The Missing Manual HOME WI-FI
Want your Wi-fi to be faster and stronger in every room? Of course you do. Wayne Williams reveals the secret signal-boosting tricks that make this a reality
Make it FASTER, SAFER and STRONGER in every room Banish dead spots forever Upgrade your PC’S adapter Create Creat a Wi-fi heatmap Find & fix security flaws Add router antennae Turn on hidden settings
Did you know you can now put the kettle on using Wi-fi? Devices like the ikettle (£99.99 from https://smarter.am/ikettle) represent the next generation of Wi-fi, although most of us will settle for a fast, strong signal for our computers, phones and tablets. That said, expectations have rocketed in the past few years. No longer are we content with a speedy signal in the same room as the router; we want it to stretch from cellar to attic, from hallway to garden shed.
2017 was the year this became a more realistic ambition, with the launch of several mesh Wi-fi systems. We explain how these work in this feature, and reveal our favourites. But this new technology won’t be right for everyone. There are simpler and cheaper tasks you can perform to boost your speed and signal, such as selecting the fastest frequency for your router. We’ll give you comprehensive instructions without the jargon that plagues manufacturers’ websites.
Staying safe is important too. Hackers know that every Wi-fi connection is a potential unlocked window through which they can sneak into your home. So they probably organised a party when the Krack flaw was discovered. We’ll show you how to protect yourself from this shocking vulnerability, and recommend tools that help you locate weak points. That’ll ruin the hackers’ party.
Armed with these tips, you’ll be able to decide whether to stick with your existing router (having improved it), or splash out on a new one. Our top routers, mesh systems and extenders end the feature. They are all excellent products, though Wi-fi technology is advancing so rapidly that they may not remain our preferred choices for long. We’ll continue to review the best new products throughout 2018.