A weak Wifi signal is a modern day nightmare. Poor loading times and lost connections can test your patience browsing the Internet or playing video games. This guide will help you understand why your WiFi signal can become weak and how to improve it on the cheap.
Get a Modern Router
For your home, you’ll want a modern router that can provide reliable and high-speed internet connectivity to support the needs of your devices and activities. Look for a router that supports the latest wireless standards such as WiFi 6 (802.11ax), as it offers faster speeds, better performance, and improved coverage compared to older standards. Here’s Amazon’s best selling WiFi 6 router.
Don’t Hide Your Router
Routers can be disgusting looking things and your first instinct is to hide it behind your television or in a box. Resist that urge as a wide open router, clear of obstructions and with antennas pointed upwards, will perform better. Make sure the router is relatively close to where you’ll be using the WiFi.
Buy a WiFi Extender
If your WiFi is having trouble reaching all ends of your house or large office, consider buying a range extender. This best selling range extender by Netgear should do the trick for cheap. While this may not make your WiFi faster, it will provide a much larger Internet access area, eliminating dead zones.
Check for Router Updates
While not as annoyingly frequent as app updates, router manufactures sometimes issue stability resolutions via driver updates. Go to the manufacturer’s website to download all new maintenance updates and changes.
Use a Long Range Router
Even if you have a fast connection, too many electronics can often overwhelm your WiFi. A typical home is streaming video, playing games, and surfing the Internet at the same time. Luckily there’s affordable long range smart routers like the Nighthawk that promise WiFi for up to 25 devices, and houses and businesses as large as 2,500 square feet.
Kick Your Neighbors Offline
Your freeloading neighbors will now have to search elsewhere. WPA encryption is much harder to hack than WEP, so go with WPA for your password. You can check if someone other than you is using your WiFi. Make sure your network, gaming console, and everything else using the Internet is turned off. Look to see if the wireless light is still blinking. If so, you may have a leech (or worse, a potential hacker) to deal with. Use a program like MoocherHunter to find real-time users of your wireless network.
Perform a Speed Test
If you have followed most of these steps, and still don’t see an improvement, check out what kind of speeds you are getting at Speedtest.net. If the speed is significantly lower than what you are paying for, discuss this matter with your cable provider. Sometimes cable providers throttle down your Internet performance so they can hit you with a bandwidth usage fee. Research your provider and consider switching to a company who doesn’t limit your Internet speeds.
very informative
useful information
any idea about hacked the wi-fi server
great not over the top with techno speak – very understandable and helpful
I can’t do it bra
3rd way solved my problem..thanks man
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Thanks, super informative!
Thank you for the list, Now please solve my query. i need wifi network on my 3rd floor room. i have router at ground floor, in that case should i use two wifi extender or is there any other cheap trick available. thanks again.
I think you would be fine with just one wi-fi extender, or a second router.
Super
We have a detached apartment about 20-25yards from our home. Currently, the WiFi signal doesn’t reach this building. I will need WiFi to use this space as an office. What would you recommend for extending the signal through our backyard to this structure?
In this case, just get a new modem and router.
Cut top and bottom off a can then cut open the remaining tube. Get creative with hot glue and popsicle stick open up the can to make a C shape and mount behind your router antenna pointing the signal to where you need it most. Essentially instead of throwing your signal in every direction you’re reflecting wanted signal in a useful direction.
What about your in mountains and WiFi is really bad ?
Usually, the internet speed in the mountains is really bad, and you can’t just “increase” the speed, as your modem draws the internet from the area. However, you can spend some extra cash and try to max out the internet speed.
none of the above steps work to fix frequent wifii disconnection problem in windows 7 toshiba laptop,
i had wifi problem in windows 7.Then i bought usb wifi adapter.it worked fine for 2
months but not now.i used the following commands in elewated command window
bitsadmin /reset /allusers
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
nbtstat -R
nbtstat -RR
netsh advfirewall reset
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state ON
netsh int ip reset
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
netsh int ipv4 reset
netsh int ipv6 reset
netsh int reset all
netsh interface ipv4 reset – [long version of netsh int ipv4 reset above].
netsh interface ipv6 reset – [long version of netsh int ipv6 reset above].
netsh interface tcp reset
netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset catalog
and restarted the laptop.it worked for only 4 minutes,then it disconnects.
i also disabled/rolled backed/uninstalled wifi drivers but still it is not working.
help.
