How to get a better WiFi signal?
In the age of digital connectivity, a robust and reliable WiFi connection is essential for our day-to-day activities. Whether you’re streaming your favorite shows, working from home, or gaming online, a strong WiFi signal means a seamless online experience. In this guide, we’ll explore a few tips to help you get the best coverage and strength from your home WiFi network.
Router Position:
When it comes to router placement, it’s not the time to get caught up on aesthetics. WiFi signals travel best through open spaces, so while it might be tempting to stick your router in a cupboard tucked out of sight, your best bet is to position it in a central area, preferably off the floor and away from obstructions like walls and furniture. Something as simple as moving your router out from a corner cabinet behind the TV, to a central spot on a shelf can make all the difference.
Restart your router:
If you’re experiencing issues with Wi-Fi coverage or interruptions, try restarting your router by turning it off for 30 seconds at the power source. This simple step can often refresh the connection and get your router back to performing at its best.
Reduce wireless interference:
Your home WiFi uses a frequency channel that can be shared with other wireless devices. WiFi cameras, cordless phones, baby monitors, microwaves, and direct wireless printers are all culprits that can cause a disruptions to WiFi signal, especially if they’re positioned too close to your router. If you find your WiFi is dropping in and out or running slow, experiment with turning off any nearby wireless devices to see if that improves your signal. If it does you’ve found your problem and might want to relocate the device, or connect it to your router with a data cable rather than over wifi.
Watch out for your neighbours wifi:
Another thing to keep an eye on is interference from your neighbour’s WiFi networks. If you live in town with neighbours close by, there’s potential for overlapping channels to disrupt your signal. To keep things smooth, try turning your router off and on again. By power cycling your router, you essentially allow it to reset and reassess the available channels, and potentially selecting a less congested one.
Upgrade your router:
Large homes with multiple floors or awkward layouts may get the odd WiFi dead zone when it comes to your average router. Upgrading to a larger router with a more powerful signal, will cover a bigger area of your home, and also have less trouble getting through walls and furniture. Imagine your router is a speaker, with a larger router being ‘louder’ than average, meaning it can be ‘heard’ by your device from further away.
Opt for a wifi extender:
A Wi-Fi extender works as a bridge between your router and devices, enhancing your network’s reach. Position it between your router and an area where you’re struggling with wifi signal, and it will capture your existing Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcast it, extending coverage to areas with weak or no connectivity. You can find Wi-Fi extenders at most local tech stores.
Let us know:
If you’re a WD customer experiencing persistent Wi-Fi issues, our friendly customer support team is here to help. Let us know as soon as possible so we can help troubleshoot the problem and get you back to streaming without interruptions!
