Slow Wi-Fi does not bode well with our fast-paced lives.

We rely on Wi-Fi for practically every aspect of our lives. We use it for shopping, entertainment, communication, research, and even quick access to funny cat videos. It’s even estimated that roughly 1 in every 3 US households use Wi-Fi on a regular basis.

So when we experience a lag in our Wi-Fi speed, or worse, it completely stops working, we quickly realize all the things we can no longer do without Wi-Fi, and then proceed to move into panic mode.

Luckily, there are a few ways you can optimize your Wi-Fi connection right at home and deter any future pesky network connection issues from happening again.

1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! – Where you place your router is incredibly important in how powerful your Wi-Fi signal is. If possible, try centralizing it so that all corners of your household or office have access to it. If you place it in the back office of your house, in a closet, or in the corner on the floor somewhere, you are limiting its reach. Sometimes even elevating your router can increases the Wi-Fi signal.
2. Channels – Wi-Fi is similar to a radio, in that there are various channels you can choose from to work with. Sometimes when your Wi-Fi speed is slow, it’s because it’s interfering with your neighbor’s signal that is working on the same channel. It’s best to experiment with the channels and find one that has little interference in order to get the best quality Wi-Fi.
3. Security – Make sure that your Wi-Fi is only being used by your household or office. When more people are using one Wi-Fi connection, it slows down. Also, these days it can be really easy to hack into accounts and steal Wi-Fi signal and even personal information that you share through the internet. So you have to secure your connection ASAP if you haven’t already. Look into setting up a WEP, WPA, or a WPA2 level encryption password to protect what is yours.
4. Vendor – When you mix a router from Company A with a Vendor from Company B, you will get a C grade level of a Wi-Fi signal. You should always try to use equipment and services from the same company. Why? Because these products were meant to work together, obviously. Whether it’s from Ruckus, Extreme Networks, or Cisco, make sure it’s all the same.
5. Invest in the best – When you want the best Wi-Fi connection, you have to use the best. That doesn’t mean you have to go spend big bucks on the most expensive equipment out there. It just means you need to decide on what you are looking for, and then get the best quality Wi-Fi that fits your needs. And it also goes without say, but always update your system. Updates ensure you are getting the best performance out of your technology.
6. Bandwidth hoggers – Even if you have one of the best systems out there, it might still sometimes lag. This is usually brought on by people who are hogging up most of the bandwidth. If, for instance, someone in your household video chats regularly, torrents files, plays games, and uses websites like Netflix or Hulu, chances are they are the culprits to your Wi-Fi slowdown. Consider allocating your Wi-Fi usage between who uses it, when it’s used, and what it’s being used for.

If you’re interested in checking out the absolute TOP wireless network products in the business check out our Extreme Network and Ruckus Wireless pages!