Bolster Your Bandwidth
We’ve entered an age where technology rules our daily lives and with that comes the demand for bigger, better, and faster bandwidth.
Internet has become an essential part of our work and home lives. For the majority who connect at work, a large pipeline is supplied and wireless connectivity is blasted throughout the office, shop or storefront where employees zip merrily along through their work day, connected, in the loop and on top of work. However, the luxury of speed is greatly reduced when most return to their home networks. The amount of bandwidth for residential users versus business users often differs by as much as 20, 50 and even 100Mb due somewhat to availability but mainly to cost.
This reduction in speed however, does not need to cripple the family unit’s online experience. With a few small adjustments to your home network setup, it can sometimes be overcome without increasing your existing speed or your monthly bill. Here are some suggestions to help boost your home Wi-Fi system:
Where’s Your Router?
Router location can be a key component for maximizing your Internet speed. Locate the router in a central part of the home, preferably on a top floor so as to broadcast an even signal throughout the home. Believe it or not, radio waves travel down and laterally best. Placing the router on an open, high shelf or wall mount is the ideal option. Also, remember signal strength weakens if it has to bounce around too many corners, refract through walls or reflect off mirrors to reach your wireless devices. In addition, appliances such as washers and dryers, microwaves, cordless phones, furnaces and even furniture can cause interference with your laptop. If you can’t relocate your router, try relocating your wireless device and move closer to the access point.
“I Thought I saw A Wabbit“
Go old school, if you will, and try some “rabbit ears”. If you only have one access point, a directional antenna will work best as it pickups up signals from a specific direction, providing a stronger signal. If you have multiple access points, an omidirectional antenna may be best as it will pick up signals equally from all directions. If your home office is inconveniently located far away from your router, you can extend your coverage by installing a wireless repeater or extender. Put the extender half way between your access point and office and enjoy your newfound speed.
Keep Your Network YOURS!
Lock your network! The number of connected devices can ultimately affect your speed. To avoid people mooching off your service, make your network undiscoverable by unchecking the “Enable SSID Broadcast” option in the admin page of your router. It is also a best practice to secure your network with a password and keep that secret and/or change it frequently.
Upgrade or Replace…
Make sure your router software is up-to-date by visiting the website of your router manufacturer – enter your model number and make any updates necessary. A final option, if you’ve owned your router for several years, maybe it is time for an upgrade. As with all products, continual improvements are made with each generation and the latest models can have stronger signals. Pinpoint offers routers for sale or you can purchase them on-line or at a local electronics store.
These are just a few alternatives to help bolster your home Internet experience; making it as easy and enjoyable as when you’re at work. We encourage you to contact our office at 800.793.2788 if you have any questions about improving or upgrading your service and bolstering your bandwidth.
