Wave Broadband March 16, 2021

Optimizing Your WiFi Speed

Many factors influence your home’s WiFi speeds. With smart devices and internet browsing, sometimes it gets crowded on your wireless network. Learn how you can boost and optimize your internet speeds to peak performance.

Walls and appliances are physical barriers that can affect your WiFi speed. Concrete, metal, and plaster are especially difficult for the WiFi signal to penetrate.

Minimize the number of barriers by placing your router in the open area where the internet is most commonly used, such as the living room.

Location, location, location! Where the router is placed is very important. Some people put it in an upstairs office or even worse, the basement or attic; these areas make it hard for the wireless signal to reach the device.

Try putting it in the center of your home, up off the floor, preferably on the 1st floor, in a room where the Internet is frequently accessed.

Multiple devices divide up bandwidth like a pie, with each device taking the portion it needs at the time of use.
The more devices you have, the more Wi-Fi speed is divided up. Some devices can’t support higher speeds — which slows down all the others. To see what speeds your device can support, check the owner’s manual or perform a web search using its model number

Protect your WiFi by always requiring a password to join the network. If your network is open, you leave your WiFi vulnerable to cyber threats or neighbors and adding their devices to your broadband, further bogging down the internet speeds. Prevent others from using your WiFi without you knowing and secure your WiFi network with a password to optimize internet speed.

Run regular virus scans to keep your devices clean. Close browsers, clear cookies, and turn off devices you’re not using. Clearing cookies is fast and easy, but the steps vary by browser. To learn how to clear cookies for your browser, a quick web search is all you need.

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