How to Optimise Your Home Wi-Fi Network: Get the Best Speed and Coverage

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a slow Wi-Fi connection. Whether you’re part way through a Netflix binge or trying to work from home, weak Wi-Fi can put a frustrating end to your plans. Put simply, your home Wi-Fi network is the backbone of your digital life, so optimising it is key to enjoying seamless connectivity. Luckily, you don’t have to be a tech guru to make your Wi-Fi perform better. In this post, we’ll take you through some practical steps on how to optimise your home Wi-Fi network, covering tips such as router placement, using extenders, and securing your network effectively. Let’s get your Wi-Fi running like a dream!

The Importance of Router Placement

When it comes to optimising your home Wi-Fi network, the placement of your router is one of the most important factors. The router is the central hub that sends out wireless signals throughout your home, and where you place it can drastically affect your Wi-Fi speed and coverage. Ideally, your router should be placed in a central location in your home, elevated (such as on a shelf), and away from thick walls or large metal objects that could block the signal.

If you keep your router in a corner of your house or hide it in a cupboard (as many people are tempted to do to keep it out of sight), you could be sacrificing coverage. Wi-Fi signals are strongest near the router and weaken as they travel further or face obstructions. By giving your router the prime real estate it deserves – preferably in a spot where it has a direct line of sight to the areas you most often use the internet – you can optimise your home Wi-Fi network for better performance.

Use Wi-Fi Extenders or Mesh Networks for Coverage

Sometimes, even after placing the router in an ideal spot, you may still encounter those dreaded Wi-Fi dead zones in your home. This is especially true if you live in a large house or one with several floors. To combat this, one of the most effective ways to optimise your home Wi-Fi network is to use Wi-Fi extenders or invest in a mesh network.

Wi-Fi extenders are relatively inexpensive and help extend the range of your Wi-Fi signal by capturing it and rebroadcasting it further. Just plug them in where your signal starts to drop, and you can extend coverage to rooms that were previously in a Wi-Fi shadow.

However, if you’re looking for a more seamless experience, a mesh network might be a better solution. Mesh systems consist of a central router and satellite nodes, which together create a single, unified Wi-Fi network that blankets your entire home. Unlike extenders, which may create separate network names, mesh systems are designed to keep you connected to the best possible signal without any manual switching. They can be pricier, but they are a great way to optimise your home Wi-Fi network if coverage and reliability are your main goals.

Optimise Wi-Fi Channel and Frequency

Another way to optimise your home Wi-Fi network is to make sure your router is broadcasting on the best channel and frequency. Wi-Fi routers operate on different channels, and in densely populated areas, it’s possible that your neighbours’ Wi-Fi networks are crowding the same channel, which can lead to interference and reduced speeds.

Most modern routers are dual-band, which means they can operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. The 2.4 GHz frequency has a longer range but can be more congested, while the 5 GHz frequency is less crowded and offers faster speeds but a shorter range. If your device is close enough to the router, try switching to the 5 GHz band for better speed and performance. You can also use router management software or a Wi-Fi analyser app to determine which channel is the least crowded and manually switch to that channel to improve performance.

Update Firmware and Devices

Firmware updates might not be the most exciting part of home networking, but they can have a significant impact on the performance of your Wi-Fi network. Router manufacturers periodically release firmware updates that enhance the device’s functionality, improve security, and optimise performance. Make sure you regularly check your router settings for updates or enable automatic updates if possible.

Similarly, old devices on your network can also drag down your overall speed. Devices that use outdated Wi-Fi standards (like Wi-Fi 4 or older) can slow down your entire network because your router has to cater to their older technology. Where possible, ensure your devices are up-to-date and support modern Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 5 or the latest Wi-Fi 6, which offer better speed and efficiency.

Secure Your Network

Network security isn’t just about keeping unwanted neighbours off your Wi-Fi – it also has a direct impact on your network performance. If your Wi-Fi is open or poorly secured, it could mean that others are piggybacking on your connection, eating up valuable bandwidth. The more devices connected, the slower your network will be. To optimise your home Wi-Fi network, make sure it is secured with WPA3 encryption, or at the very least, WPA2.

Another good practice is to change the default password for your router. The default credentials are often easy to guess and can leave your network vulnerable. Instead, use a strong, unique password that would be difficult for others to crack. Keeping your network safe ensures that only authorised devices have access, which helps maintain optimal speed and performance.

Control Bandwidth-Hogging Apps and Devices

Another tip to optimise your home Wi-Fi network is to control the bandwidth-hogging apps and devices on your network. Video streaming, gaming consoles, and large downloads can all monopolise your bandwidth, which could result in slower speeds for other devices.

Most modern routers come with Quality of Service (QoS) settings that allow you to prioritise which devices or apps get the most bandwidth. For instance, you can prioritise your work laptop or a video conferencing app during office hours to ensure you get the best speed, while deprioritising less important traffic like downloads or gaming consoles. Configuring QoS settings can help you make the most of your available bandwidth and improve the overall experience for everyone on your network.

Reduce Interference

Wi-Fi signals are vulnerable to interference from other electronic devices, such as microwaves, baby monitors, and even Bluetooth devices. These can disrupt the signal and degrade your Wi-Fi speed. To optimise your home Wi-Fi network, try to position your router away from these kinds of devices, and whenever possible, use the 5 GHz band, which is less susceptible to this kind of interference.

Additionally, thick walls, floors, and mirrors can all block Wi-Fi signals. If possible, place your router in an open area to minimise obstacles between it and your devices. It may seem simple, but reducing interference can make a noticeable difference in your Wi-Fi speed and coverage.

Optimise your home Wi-Fi network: Get the Best Signal

Optimising your home Wi-Fi network doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By making small but impactful changes – like properly positioning your router, using extenders or a mesh network, updating your router’s firmware, and securing your network – you can significantly improve your Wi-Fi speed and coverage. It’s all about maximising what you have and ensuring your devices can get the best possible connection, regardless of where you are in your home. With these practical tips, you can optimise your home Wi-Fi network and enjoy fast, reliable internet for work, entertainment, and everything in between.