Check router settings

Learn to change the channel and more

It’s good practice to know how to access your home router settings in case you need to make changes. If you do, there are a few tricks to try to hopefully obtain a sturdier Wi-fi connection. For example, changing the channel of your router is a good way to combat internet drops. There are 13, but all of them overlap except for channels 1, 6 and 11, so pick one that is likely to be further away from a neighbouring network.

1 Access settings

Check your router and there should be an IP address printed somewhere on it. Type this into the Url/search bar in Safari to access your router settings.

2 Go to Wireless settings

The page of settings that you see will be different depending on your router. However, there should be a ‘Wireless’ set of options to click on.

3 Log in and change

To make changes to your router settings you must log in. Your login details, again, should be printed on the router or in the accompanying documentation.

4 Change the channel

Inside the Wireless settings you should see the option to change channels. Change it from its default setting to a high number that is unlikely to clash with other networks.

5 Use the 5GHZ band

As the channels only relate to the 2.4GHZ band of your router, switching to the 5GHZ band might provide a welcome boost to your signal.

6 Search for options

Find the option in your router settings to separate the bands (on EE go to Advanced Settings>wireless) and then turn it on to access the 5GHZ band.

7 Switch bands

Make sure that the new 5GHZ band has a different name and then select it from your Mac’s Wi-fi menu to connect. The password is just the same as before.

8 Use WPA2

Resist the urge to hide your network as this doesn’t actually make it more secure. Make sure you set the Wi-fi security to WPA2.

9 Create a unique name

You don’t have to use the default name for your network, rename it something else but make sure that it doesn’t conflict with any nearby networks. 212 49