Six easy improvements you can make

REPOSITION YOUR ROUTER

Think about where your router is placed – aim to position it as centrally as possible (if in a two-storey home, that means high up on the ground floor to improve its signal range upstairs). Also place it on a wooden shelf rather than brick or glass, as the latter materials are harder for Wi-Fi signals to pass through.

CHANGE WI-FI CHANNELS

If you determine your 2.4GHz network needs moving to a less crowded channel, use your router’s configuration utility and look for the channel settings in the Wireless or Wi-Fi section. If a Channel Width setting is provided, make sure it’s 20MHz to reduce the risk of interference.

SWITCH TO WIRED CONNECTIONS

Wireless is convenient, but it’s no match for a reliable cabled connection. If you have devices with Ethernet ports close to the router – like a desktop computer or console – connect them directly to a local area network (LAN) port on the router using a Cat 5e cable or better to reduce the load on your Wi-Fi network.

ADJUST ANTENNAS

If your router has two or more external antennas, align one vertically and the other horizontally to see if that boosts the range further. Also consult your router’s support website to see if you can upgrade its supplied antennas with more powerful ‘high-gain directional’ replacements to boost the signal.

PURCHASE A WI-FI EXTENDER

Relay devices cost around $70 for dual-band models – try to go for the same make as your router and manage them using the manufacturer’s app. Place the extender halfway between the router and the area where the signal is poor – if the signal remains weak, try moving the relay closer to the router.

EXPAND WIRED DEVICES

Most routers offer no more than four LAN ports to connect to wired devices. Network switches allow you to connect five to eight devices to a single LAN port without performance penalty. Invest in a Gigabit Ethernet switch for max transfer speeds, like the TP-Link TL-SG105S, which offers five ports for under $30.