There's one last thing to check before you buy anything, and that's your router's channel. Antennas like those tend to put out their Wi-Fi signal at a perpendicular angle, so a horizontal antenna will put out a vertically-oriented signal that might be more likely to make it upstairs. If the router is downstairs and you're trying to boost the signal upstairs, try moving one or more of the antennas to a horizontal position. Staggering them at different angles might be all it takes to boost your speeds. If you can reposition the antennas, try experimenting with that, too. For the best results, you'll want to keep it out in the open - ideally as high up as possible. That happens when you're too far from the router, or because there are too many walls or obstructions separating you from it.Ī simple, inexpensive plug-in range extender like this one from TP-Link might be all it takes to boost a better signal to your home office.īefore you buy anything, the first thing you'll want to try doing is repositioning your router to strengthen the connection. But if that's not an option, you might have to work in a room where the Wi-Fi signal isn't as strong as you need. If you're able to work in close proximity to your router, then a wired Ethernet connection to your computer is the best way to ensure that you're getting the fastest speeds. If you're seeing speeds in a room that are less than half of what you see when you're connecting at close range, then that might be a spot where you could improve things. Run a couple of tests at a time in various spots throughout your home where you'll be working and ballpark the average to get a sense of how your speeds hold up. Start by focusing on the download and upload speeds. It's a great way to get a sense of where your connection stands in various spots throughout your home.įrom there, you'll get a look at the current upload and download speeds for whatever device you're running the speed test on, plus the ping, which is a latency measurement of how long it takes data to travel back and forth to whatever server you're testing with. The Ookla speed test is free to use, and offers a detailed look at the upload and download speeds of whatever device you're running it on, as well as the latency. And, like most speed tests, it's also really easy to use - just click the big "go" button and wait about a minute. It features an abundance of worldwide servers, which lets you choose from several nearby options to measure the speed of your connection. The best way to get there is to run some speed tests to get a good sense of any weak links in your Wi-Fi connection - and there are plenty of free services on the web that'll help you do just that.Īmong your options, the Ookla Speedtest is the most widely used and the one I'd recommend starting with. If you're going to make changes to your home network, you'll want to do so from an informed position. Read more: Find Free Wi-Fi Anywhere You Go. (For better internet, check out our recommendations of the best ISPs, routers, mesh routers and Wi-Fi extenders you can buy.) Let's walk through them and see if we can't speed things up for you. Even if you don't know much about your router's settings or the best way to change them, there are still some easy steps you can take to ensure that your speeds are as fast as possible. With important team meetings and presentations happening remotely, the last thing anyone wants to have to deal with is a spotty network and a Wi-Fi signal that isn't up to snuff.įortunately, you've got options. In fact, a June survey from McKinsey found that 58% of Americans have the opportunity to work from home at least one day a week. Even now, two years later, our home internet connections are as important as ever. Working at home and spending more time online became the norm in turn, this made a necessity out of fast, reliable Wi-Fi. The pandemic dramatically changed our work habits. This story is part of Home Tips, CNET's collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.
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