MAKE YOUR WI-FI FASTER
Upgrade to a faster router
There are lots of free things you can do to speed up your Wi-fi – including repositioning your router, and changing frequency bands – but the truth is for a real speed boost you might need to spend some money and replace your hardware. Anyone still using the same router for a few years will definitely benefit from an upgrade.
Things have moved on significantly since the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) released the original 802.11 WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) standard in 1997. Back then, Wi-fi was able to achieve a theoretical transfer rate of just 2Mbps – and the ‘theoretical’ caveat is important here. It essentially means “rates only achievable in a laboratory”. In the real world, they were always a lot, lot less. Imagine trying to download or stream a movie on a connection that slow!
By 2003, when 802.11g arrived, speeds were up to 54Mbps. Six years later, 802.11n boosted the rate to 600Mbps, and now new routers, built after 2014, use the 802.11ac standard which can deliver up to 1300Mbps. If you have an 802.11n router, the benefits of upgrading to 802.11ac should be clear. You’ll notice a big improvement, especially if you stream audio and video over your network.
However, to benefit from the improved speed and distance your devices (laptops, set-top boxes, tablets, etc) will need to be compatible with 802.11ac. Happily, most new devices do work with this standard. Turn to page 57 for our top 802.11ac router recommendations.
Upgrade your computer’s wireless adapter
If you have an older laptop that only supports 802.11n (or worse, 802.11g), you can bring it up to date by installing a new 802.11ac adapter. But before you spend any money, check which network standard it’s using by clicking the Wi-fi icon in Windows 10, and selecting the Properties link for your network. In the window that opens, scroll down and look for the network ‘protocol’ listed. If it says 802.11n (as in our screenshot above right), and you have an 802.11ac router, then it’s time for an upgrade. Fortunately, this won’t break the bank – you can pick up an 802.11ac USB adapter for under £30. Amazon’s best-seller (pictured above) normally costs £29.99, but was on sale for £12.99 when we last visited: www.snipca. com/26488. Just plug this tiny device into your laptop, and you’ll be ready to enjoy faster speeds.
Use the fastest bands
Modern Wi-fi routers broadcast on two separate frequency bands – 2.4GHZ and 5GHZ. By default, newer devices will automatically connect to what they consider to be the best one. In most cases this will be the 5GHZ band because it’s less congested and supports significantly higher maximum-data rates, making it ideal for intensive tasks like downloading or streaming. Older products don’t have a choice of frequency – they’ll only be able to connect to the 2.4GHZ band.
If you have an Android phone or tablet you can force it to use the 5GHZ band by going to Settings and selecting Wi-fi. Tap the three dots at the top right, and select Advanced. Tap ‘Wi-fi frequency band’ and in the box that opens tap ‘5GHZ only’ (see screenshot above).
Identify devices and apps that use most bandwidth
Devices, software and apps that hog bandwidth can slow down your network. The best way to identify the culprits is via your router, but unfortunately most home models don’t offer this feature. The next best option is Glasswire ( www.glasswire.com), a
free network-monitoring tool for Windows and Android. It shows, via a handy graph (see screenshot right), when programs and apps go online – and how often. You can view up to 90 days’ worth of web activity.
Use QOS settings
Some routers offer a QOS (Quality of Service) setting that lets you give priority to certain types of internet traffic, such as streaming video. Switching this on will ensure your important bandwidth-hungry tasks aren’t interrupted by other less essential jobs, such as Bittorrent downloads.
To use QOS, you need to log into your router. For instructions, refer to your manual. If you can’t find it, look for instructions on the manufacturer’s website, or search for the manual online (see box on p56). If you still have no luck, try http:// setuprouter.com.
Once you’ve logged in, look for a QOS option. It’s usually under Advanced settings (as in the Netgear Genie screenshot right). If you can’t see one it’s possible this feature isn’t available on your router. Select the type of traffic you want to manage and assign it a priority – high, medium, normal, or low. For obvious reasons, you shouldn’t set every traffic type or application to the same priority.