Fix niggling Wi-Fi problems
Not all issues bring your network grinding to a halt. Here’s how to troubleshoot, maintain and improve your wireless performance.
One major bottleneck in getting good transfer speeds is your wireless connection. Despite the eye-catching speeds advertised, the reality is much less appealing. Performance drops off the further you are away from the router – particularly on the newer 5GHz network bands. There are also problems caused by interference – both through local network congestion from too many competing devices within your own network, plus neighbours’ Wi-Fi signals swamping your own.
FIX WIRELESS INTERFERENCE
Before looking at improving overall signal strength, look to tackle interference from overlapping networks as well as competing demands from the ever-growing number of connected devices in your own home. Start by focusing on network interference by installing Matt Hafner’s free WiFi Analyzer app from the Microsoft Store.
Launch the app, choosing Europe when prompted. Click Close, and let the app toggle your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections on and off when asked. Start with a look at your current network, including a glance at the network speed. Review the icons beneath the signal strength meter – any coloured orange or flickering between orange and black signify a potential problem, such as network interference (star icon).
Switch to the Analyze tab where you’ll see your network’s signal appear on a graph along with neighbouring networks – all typically as curves over the numbers 1, 6 and 11, which indicate the channel each network is transmitting on.
Beneath this graph is a recommendation for which channel your network should transmit on – if it’s a different channel to the one currently set, you’ll need to open your browser and navigate to your router’s configuration page. Locate your 2.4GHz wireless settings and look for a channel option – set this to the recommended number, save your changes and wait
while your PC reconnects. Return to the Connected tab where you’ll hopefully see some improvement.
When it comes to reducing demand on your internal network, one solution is to make better use of the under-utilised 5GHz band – see the box on this page for details. Another might be to switch devices to your unused guest network. Make sure it broadcasts on a different channel to your main network, and remember it won’t speed up your internet connection, but might help alleviate the demand on your network.
BOOST YOUR RANGE
If your signal flickers between recommended channels – or you can’t get a signal at all in a specific location in your home, then the issue is likely to be that your PC is at the edge of your network’s range or in a ‘dead zone’. Remember that it’s not just distance from the router that’s critical, but also the thickness and number of solid walls the signal has to pass through (which is why you can often connect on the pavement outside your home, but not in a room just a few metres away).
Also eliminate other potential forms of interference on the 2.4GHz band: microwaves, older cordless phones, door chimes and even some wireless mice can all be known to cause disruption. Disconnect the potentially offending item to see if it’s the culprit, then consider upgrading it.
If your router comes with two or more antennae, try aligning one vertically and the other horizontally to see if it can boost your range that bit further. Also consult your router’s support website to see if you can upgrade its supplied antennae with more powerful ‘high-gain directional’ replacements to boost the signal to a specific part of your house. Also consider relocating your router to a more central location or moving it to reduce the number and thickness of walls and solid objects it needs to pass through.
Another way to increase your range is with a Wi-Fi extender. These cost around $50, and to simplify setup you should purchase one from the same manufacturer as your router – they can usually be paired usually through a mobile app. This creates a second wireless network from your Wi-Fi extender, which acts as a relay for the original network. See the box below for tips on setting one up.
You might also be tempted by the idea of a mesh network, which links various nodes around your home with each other and the original router to blanket your home with a strong Wi-Fi signal. It’s an expensive option, but simple enough to set up and maintain. For most people, however, one carefully placed Wi-Fi extender is perfectly adequate, works with your existing network and works out much cheaper!
“It’s not just distance from the router that’s critical, but also the number of walls the signal has to pass through. ”