How to Fix WiFi Signal and Speed Problems

Connecting to a Wi-Fi network, whether domestic, from our workplace or from a public place, has become an essential act in our day to day. However, especially when we are in our homes, we can have problems connecting to Wi-Fi . Signal problems, slow connectivity at certain times, intermittent connection and other frequent problems. It will not be necessary to consult our operator or be a very advanced user to implement these practical tips.

More than once, it will have happened that you noticed that the Internet connection via Wi-Fi was very slow, the first thing that we usually think of is that it is the fault of the operator, since it could have some incidence. Logically, if we call the operator it will indicate that everything is correct and that the problem could be the router that we have in our home, or the router that we have bought to replace this, have some kind of problem. Remember, it should not always be a problem for our provider, unless there is some kind of general inconvenience or the area where you are.

wifi-signal-speed

Although many times we do not want to do it, it is important to have control of the configuration of your devices, both the Wi-Fi router and the computer or mobile. We will show you these practical tips and tricks to improve the speed of our connection. In some cases, the solution may be much simpler than we think.

Tips to check our Wi-Fi connectivity

Speed of our contracted bandwidth

One of the main revisions that we must do is the current state of the bandwidth of our connection. One of the most popular and reliable tools is Speed Test . With this tool we will have important information such as download speed, upload, and also the latency of our Internet connection. This tool can not only be used before starting to repair our Wi-Fi network, but also after doing so. Thus. We can measure effectively if we are managing to solve the problem.

You can access Speed Test from your computer with any web browser, regardless of the operating system used, including Windows, Linux, MacOS etc. We recommend saving it among your favorites in case of any event or need to consult about our bandwidth.

Problems connecting to Wi-Fi from your mobile? You can also access Speed Test in its versions for both Android and iOS, however, the web version supports HTML5 and is ready for mobile, so you can use it without installing any additional application.

Test de Velocidad Plus
Developer: ADSLZone Group
Price: Free


Developer: ADSLZone Group
Price: Free


Coverage area of our router

Wi-Fi Heatmapping applications help us have an accurate picture of the coverage area covered by our Wi-Fi router. Based on different colors, (green, orange, yellow, red) we will know where there is more or less coverage. Naturally, as we move away from the router, the Wi-Fi signal strength decreases. However, there are areas that are not very distant from the device and still have coverage problems.

The latter is due to causes that are typical of where we are, such as walls and some furniture. There are also devices that greatly affect coverage, such as baby monitors and wireless radios, especially if you use the 2.4GHz band. Also, your neighbors’ Wi-Fi networks can be a problem for fast and smooth connectivity.

Do not know what application to use? We suggest some free Wi-Fi heatmapping mobile application options.

The first of the applications we are going to talk about is Acrylic WiFi . This application (available in a free and paid mode) is one of the most complete that we can find on the network to analyze wireless networks and thus find the best configuration for it. It is compatible only with Windows operating systems, and will allow us to analyze and monitor all types of networks in 2.4GHz and 5GHz, as well as analyze the different channels to be able to find the least saturated of all, and configure our Wi-Fi connection to achieve the highest speed and stability possible.

Another great application is inSSIDer , it allows us to find the perfect point in the configuration of our wireless network so that we can avoid interference in the WiFi, as well as monitor the stability of a connection at each point of the house.

If you are looking for an app for smartphones, the Wi-Fi Analyzer application is one of the best known. The main features of this free application are that it is capable of scanning the Wi-Fi networks around us, showing us the SSID associated with a specific BSSIC (wireless MAC) , the type of security it uses, the channel used by said wireless network and the signal that we are receiving.

Wifi Analyzer
Developer: farproc
Price: Free


Without a doubt, Wi-Fi Analyzer is one of the most recommended applications if you want to check the Wi-Fi networks around you.

On the other hand, there is another application at no cost called WiFi Analyzer and Surveyor . The Analyzer section allows you to have four different views. The first is the use of the channel, signal level and details of Wi-Fi access points. Another view gives you only information about the signal level and interference. The following focuses on the access points based on the signal level of each. These APs are grouped according to the frequency band for which they are operating.

Developer: ManageEngine
Price: Free


Do you have an iOS mobile? Telstra Home Dashboard is a free application that even goes beyond simply making Wi-Fi heat maps. In addition to doing this, you can have tips on how to get more out of our network and create specific task flows in the event of a problem. You can even restart your router from the application itself. On the other hand, it has a special protection for the family called Broadband Protect, which ensures that all people in the house ensure a Wi-Fi network connection with quality and security.

The Android version is also available.

