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A state-of-the-art router isn’t enough to guarantee top performance. There are features and adjustments you should take advantage of to optimize its performance and boost your Wi-Fi signal.
Location, Location, Location
Even the best routers will struggle to provide coverage for an entire home if placed improperly. Perhaps the most important adjustment you’re able to make to optimize router performance is placing the router in a central location. Placing it on either end of the home or in the attic or basement is sure to diminish its signal.
Instead, place it in the center of the home where it has lines of sight to most rooms, make sure it’s not on the ground, and place it away from the material and other electronics that may block or disrupt its signal. As far as the antennas go, ensure they face in different directions, as this will help them reach different areas of the home; receivers parallel to the antenna work best. For this reason, you make sure at least one antenna is positioned horizontally.
Change Defaults
Just because your router has default settings and appears to be working fine doesn’t mean they should stay that way. You’ll want to change your default password and SSID (network name) immediately.
Unfortunately, default router login credentials can be found easily on the web. If someone wants to take over your router, they’ll first input your router’s default credentials. Your default SSID name gives hackers information about your network, so you should change it to something vague that is not connected to your address, name, or router brand.
I also recommend disabling WPS, UPnP, and Nat-PMP. These are all default settings that, if compromised, can be used to gain access to your router even without a password.
Choose Your Wi-Fi Band
Most new routers automatically switch between the 2.4, 5.0, and 6.0GHz Wi-Fi bands. If you have a newer router, it should already be configured to do this; if not, you’ll want to change it to switch between bands automatically.
Some routers can create one SSID with two or more bands. Others, however, need to create an SSID for each band. If this happens, your device may not automatically switch between bands.
Change the Channel
Each Wi-Fi band operates on its own channel: 2.4 GHz has 14 channels, 5.0 GHz has 34, and 6.0 GHz has 59 channels. If you live in a densely populated area, you might be sharing the same channel with other routers, which could cause signal interference that slows down your connection.
Newer routers should automatically use the channels with fewer users to ensure faster speeds. However, if your router does not,you may use a Wi-Fi analyzer toolto determine which Wi-Fi channel is best for you.
Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration
Not all devices are created equal. Thus, certain devices should be prioritized over others. You can prioritize internet speed for specified devices by using QoS configuration. If you use resource-heavy devices like a gaming computer or TV for streaming, you want to ensure these devices are jitter-free.
Encryption Levels
Most routers default to WPA2, WPA3, or a combination of the two. WEP and WPA encryption levels are also available; however, they are no longer deemed secure. Justmake sure that WPA2 or WPA3 is enabledand that you don’t mistakenly change the encryption level to WEP or WPA.
Firmware Updates
Router firmware updates are usually made to improve a router’s security. Even if you have purchased a new router, it may not be up to date on the latest firmware. Some routers automatically check for firmware updates, but not all. To check and update router firmware, use the router’s web interface or application.
