How to Increase Internet Speed? A Guide to Router Placement and Rebooting

Are you tired of experiencing sluggish internet speeds and constant buffering? Don’t worry! By optimising the placement of your router and establishing a regular rebooting routine, you can say goodbye to frustratingly slow internet and hello to seamless browsing, downloading,  streaming, and gaming!  Let’s find out the useful tips below to increase internet speed.

1. Find the Perfect Spot for Your Router

The first step to boosting your net speed is finding the ideal location for your router. Consider these tips to ensure the best placement of your WiFi router:

• Centralize: Position your router in a central location within your home or office. This helps to evenly distribute the Wi-Fi signal, ensuring a strong and stable connection throughout.
• Avoid Obstructions: Keep your router in an open space away from walls, furniture, and other obstacles that may obstruct the Wi-Fi signal. This will prevent signal interference and allow for better coverage. 
• Elevate it: Routers emit signals in a downward direction. By elevating your router, you can enhance its coverage range. The best place to put router is on a higher shelf or mounting it on a wall for better signal propagation. This can extend the range of the signal and minimise obstructions.

2. Maintain Distance from Interference Sources

Certain devices and household appliances can interfere with your router’s signal, leading to decreased internet speeds. To avoid this, follow these router placement suggestions:

• Steer Clear of Electronics: Keep your router away from electronic devices such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, and baby monitors. These devices operate on similar frequencies and can disrupt your Wi-Fi signal.
• Minimize Metal Interference: Metal objects like mirrors, filing cabinets, and even metallic paint can reflect and weaken your Wi-Fi signal. Keep your router away from such objects to maintain optimal signal strength.

4. Experiment with Antenna Orientation

Many routers come with adjustable antennas that allow you to fine-tune the signal direction. Experiment with different antenna orientations, such as vertical or at a 45-degree angle, to find the configuration that provides the best coverage for your space. Monitor signal strength in different areas as you make adjustments to optimise performance and increase internet speed.

5. Consider Multi-Story Coverage

If you have a multi-story home or office, placing the router on the ground floor might not provide adequate coverage for upper levels. In such cases, consider placing additional access points or Wi-Fi range extenders on different floors to extend coverage and ensure a strong signal throughout the entire space.

6. Regularly Assess Signal Strength

Once you’ve placed your router, periodically check the signal strength in different areas of your space. Use your devices or Wi-Fi analyser apps to identify weak spots or areas with poor signal reception. This allows you to make necessary adjustments to the router’s position or consider the use of additional devices to improve coverage.

7. Establish a Regular Rebooting Routine

Have you ever noticed that a simple restart can fix many issues? Well, the same applies to your router. Regularly rebooting your router can help improve its performance and increase your internet speed. Here’s how you can do it:

• Schedule Reboots: Set a specific time, like once a month or every two weeks, to reboot your router. This clears any temporary glitches, refreshes the system, and can help resolve connectivity issues.
• Unplug and Wait: To reboot your router, simply unplug it from the power source, wait for about 10 seconds, and then plug it back in. This brief reset can work wonders in optimising your router’s performance.

Why Rebooting Your Router Is Important?

• Clearing Temporary Glitches: Over time, routers can encounter minor software or hardware glitches that may hinder their performance. Rebooting your router clears these temporary issues, allowing it to start fresh and resolve connectivity or speed-related problems.
• Freeing Up Memory: Routers have limited memory resources, and continuous operation can cause a buildup of processes and tasks. By rebooting, you free up memory and give your router a chance to operate more efficiently. This can result in improved performance and faster internet speeds.
• Updating Firmware: Some routers automatically update their firmware during a reboot. Firmware updates often include bug fixes, security enhancements, and performance optimisations. By regularly rebooting your router, you ensure that it receives the latest firmware updates, maximising its capabilities.
• Refreshing Connections: Rebooting your router can help refresh the connections between your devices and the router. This can resolve issues related to devices not being able to connect or experiencing slow speeds. It’s like giving your network a clean slate to establish fresh and stable connections.

Conclusion

By following these simple yet effective guidelines for router placement and rebooting, you can significantly increase internet speed and enjoy a seamless online experience. Say goodbye to slow downloads, frustrating lag, and endless buffering. With the ultimate guide at your fingertips, you’re on your way to achieving superior internet speeds!