Imagine you have planned to watch a movie tonight. The popcorn is ready. And you have opened your favorite show. Suddenly, the video starts buffering. It’s obvious that you probably get frustrated, especially when you are in a meeting on video call with your boss, or your kid is playing an online video game. In the USA, in each home, an average of 20+ devices are connected, and the slow-speed internet not only frustrates you, but it also disturbs your life.
Don’t worry, we are here with some good news: you can improve your internet speed without upgrading your plan to a higher level. You can change the placement of your router or boost the Wi-Fi signal through walls. This approach makes a large difference. In this article, we will let you know how to boost internet speed with quick and proven fixes so you can stream, work, and play games without interruptions.
Test and Diagnose Your Current Internet Speed
Before we go into the depth of how to boost internet speed, it’s essential to understand the real problem behind it. First of all, you have to check your internet speed on Google. Various websites are available, and the most popular one is Ookla Speed Test, which gives you the download and upload speeds of your internet. Then compare the speed with the ISP plan so you will know whether you are getting the internet speed for which you are paying every month or not.
It is recommended to test both your wired and Wi-Fi connections because wired is more stable and normally faster. Plus, check your download and upload speed for video calls, text messages, and file sharing. The following diagnosis of your current internet speed will help you know the right fixes instead of just guessing.
How to Optimize Your Router Setup and Placement?
The position of your router makes your Wi-Fi performance better and worse. You have to place your router in the center or above the wall. Do not place it near microwaves, cordless phones, or Bluetooth speakers because these places can cause signal interference.
If you are living in a multi-floor house, then place your router on the middle floor. So, each floor gets balanced coverage. In case you are in apartments or buildings, then place your router in the open spaces to boost Wi-Fi signal through thick walls. Lastly, you have to adjust the external antennas, some vertical and some horizontal, which help signals travel both across rooms and between floors.
Use the Right Wi-Fi Band and Channel
Choosing the right Wi-Fi brand and channel will make your internet speed better. The internet speed includes 2.4GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. The 2.4GHz has a slow internet speed, but it works better through walls, reaches faster, and is perfect for smart devices and old technologies. The 5 GHz has a fast speed, less interference, but it has a low range. The internet is perfect for streaming and gaming, especially when your router is close to you. Last, the 6GHz (Wi-Fi 6E/7) is the fastest with the least congestion, but has limited range and requires new devices.
So, now it’s up to you, either you can split 2.4 and 5GHz into separate network names or you allow your router to use band steering to assign devices itself. The purpose of a split is to force specific devices into a faster band. Additionally, you can also change the Wi-Fi channel from the router settings to boost the internet connection. Set the channel width: 20 MHz for 2.4 GHz, 40–80 MHz for 5 GHz, and up to 160 MHz for 6 GHz when supported.
Advanced Ways to Maximize Internet Performance
After explaining some basic steps, it’s time to take a look at some advanced ways that help to maximize internet speed. First of all, disconnect all the unused devices to free bandwidth. Use QoS settings to give priority to gaming and streaming so that the ping and latency are reduced while playing games, and you will optimize the internet for work from home.
Switch to the fastest DNS, like Google or Cloudflare, and before that, set a benchmark and analyze which is the best DNS server for faster internet. If you identify throttling, you can bypass ISP throttling without a VPN in some cases by adjusting router settings, but a VPN is often simpler.
Additionally, upgrade your hardware to Wi-Fi 6 or 7, choose mesh Wi-Fi vs extender for large house, and use Ethernet or wired backhaul for maximum stability. On mobile, you can speed up Wi-Fi on Android phone or speed up internet on iPhone by disabling background apps and optimizing network settings.
Best Option? Choose Inspire Communication as we are your trusted partner and suggest to you the fastest internet provider that makes your movie, streaming, and gaming experience better.