Absolutely…kick your neighbors out to strengthen your wifi signal is a great advice. Useful tips to fix a weak signal, thanks for sharing it up here!
Third solution solved my problem as well. Hehe
To avoid weak Wifi signal we need to place the router properly with no obstacles so that it can transmit the signal properly. and obviously a long-range router will cover more space. and we will get a strong signal.
Option of buying the wifi extender is great but one important aspect is that buying a dual frequency (2.4ghz and 5ghz) by signalbooster.com is best because many systems now use 2,4 or 5 Ghz Some even use both frequencies at the same time for better range to reach different areas.
I have a good signal on the mountain behind my house approximately 5kms away but no power source . Could I power my signal to my house using solar panels ?
I found it helpful when you explained that it is a good idea to keep a router close to where you will be using wifi the most. My wife and I want to get an upgraded internet package soon, and we want to make sure that we can get our money’s worth out of it. These tips you shared will help us to get the most out of our wifi.
Help…. we have apparently “the fastest, most expensive, internet service” according to Comcast except … it’s awful. We ordered 9 pods and put them all over the house…. still dead. IT guy is lost. We have 6 ppl trying to do work in the home. Home is approx 3300 feet and router in basement near main computer and wireless printer and 2 other computers. Zones are dead. Signal is slow. We are just lost. No one has an answer.
Use a free WiFi analyser app on each pc, (or a new-ish laptop or modern smartphone) to detect all nearby WiFi stations… maybe strong signals from neighbours are swamping yours. However it sounds like the floor above the basement is blocking WiFi. Try running a long cable from the isp connection in the basement upstairs to ground floor, and put the WiFi router there.
If that works then I would run Ethernet cables back downstairs from the WiFi router to each device in the basement.
Then consider getting the isp connection moved to where the WiFi router works best.
Thank you so much for sharing this great article I read your article i like it very much your article made me comment i should praise you you very good
i like your Website
Is there a long range N wireless you would recommend?
I know this has been around for a few monyhs but I stumbled across it looking for something else. I would be remiss if I didn’t add to your info. It could come off as unintentionally misleading and confuse those who don’t understand how their internet works very well (which in my experience is about 95% of the people out there). 1st thing before you call your ISP and accuse them of throttling let’s check and ensure we are looking at the correct information and approaching this logically: if you have unlimited access and no worries about data caps why would the ISP go through the unnecessary and benefit free hassle of throttling you? Also, if you do have data caps or a finite amount you can use before being billed for more, why would an ISP go through the trouble with the only benefit being to the customer who wouldn’t use as much data therefore remaining under the cap. The ISP wouldn’t get any additional fees from the customer and would be putting in additional work for no other reason than to save customers money, does that sound like any ISP you’ve heard of? Better yet does that sound like any company you’ve ever heard of that would spend capital and man-hours for nothing besides helping their customers not spend money for their products or services? Me either, and working in IT/Advanced support for an ISP I can confidently say that we are not in business to lose money or to find ways to make less each year. None of this is even addressing the issues with the FCC and having to hide or mask that activity from them with the penalty for being caught doing something like that upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. Not taking into consideration the number of customer queries you would have inquiring about why their internet was slow causing overhead & operating costs to increase, also taking support from people with legitimate issues that need addressed. I can go on explaining why it makes no sense, but hopefully those 2 end all reasons will make sense. Wireless routing technology has come a long way to be sure. When it hit wireless N it was a revelation and changed the way we viewed internet connectivity. This tech was some of the most cutting edge we had seen so far when it touched down around 2009. Since then we have wireless AC (2013) and MIMO (2015) which dominate the landscape these days, giving us the ability to connect as many devices as our homes contain and well with throughput varying but in my own testing with a wired 1GBps connection reaching speeds of ~750Mbps on my 5GHZ wireless AC WiFi network. The same internet connection and same distance, equip and so on tested from around 40Mbps to a high of 110Mbps on my 2.4GHZ network – which was exactly what I expected and was looking for, because the fastest I’ve ever been able to get wireless N to run at has been 141Mbps, I generally test out around 100Mbps with minor fluctuations but little deviation. The next Wi-Fi standard to come out is going to be AX (Wi-Fi 6) which will be a huge leap forward if you have a Wi-Fi 6 router as