Wi-Fi network settings adjustment tips

Check router settings

This can be considered as the definitive solution for most cases. Especially if you are using a Wi-Fi router that you have purchased on your own. To further guarantee the effectiveness of the adjustments in the configuration that we would be applying, we suggest restoring the router to the default settings and performing the configuration from scratch by accessing the popular 192.168.1.1 or the default gateway that your router has. According to the manufacturer of our equipment, we must follow the instructions and in a few minutes we will be finished. Keep in mind that most Wi-Fi routers for home use do not present much difficulty when configuring.

Update Wi-Fi router firmware

Firmware updates are very useful as they provide new features to the router, in addition to improving existing ones. New firmwares often have various security improvements, bug fixes and optimizations at all levels. It is recommended to perform this update especially before the first use. New routers usually have automatic updates, so they will be updated automatically without user intervention, however, you always have the possibility to access the manufacturer’s website to locate the latest firmware version according to the router model, and update to through the router management page. If in doubt, you can always use the help guides that are present on the websites.

Update the drivers (adapters) of our computer

Did you take it into account? Wireless network adapters must be updated to ensure the proper functioning of your device when connected to the Wi-Fi network. If you use a computer with the Windows operating system, it is possible to opt for solutions that manage updates for all drivers. An example is DriverHub , which is very simple to use because it downloads and installs driver updates for you, through a clean and intuitive interface. In addition, it has a section dedicated to the recovery of the computer in the event that any update results in something bad. An interesting facility is the Advanced Mode which is responsible for choosing which drivers to install, verifying the version numbers and installing alternative drivers, that is, other versions that are not the most updated. It is compatible with Windows 7 , 8 and 10 .

If your network card is Intel, it is recommended that you directly access its official website and download the latest drivers so you can connect to routers and APs with Wi-Fi 6 without having problems, otherwise, Wi-Fi networks will not appear . If you use a Mac, you can access the official Apple site to download driver updates.

Management of connection channels

When a router is configured for the first time, it is normal for Wi-Fi channels to be in “Auto” mode, to detect which channel is less used and adopts it as the default channel. However, it is possible that over time it will become a widely used channel with the arrival of new neighbors, and the algorithm that has its firmware implemented will not work quite well, and never change the channel until we restart the router. However, the ideal is to use a fixed channel to avoid problems, and check from time to time if there are more APs broadcasting on the same channel. This is because it is possible for the router to change the channel while we are connected, and cut off the wireless connection of all devices. or the construction of new buildings, which can also interfere with the strength of the signal.

There are tools that analyze the entire Wi-Fi spectrum and provide you with details about the network to which you are connected and the status of the channel you are using. Thus, you can determine if there is a need to change the channel or not. An application that is compatible with both Windows and Mac is NetSpot . It is very complete and even offers functionalities at a professional level, it is not necessary to have too much knowledge to start using it, it has no cost and you just have to meet the compatibility requirement. NetSpot is available for both Windows 7/8/10 and MacOS onwards. Any Wi-Fi network that operates under the 802.11 standard can be detected and analyzed by the application.

Change the frequency band

On the other hand, the frequency band where our network is located is another factor that influences the quality and speed of our connection. In most cases, wireless networks operate under the 2.4 GHz frequency band. Unfortunately, this band is very busy by other neighboring networks, in addition to devices such as baby monitors, cordless phones, appliances etc.

Wi-Fi routers that operate under the latest standards have two Wi-Fi bands, the 2.4GHz band and another 5GHz band. It is recommended that your network is under the 5 GHz band since, so far, it is not as busy as the 2.4 GHz band. You can also choose to use both bands. but considering the type of device. For example, if it is a mobile or a tablet that uses the 2.4 GHz band since it will not need so much speed, however, it is recommended that computers and Smart TV use the 5 GHz band since these devices demand more width band, and also need greater stability and connection quality.

Replace router

If nothing improves significantly, it is very likely that it is time to replace the router. In this article we have a complete list of the best Wi-Fi 5 routers you can buy and also the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market.

It is important to know that our router must be operating under the latest Wi-Fi standards, such as IEEE 802.11ac or IEEE 802.11ax (better known as Wi-Fi 6 ). In this way, much of the connectivity problems could be solved because they incorporate technologies that improve performance, coverage, and mitigate interference with neighboring networks. You can take better advantage of the contracted bandwidth and the range of coverage available will be wider.

Another highly recommended option is to use Wi-Fi Mesh systems, to have full coverage in your home with several devices, and when we move from one device to another, to have Wi-Fi roaming between nodes. In this article we also have a complete compilation of the best Wi-Fi Mesh systems on the market.

We are sure that with these tips and tricks, you can take advantage of your connection in the best way, in addition to alleviating potential headaches when browsing, viewing multimedia content or playing.