It works like this: You connect the power line plug to your router, then plug the plug into a wall outlet. Add another power line plug to any other room in your home and it can provide a wired or wireless connection to that room. There will be some speed reduction, but it’s a simple and effective option. Unless your home is particularly old, it should have wiring that supports this, but it’s best to buy your kit from a retailer with a strong return policy as a precaution. .
7. Add a password to your Wi-Fi
We may not need to tell you this, but you do need a password on your Wi-Fi network. it’s good for stay away from hackers and keep your neighbors from using Netflix with your bandwidth, which will definitely slow you down. Make sure you use AES encryption, which is the safest and most speed-friendly security option.
8. Cut out unused devices
Having dozens of things accessing Wi-Fi at the same time can be a problem. Plug whatever you can into Ethernet, and unplug anything you’ve connected but don’t need (like a “smart” teapot you’ve never used once). Make sure only things that need internet have internet.
Good routers (for example, all of the routers listed above) provide controls for prioritizing a particular device or service. It’s a useful way to make sure your game is never interrupted by someone else streaming a video on Facebook.
9. Check Your PC
This tip is specific to computers: If the internet on your PC or laptop is consistently slow but other devices seem fine, open Task Manager or Activity Monitor and see what programs are running. run in the background. Some programs may be set to automatically update without being necessary. If they are always updating in the background, that could be the cause of your slow internet. Test it and adjust the settings.
10. Restart your Router?
We’ve read this tip many times on the web, but we’re still skeptical. Restarting your router on a regular basis sounds like an extension of the age-old pseudo-solution for all things digital: Restart it. Yes, we know restarting your router can sometimes fix dead Internet, but we asked router manufacturer Netgear: Does restarting your router often help speed things up? The short answer is, probably not.
Sandeep Harpalani, Netgear’s vice president of product management, said the company doesn’t recommend rebooting your router “unless you’re really having problems with your connection or getting slow due to radio frequency interference.” .” He added that if you’re still using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and experiencing speed issues, a reboot can help, as it will force the router to choose the best channel with less interference. during startup. If you have jumped to 5 GHz, it will automatically switch to the channel with the least interference.
Either way, there’s no reason to reboot so often. If you’re having persistent issues, it might be worth restarting your router, but for the most part follow our other tips.
11. Call your ISP
If you’ve tried everything and still have problems, you can always contact your internet provider. They may want to send a service technician out. They can pinpoint an overlooked issue that’s holding you back and fast Wi-Fi. With the pandemic going on, you may not want strangers in your home, and your ISP may not have a technician available to send. However, if the rest of the tips don’t solve your problem, it’s time to contact your provider to ask some questions.