well as devices with Wi-Fi 6 radios so it’s still a couple years out from being widespread. Once it’s on stable footing the improvement should be significant for everybody who adopts it. But for now look for a dual band wireless AC router that supports a data rate as high as your budget allows (eg Ac1900, Ac2400, or even AC1750, AC1300 will be far better than N). I could write an article on the differences in the ups and downs on both the bands but I’d rather address a few more points quickly in order to help anyone struggling. Make sure your router placement is as central in your home as can be do not put it on the highest level or in an underground basement a central room on the main floor of your home away from other electrical devices or appliances especially microwaves, cordless phones, refrigerators, surge protectors and other devices that can cause electric interference. Don’t place it in an enclosed space and don’t put it up higher than everything, especially not on the highest floor of your home if you have a ground floor that’s not buried. Another thing to check is the ethernet cable running from the modem into the router – is it CAT6 or higher? Older CAT5 cables look the same and fit in the same ports but carry far less bandwidth. If so then your bandwidth won’t matter because anything over 100mbps is stuck in the modem with no way to get to the router. If you can buy seperate devices I certainly would, a little more work (very little) and somewhat more costly initially the benefits will pay dividends down the line as you can replace one one or the other for as little as $50 for a basic but decent router vs having to shell out upwards of $220 for a basic 3.1 gateway because the wifi module went bad. It took for those unfamiliar with this do your homework please you cannot expect your ISP to be your tech support for your router they support their own devices and if you are leasing one from them they will happily set it up help you offer any assistance possible. You assume that responsibility when you decide to “stick it to the man”. For some people who are completely unfamiliar $10 a month to your ISP for the tech support loan with getting your home network working how you would like versus paying somebody to come out and set it up or the geek squad to help you. Which leads into the next point which are the brains extenders they are not always the easiest things in the world to set up, they can be problematic and cause more headaches than they cure. But my biggest ripe with them is the fact they have to use bandwidth to communicate back to your router with and so they effectively cut your bandwidth in half when you use them giving you less “speed” albeit with improved range. you have to decide whether or not it is worth the trade off and range extenders are fairly inexpensive. A four-bedroom alternative would be a mesh network which I have become very popular as of late and the prices are come down to where they are reasonable. You’ll get a router or main match point with 1 2 3 or more satellite points that wirelessly connect to the main router using a discreet back channel allowing you to have your full bandwidth throughout your home. As you walk from one part of your house to the next your devices will seamlessly switch to the next closest node leaving you connected in the background without any user input. They are designed to be self-healing and very simple to set up with nearly everyone I’ve seen having an accompanying app to assist with the process. If you have a large home and you need Wi-Fi covered throughout I would highly recommend this route. Or as an alternative if you are somewhat comfortable with setting this up and don’t mind doing a little reading and getting your hands dirty I personally use Asus routers. Not only are they great by themselves there are models that allow you to take an old router updating its firmware going into its interface and turning it into a mesh node that will wirelessly link up or use ethernet to link up with your main router allowing you to repurpose an old device with a very powerful home Wi-Fi setup that rivals some of the best mesh networks I’ve come across. I use an RT-AC68U and an RT-AC68R connected with a wired backhaul using cat6e cable. I’ve used my older router as the mesh node and bought a new router on Amazon warehouse for under $70 leaving me in the whole setup including cables, less than $150 and my Wi-Fi is ridiculous. I don’t say nothing to make anybody feel bad or envious but if you have dead spots or need much broader coverage I highly recommend using Asus AiMesh . If you Google AiMesh you’ll be able to read more in the Asus site to see if you would benefit from this set up. I couldn’t go on but I think that’s information from one night I hope it helps with problems you’re having. also because it’s claimer I do not work for 85th or any of these companies I mentioned or not affiliated with any of them in any way either just drawing on my personal experience to hopefully help some of you out. I have had my fair share of problems over the years and understand the frustration and always wondered why it was so hard to find good information considering I would either find insanely technical guides that were addressing problems I couldn’t even wrap my head around or information that was so basic It was like somebody pulled it from the back of the box at the router came in and left it at