Murphy's Law assures us that no matter how good your router or you're near him. WiFi signal always stay one step behind where you are you, unless of course q ue you want to steal WiFi , in which case the signal will be perfect.
There is nothing more frustrating than hiring an Internet connection 300Mbps and check that the smartphone only receives 30 or 40 Mbps, or in the room where you have placed your computer or console, no cover.
The reality is that routers that give you or rent when you hire an Internet connection are usually pretty basic, with a very limited signal power that rarely covers the entire home or office.
In addition, the WiFi signal suffers much the presence of physical obstacles such as walls and especially panels, doors or wooden stairs, which cut off the scope.
Luckily, there are many tricks and tips to increase Internet speed and extend the WiFi connection . Many of them are free, and surprisingly effective. If all else fails, there is always the possibility of buying a more powerful router or a signal amplifier that ensure the coverage you want. But that left as a last resort.
To improve the WiFi signal and Internet surfing faster you can do three things: change the position or orientation of the router, change the position of the devices receiving the signal, or remove obstacles.
You only have to do it once and instead notice an improvement in connection speed.
the router
How the WiFi signal propagates? Similar to the waves that form in the water when a stone strips manner. From the router outwards in concentric circular waves. Therefore, the router must be located in the center of the house , to maximize coverage in all directions, or else as close to the place where we spend more time online. The network cable or plug connection to the stream included are short. Replace them with longer ones or use an extension cord to place the router in the best position.
Place it in a high place (on a table or library), and prevents soil . Aléjalo of wood and glass, that are highly insulating materials. The park is a great enemy.
antennas
The router uses internal or external antennas. If more than one external Antema, placed one vertical and one horizontal. If you only have an antenna or internal, try to place the antenna (or router) vertically and then horizontally, and do tests to see how best works.
interference
Many electronic devices or appliances emit electromagnetic waves that interfere with the WiFi router signal. Aléjalo cordless phones , microwaves and other audio or video .
WiFi Map
WiFi waves are invisible, but there are utilities that draw on the plane home. It's what makes HeatMapper . You must first load the scanning plane of the floor, then activate the program on the laptop and while walking around the house map is updated. So you can know which part of the house is the most powerful WiFi connection.
A similar more professional application, but is NetSpot . It is free and available for Windows and OS X.
Devices connected
Positioning devices that connect to router is also important. If you try to smartphones, tablets or laptops that move from one place to another house, you should use them as close to the router, avoiding obstacles. Leave them on a wooden table while downloading data is not a good idea, because wood acts as an insulator.
For fixed devices, such as a console or Smart TV, the ideal is to have a visible line between the device and the router, avoiding doors and furniture. Should avoid the floor and place the console or computer in a slightly elevated position. No place inside furniture or hiding under a table.
obstacles
Wood, glass ceilings and walls, in this order, slow WiFi signal. There are barriers that can not be avoided, such as walls or stairs. But others do. Removes all furniture and decorative elements that can between the router and devices. When you download a lot of data leave open doors and remove obstacles between the router and the device.
Change the WiFi channel
With the changes we have mentioned in the installation of the network you should get a Wi-Fi signal more stable and fast.
If you still get all the speed you need or areas remain blindwithout coverage, we still have some tricks and tips to increase Internet speed and extend the WiFi hidden up his sleeve.
One of the most common problems is the channel conflict . WiFi connections use a limited frequency (2.4 or 5 GHz) in which slightly more than 13 channels shared by all wireless devices are used. Some of these channels overlap, that is, each channel occupies part of the four adjacent channels.
Routers WiFi signal relayed by a particular channel . If there is more than one close to yours router (eg, neighbor or an adjacent trade) transmitting on the same channel, generating signals overlap notches and reducing speed.
Fortunately, there are applications that detect signals channels around you, so you know which is free. You can use Wifi Analyzer , one app for Android . In iOS you have Network Analyzer . Dan information in a visual form and we recommend that you use the channel .
You simply install it on your mobile or tablet and you're moving around the house to detect signals at different points, and the channel they use.
Did you steal the neighbors WiFi?
When the Internet provides a fairly lower than the contracted speed performance, it's time to start suspecting neighbors. Is someone stealing your WiFi you?
The WiFi signal travels through the air and usually exceed the scope of the building itself where the router is installed. Anyone can connect to your WiFi network if you know two pieces of information: the network name and password. The name is usually visible because it carries the signal itself so that they can detect your mobile devices. You can hide from the router configuration but there are techniques to find out.
The key is the password for the WiFi network. Do you use the default password given to you by the operator or router? Then it can be easily hacked. There are lots of websites and apps designed to steal your WiFi passwords by default .
The first thing to do is change the default password for the router.
t is also recommended that you change the name of the own WiFi network while the password. But then you have to reconfigure the WiFi on all devices that you connect to it. If someone is stealing the sign, if you follow these tips it is very likely that the speed of your Internet connection improves .
