. 

Some pricy options include plug-in range extenders that act as an antenna and a wireless repeater. They provide significant connection improvement to homes with signal degradation or dead zones. Always check local regulations before choosing any of these high-end antennas, as amplifying your Wi-Fi signal may be illegal in some jurisdictions. 

  1. Update to Newer Wireless Protocols

One of the first things to consider when optimizing router settings for speed is disabling old wireless protocols. Your router device probably uses older protocols such as the 802.11b, which slows down the network when connected. Instead, you should deactivate the protocols and enable newer ones, such as the 802.11ax, which has far better capabilities. 

Their position in the protocol order determines their speed. Ax, ac, n, g, b is the correct order of the protocols from the fastest to the slowest. Therefore, you should disable any device that uses the g or b protocols. Your router documentation should have detailed steps on how to update the protocols. 

  1. Adjust the Bandwidth

Adjusting the Wi-Fi connection width works the same as changing the channel width to stream videos quickly. A wider width in your router configuration overwhelms older devices using older protocols. Therefore, narrowing the width may see a drastic improvement in your Wi-Fi connection.

  1. Update Router Software and Firmware

Usually, the updates are patches and are not expected to provide a sudden blazing fast connection. However, the increment gain in the device can play a significant role in improving your router speed. Besides, this is one of the most straightforward configurations you may need to see your Wi-Fi connection improve. 

  1. Strategize on Router Location

If you’re still experiencing some problems with your internet speed, the solution goes beyond router settings. The location of your router in the house is also a factor to consider. Since the device competes with every other 2.4 to 5GHZ device in your area, changing locations often make a significant difference. Besides, your house’s building materials, such as concrete walls and bricks, are notoriously hard for a wireless connection. 

  1. Switch the Router Channel

Another way to improve your Wi-Fi connection speed is to change the router channel. You can do this through a wide range of online tools that scan local airwaves for the available channels and determine which one has the least interference. This way, the tools help you decide which channel you should switch to depending on milage and charges. Once again, your device’s online help page or documentation should have a guideline on how to change the channel from within the router’s settings. 

  1. Allocate Different Bands 

If you have a dual-band router, you can improve the Wi-Fi speed by distributing the bands to avoid devices competing for space in one band. With the numerous wireless devices full in a typical home, separating a tri-band or dual-band router will maximize speed. In other words, you’ll be opening an additional channel for reliable connection for everyone involved. 

  1. Change Network Name and Password

If you still use the default username and password, you may want to change that for a better experience. Even if you’re using relatively secure networks with non-default passwords, the network remains vulnerable to hackers. Therefore, a strong password could come in handy. While you might allocate different bands, update software, or switch channels, it’s all in vain if your neighbors access the network and use it to stream movies. 

  1. Change Firmware

Most available Wi-Fi routers have dummy-proof settings to prevent users from screwing anything up. This is excellent news, but sometimes you need to hack the settings and update the router to a firmware that exceeds its price tag. There is no shortage of great router options that can help you speed up your connection. OpenWRT, DD-WRT, and Tomato top the list of third-party firmware that have proven to boost router speed. Note that you can’t install new firmware if you use ISPs hardware unless you change it to a store-bought one. 

Router Optimization for Fast Connection

Hopefully, you now have an idea of how to maximize your router’s speed and the best configuration for fast internet. Take the time to learn and understand these tweaks and see your router speed increase within minutes.

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