Even as more people started to work from home due to the pandemic, the number will increase in the coming years. Industry watchers expect the number of Americans with remote working arrangements to reach around 36 million, which is nearly 90 percent higher than the figure before the pandemic started.
And with these numbers, internet speed will suffer. While there are several reasons why internet speed slows down, but these are mainly things people cannot control. For instance, an internet connection goes through several devices before it reaches people’s homes. If anything happens to these devices, the internet connection will slow down or even gets disconnected.
Web servers are also susceptible to attacks, such as denial-of-service attacks. In this situation, the server is congested due to traffic. It causes the system to slow down.
While people cannot do anything about these situations, there are some things that they can control to improve internet speed at home.
Boosting Wi-Fi Signal
The first thing people can do is boost the Wi-Fi signal. All the devices at home connect to the internet through the access point or the wireless router of the home network. Nearby signals can interfere with the wireless signal coming from these access points. One source of interference is the signal coming from a neighbor’s access point. These wireless signals typically have limited channels or pipes where data is transferred.
Wireless routers normally switch channels automatically to allow them to avoid interference. These routers normally have 14 channels. But there are instances when the router settings are set by default to one channel. Looking for the best channel to reduce the amount of interference may require going through channel 1, channel 6, or channel 11. Using any of these channels can normally eliminate issues in the signal in a 2.4 GHz router.
Reposition the Router
Transferring the router to a different location can also help improve the signal. This is particularly true if the router supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi signals. In these instances, it is advisable to use this signal since it offers faster data rates, albeit over a short distance. With this, it’s necessary to transfer the router to a central position in the house for better Wi-Fi coverage,
In ideal conditions, a 2.4 GHz wireless router supports up to 600 Mbps, while a 5 GHz router can support speeds of up to 1300 Mbps. But the 5 GHz may offer a faster data transfer speed due to its 23 channels. The 2.4 GHz router has a wider range compared to the 5 GHz router.
With this in mind, you can either opt for coverage or speed. If you value coverage, a 2.4 GHz wireless router is best for you. But if you’re keen on getting a faster transfer rate, you should get a 5 GHz router.
Another thing to consider is that several appliances may interfere with the signal from the router. So, it’s advisable if the cordless phone or microwave oven is interfering with the signal. These appliances may be using the same frequency as the wireless router. Additionally, using a Wi-Fi extender can also increase the coverage area of the wireless router.
Checking for Malware
Another thing people should check is the presence of malware in the computer. Aside from computer memory and hard disk space, malware can also cause internet speed to slow down. This makes it important for people to regularly check their computers using antivirus software.
Additionally, they should make sure the software is regularly updated so that they can catch any viruses or spyware lurking in the computer. If you’re unsure about the malware, you can check with the web development firm that worked on your company’s website to check it for you. They normally have an idea if a program or software is malware or not.
Moreover, it’s also advisable to check if the firmware of the router is updated. Checking for updates is as easy as visiting the website of the manufacturer. Updates are typically available for owners of their products. These updates are normally updated manually. So, it’s essential to visit the website regularly. Aside from fixing any issues in using the router, the manufacturer may release new features that add to the functions available on their product.
There may even be instances when there’s a need to replace the router with a newer one. This is typically applicable for routers that are already a couple of years old. New models normally offer more functions and have faster data transfer speeds.
Boosting internet connection is important these days since a lot of people are working from home. In these situations, a lot of devices are using the router. People should take some steps to improve the speed to allow everyone to work without any interruptions.