The software
If after changing the keys still suspect there's an intruder connects to your network and takes away bandwidth, there is software that helps you detect it.
Wireless Network Watcher is a free program that lets you know if someone is connected to your wireless network to steal your WiFi.
You can also use Fing for iOS and Android . You'll get a list of IPs, MAC addresses and device brand contectados to your WiFi network. So you can identify connections that are not yours.
Surely you ever found yourself in this situation: sales travel and get to a hotel or cottage where the modem does not have WiFi. You can connect with your laptop via cable, but not mobile or tablet.
A similar scenario is one where you have an Internet PLC installation through the mains, but the PLC devices offer only wired connection.
In both cases you can turn a computer or laptop into an access point to generate a wireless WiFi network , connect it to your smartphone or tablet.
Simply connect the laptop to the router or cable PLC device and using software like Virtual WiFi Router or Marify to convert the computer connector WiFi access point that generates a wireless WiFi network you want to connect. Without doubt, an excellent trick to increase Internet speed and extend the WiFi connection .
Increases signal with an old router recycling
Over the years we changed Internet connection and sometimes we are left with the old router, ending stored in a closet.
Did you know that you can recycle an old router to use as access point and increase the WiFi signal?
It is simple to carry out and very useful if you just get the WiFi to a remote room of the house. For example, if you want to see Netflix in the attic or your house you have many walls or wood paneling and you get WiFi to the computer room but not the console room, or vice versa.
How to convert a second router into an access point to increase the WiFi signal and Internet speed
- Start by selecting the place where you will place the old router . You must have an outlet nearby and must be located between the main router and the area where you want to amplify the WiFi señar. As close as possible to the area you want to cover.
- Find or buy an Ethernet network cable to connect both routers . You may need to install it under baseboards or discreetly so as not to look too. Do not connect yet.
- Plug the old router near your computer and resetéalo. All routers usually have a reset button on the back.
- Now connects the old router to your computer using the Ethernet cable . This is temporary, only to set it up. Fire up your browser and type as web address: http://192.168.1.1 to access the router configuration. If fails, then access to: http://192.168.1.2 . Will ask username and password, look for it on a sticker on the router or on its box or instruction manual. Sometimes it works admin / admin or admin / 1234.
- Enters router configuration from the browser and creates a WiFi network or pointing the name and password of the WiFi network that already includes the router.
- Access section configuration LAN (usually in the advanced settings). If the primary router has IP address 192.168.1.1, assigned to the old router address 192.168.1.2 . Make sure the option is enabled Enable DHCP Server Relay or similar. Save the settings.
- Disconnect the cable and make sure the computer or mobile detect this new WiFi network wirelessly.
- Reconnect the cable to the computer and reenters the router configuration from the browser. Look for the section on the DHCP server and make sure it is disconnected. If not disconnect or disable the DHCP server . Save the settings.
- Off the old router computer and place it in the house where he will work as an access point. Off both routers and connect the Ethernet cable .
- Turn on the main router, let it set, and turns on the secondary router. Now it will operate as a point of getting Internet by cable, and passing it on your WiFi network . In areas where da coverage, be sure to connect to the WiFi network old router.
Conflict devices connected
Maybe your WiFi signal running at top speed and have a powerful, but still you obtain a limited performance, even though only a couple of devices to connect.
Perhaps you use a smartphone, tablet or old connector with a WiFi Internet protocol different from your new phone or console.
There are several protocols WiFi (802.11a, ac, n, etc.). If you connect to devices that use different protocols router, the router will have to switch from one to another constantly, which will reduce performance because different protocols use different frequencies and velocities.
You should consult the manual of your device and see what WiFi protocol used. If there are several and there are many devices connected to WiFi while you should ask yourself if you buy a second router compensates, and configure each use a different protocol, connecting devices to one or the other.
A more sensible option is to purchase one of the new dual - band 802.11ac routers . These models convey two different frequency bands (2.4 and 5 GHz) and from the configuration allow to connect to one or the other. You can connect older devices to 2.4 Ghz and the most modern to 5 GHz, and no interference between them.
Note that there are routers that include both bands but only use one. By default they use the 2.4 GHz, but if you just connect modern devices you should switch to the 5 GHz to reduce.
The Best Routers::
Simultaneous dual band connectivity for maximum compatibility and extreme performance
USB 2.0 built-in back for file storage, 3G / 4G support and sharing of network printers
Robust and comprehensive control of the network thanks to the ASUSWR firmware
Includes the EZ Switch that gives you maximum flexibility to be able to select three modes: Router, access point or media bridge
Incorporates 4 robust external antennas and AiRadar TX Beamforming technology for good WiFi performance
Minimum RAM: 128 MB
