How to Boost and Improve Wi-Fi Signal Strength

The average household has 25 internet connected devices. This includes computers, phones, TVs, gaming consoles, streaming devices, smart plugs & light bulbs and even appliances such as dishwashers!

If you and your family are using several of these devices at once this can put significant strain on the network, therefore having strong and reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home is more important than ever before. Traditionally a single router/access point has been used to provide this coverage, however given the number of devices and locations around the home using wifi this is often no longer an ideal solution.

So, what are the options for improving Wi-Fi coverage and boosting the speed of your network?

Wi-Fi Extenders

This is a low cost option, but does not always the best outcome

Wi-Fi Range Extenders connect to your existing Wi-Fi network just like any device. Then they rebroadcast the signal to broaden the range of your network.

Extenders are easy to set up: plug them into the power, and simply connect to the new, temporary wireless network that they create. You can then follow whatever “wizard” setup process is provided.

However there are several downsides to Wi-Fi extenders:

• Firstly, half of the signal from your Wi-Fi extender is used to connect to your router, so only half of the signal is used to connect to your device. This also means that you will only get half of the speed the range extender is capable of. 
• Extenders typically have a different network name (SSID) from the main network so you will potentially need to manually select the network depending on where you are in your house
• Wi-Fi extenders are fussy about positioning, they need to be close enough to the router to get a good signal, but also close enough to the area where you want the signal – to achieve a reliable connection

Mesh Networks

Mesh routers are similar to extenders but a little more advanced.  The main difference between mesh routers compared to wireless range extenders is that all of the satellite access points in a mesh router system are designed to work as a team, so they all have the same network name. Your devices will seamlessly connect to the best point without you having to ever think about which point you should connect to.

The downside? They can be expensive and still have issues achieving coverage in difficult locations.

Powerline Adapters or w/Extenders

Powerline adapters extend a wired internet connection by transmitting through the 240V electrical wiring already within your walls. The socket where you plug it in will become a new network point. Some powerline adaptors also have Wi-Fi built in. 

What are the downsides:

• They only work if both plugs are on connected on the same electrical circuit
• They can be impacted by electrical interference, other devices such as appliances that are connected on the same circuit may impact the speed or disable the connection
• They are limited by power point locations

Hard Wired Data Points with Additional Access Points

This involves running an ethernet data cable from the location of your router/modem to the location where you require an internet connection. You can then either connect directly to any devices at this location or add a wireless access point.  This is the most reliable solution to improving the strength and speed of wifi in your home. A hard wired data point gives you a dedicated data connection which cannot be impacted by interference from other devices in the home. This can be a very cost effective solution compared to some other alternatives such as mesh systems.

The only downside is that it’s not always possible to run a data cable if there is limited roof space or under floor access in a home.

One final point – if you fix your Wi-Fi and still have slow internet then you might have an issue with your internet connection. How do you check if this is the case? Run a speed test, preferably using a computer plugged into your router or at minimum do the speed test standing next to your router / access point.

Need help fixing slow internet speed or Wi-Fi connectivity issues? Don’t hesitate to contact us on 131 546 or book a free onsite no obligation quote.