that lol. Best of luck and keep your head up, worse case Mary that you can file a complaint with the FCC and feel good knowing that you gave tech support a good laugh when your complaint is that your ISP won’t offer you income tax support on outside equipment party vendor, for that your complaints have to do with speed when you are using your own modem that is not capable of carrying the speed but you never asked not even mentioning that you’re trying to test on your Wi-Fi even though your wireless speeds are not and never have been guaranteed. Just remember we’re not laughing at you it is….. Oh wait never mind Yes we are laughing at you, sorry about that. It makes you feel better there’s a very good chance that people who you filed your complaint with at the FCC are also laughing at you. Just think how much joy you have introduced into the world, and remember there are most definitely such a thing as a stupid question, I ask them all the time. 😉
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Mike Honcho, Thank you for the info. If you have eliminated those questions and feel like there may be other reasons like those listed in the article or possibly other reasons, as a residential customer (and not a very technical one at that) how, where or who would be the one to help identify the causes? I purchased our router so we own it but we purchased from our internet provider so are they the one we call? We have had ATT check the lines (yes they are ancient but no updates in my lifetime). I downloaded and occasionally run PING to check slow speed and devices but have no idea what to do withe that limited info – if I even know the full extent of what to look for anyway. I ask a lot of dumb questions myself so I am use to getting the scooby look. But I also am hard headed and don’t accept stupid or vague answers I don’t understand. I guess I have been given one too many BS answers, among the scratch your head ones, to be Accepting of explanations that lead me nowhere.
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Mike Honcho — First, Thank you for updating this witb information that is relevant to 2020! Very kind of you to share your knowledge and expertise.
I’d love to hire you for an email/text/phone consult to help us figure out our wifi coverage problems. We had the Nest “mesh” (before google bought them) and had interference, only the ability to set one item as priority and random drops, random lag. So, I upgraded, or so I hoped, to the Netgear Orbi wifi 6, ac6000. Would you believe the google home sitting right next to the base cannot connect? Our PCs are great, it’s much more stable in that regard, but we’ve spent hours trying to get it to recognize various smart home products. I am pulling my hair out.
I plan on looking at the Asus, it was actually my first choice but my husband like some of the Orbi’s features and both had solid reviews. But, seriously – I would love to pick your brain and am serious about compensating you for your time. Please contact me if you see this. My contact is name backwards with a period between the names (so lastname.firstname) and I use google for email.
Do I need to place my Wi-Fi extender where the signal is still very strong to be able to boost it to an area of no or very weak signal. The reason I am asking is that my TP Link router is on the 2nd floor of my house and I need stronger connection downstairs. But I can not find a spot downstairs where there is a fair signal strength of under – 70. I do get some sort of a signal, but it is about – 88. (Tested with “WiFi-analyzer”, a free downloaded Android app)
Advice will be much appreciated.
I bough a WiFi Extender for roughly £50 and it hasent improved the WiFi to my room I still lag when ever I’m playing a game
I am in Rushworth VIC and only one option satellite. I purchased a ring doorbell.it only heard by person pushing the belll so purchased a chimes pro. It keeps telling me too weak a signal.
Need some advice please
I only have 1 opcion here a wii5 satellite Suck horrible service. Expensive for 2g . Anyway i bought a extender nothing . I have to cancel my cable satellite doesnt work . The only work good is neftlix i dont understand. Is ridiculous pay 180 a month for internet that doesnt work. We buy a air antena with 20 channels i feel like i still in 1970 . Ridiculous please help
Thanks for the article, Jared. Well, done.
After 20 days every month, 8-11 days which means lost its signal and becomes disrespectful. First day of every month gets high signal onwards, keep waiting until low signal is expired. First day of every month download some Modified games like Asphalt Nitro 2 which is now has mod, that game is available in January 2022.
We need to buy the Antenna Support all of the edges, if the Antenna Support is placed, hold the Antenna Support Remote Control using sunglass blueprint. If powering the Antenna Support, use Dome Protection and Connection all of the houses against the connection hacker.
We have the router in my living room an if I
go Outside to our detached garage the signal becomes poor what do I need to boost the poor Signal ?
Sir , How to use wifi without password and qr code.. i mean how to hack wifi with Android with rooted
This is replying to Elisa…
Thank you for that pointer! You absolutely saved me so much time! I would’ve somehow found this information you provided, AFTER I purchased the standard 2.4 & been hella aggravated.