#Amplify wifi signal how to

These days, you’ll find two types of wireless routers: traditional models and mesh network models. If those tweaks don’t help, it may be time to find a model better suited to your needs, especially if you’ve been using a single-unit router in a multi-story home.

#Amplify wifi signal how to

(See “ 5 Common WiFi Roadblocks & How to Fix Them,” below.) You can try moving the router around a room to address such problems. If your router is already in a central location, the slow connection might be due to obstacles in the house that can impede a WiFi signal. If you’re planning to change providers, Fisco says, you may be able to get the job done free, so ask while you’re negotiating the switch. Or you can ask your ISP to help you relocate the modem, though the company may charge you depending on the labor involved. One way is to buy a long Ethernet cable (keep it under 300 feet), plug it into the modem and the router, and move the router yourself. If your router is in a suboptimal spot (the basement, for example), try moving it. A router tucked away in a corner may not have the range to travel to the other side of the house, or from the second floor to the basement, because the signal degrades the farther it gets from the source. They tend to do best when set up in the center of a home, allowing the signal to reach out in every direction. Next, you’ll want to assess the placement of your router.

You can then move around with your laptop to different areas of your home to see how fast WiFi is at different locations.

First, run it with your laptop plugged into your router to check your speed in the best-case scenario. You may want to run this test a few times. You can easily run a speed test using a service like to see what you’re really getting. If you’re not paying for that, or if you don’t have access to that kind of speed where you live, a brand-new router won’t help you.

You’ll need a connection of at least 25 megabits per second to stream Netflix video for 4K TV, for example. But don’t be too hasty-there may be other factors at play.įirst, take a look at a bill from your ISP to see what level of broadband you’re paying for. If your WiFi connection is noticeably sluggish, you may be tempted to write off your current router as a dud.