Sluggish Wi-Fi – Reasons and Remedies

Dennis Snider

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Does your Wi-Fi connection seem like it’s struggling? If your internet speed is frustratingly slow, there could be a number of causes:

  1. Freeloaders
    Wi-Fi is great for round-the-clock internet access. However, weak internet passwords often allow freeloaders to tap into Wi-Fi connections. If your Wi-Fi password is non-existent or easy to guess, it’s time to make a change. If you think that someone else may have accessed your connection, you can use a free program called ‘Wi-Fi History View’ to see which devices have paid you a visit. If you don’t know your router’s password, visit the RouterPasswords website for advice on resetting it.
  2. Traffic
    In areas of high internet use, connection speeds can suffer. In highly populated areas, Wi-Fi channels can become overloaded as large numbers of people attempt to connect at once. If your connection becomes sluggish after work or during the weekends, this congestion may be to blame. To remedy this, try selecting different channels on your router. Keep changing until you find the best one.
  3. Dated tech
    Some Wi-Fi routers are better than others. If you’re considering a new router, look for an AC variant. AC variants have a higher spectral bandwidth than their older B, G and N counterparts. If a router has greater bandwidth, it can transfer more data before it becomes overloaded and begins to slow down.
  4. Poor router security
    No matter what your wireless security, you should always avoid using an open network or WEP in your home. While open networks invite others to use your connection, WEP networks are easily hacked. Ideally, your network will have WPA2 with AES encryption. While other encryptions may slow your connection down, AES is newer and more secure.
  5. Out of range
    Routers can’t transmit signals very far, so it’s important to know whether there are any black spots in your home or office. If you’d like to map out the signal strength in your home, you can use either HeatMapper for Windows or NetSpot for Mac. Both tools are free to download. If you do identify any black spots, you could purchase a Wi-Fi extender for better coverage in the affected areas. Alternatively, you could set up a mesh system such as the Eero Home Wi-Fi System.
    Address these 5 issues and give your Wi-Fi a boost!