It never feels great when your WI-FI slags, especially if you have something important to do. The problem could be your PC, your wireless channel, the strength of the WIFI signal, or even an issue with the network itself. With so many possibilities, it would seem difficult to figure out the actual problem. However, there is always a solution.
If your WIFI speed suddenly slows, and you can’t figure out the problem right away, this article is here to help you. First, let’s discuss what could be causing the troubles.
Router Location
Like any other signal, your WIFI signal has a limitation to where it can reach. That means the further away your device is from the router, the weaker the signal. For this reason, it is prudent to place your router close to where your devices are. If you don’t have one main area where you put and use your devices, you could try to place it at the center of your home.
However, if your house is large or if the signal is still noticeably
weak, you need to increase the broadcast range. To do this, you need to connect repeaters or Wi-Fi extenders to your main router. These devices help extend the signal and cover a large area.
Wireless Signal Interference
You have probably never thought about it, but there are many wireless signals all around. These signals come from things, such as cell towers, electronic devices, satellites, WIFI routers, and many more. Although the signal from your router is on a different frequency from most electronic devices, the radio noises can interfere with your WIFI. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can minimize interference from some common causes.
Interference from Microwaves
Your microwave oven may cause interference to your network, especially if you have an older router. That’s because microwaves have a frequency of about 2.45GHz, which is very close to that of your WIFI at 2.4GHz.
The microwave frequency overlaps with that of your Wi-Fi and disrupts the data. Mostly, such interference happens if your microwave oven has no adequate shielding. Ensure your microwave oven is not leaking.
Bluetooth Signal Interference
Bluetooth is another popular wireless connection that also operates at a frequency of 2.4GHz. In theory, a well-designed WIFI router should have a shield that prevents any form of interference. Although Bluetooth manufacturers design their devices to use frequency hopping, interference can still happen.
For this reason, place your router away from all Bluetooth devices. You can first experiment by switching off the Bluetooth device, then see whether the problem is still there.
Signal Overlap from Your Neighbors WIFI
Nearly all homes have their own WIFI network. With too many WIFI routers close to each other, there can be a channel overlap. Such problems mostly happen in apartments and housing complexes.
Channel overlap is problematic for routers that only broadcast at a frequency of 2.4GHz. It is also possible if your WIFI-enabled devices only receive a signal frequency of 2.4GHz. At this frequency, there are only fourteen channels to transmit. Severalrouters broadcasting at the same channel and on the same frequency will cause overlap and interfere with each other.
To resolve this, pick a proper channel on the settings of your router. Although modern routers can choose the right transmission channel automatically, it's best that you investigate and find the right one. Also, keep your router up-to-date regularly and check for any suspicious device connection.
A Slow virtual private network (VPN)
A VPN is software that masks your IP address and adds an extra layer of encryption to the connection between servers and your devices. If you are working from home, your employer may request you to have a VPN, to access company resources.
You can choose to use free VPN services or opt to subscribe to paid services. Paid VPN services are usually faster, but they can still slow down your network. There may be congestion if the VPN services you opt for have many people using at a particular time.
The quickest solution is to try a different location offered by the VPN service provider. For instance, if you are in New York and set to a California server, you could try another server located in Arizona. That’s because not all VPNs are the same, and a different one could offer a substantial speed difference.
ISP Issues
If you have tried fixing the problem with the above solution, but your WIFI speed is still slow, it’s time to try more sturdy actions. Most people use routers assigned by their ISP or older routers. For example, older WIFI routers may not support quality services, automatic channel changing, or bandwidth-preservation features.
Additionally, most ISP routers are just basic, and they intentionally lack many features to lower their cost. If many people are using the internet at the same time, it could lead to network congestion. If possible, consider upgrading your router to a more efficient one.
Conclusion
Identifying the cause of your slow internet problem can be challenging. If you have exhausted the physical possibilities, it’s time to try digital solutions. Try changing your DNS setting and see what happens. Additionally, if you have tried all these solutions, you could call your ISP and request help.
Hummingbird Networks is your one-stop shop for end-to-end network security solutions. Over the past 15 years, we’ve established ourselves as the go-to IT partner for several organizations.
Our customers, ranging from startups to large corporations, enjoy the most secure and efficient networks available. Contact us today for more information on our wide range of IT solutions.
