WiFi. Everyone has it, and it seems like it does not work well for anyone. And with WiFi, you either love it, or you hate it. Many people do not understand WiFi. It seems like a mystical beast that connects you to the amazing internet.

One of the top questions I receive as an IT consultant is: “How do I improve my WiFi signal?” I hope to give you a place to start with your WiFi, but this is not an exhaustive list of ways to improve it.

Let’s define some terms:

Internet: The internet is a vast world of devices like your computer or your phone that are connected to each other.

Internet speed: This could mean other things; but in this post, this is the link speed that your Internet Service Provider provides to give you access to the internet. Internet speed varies from place to place. Often there is a lot of physical work and engineering required to make a speed faster.

Internet Service Provider (ISP): This is the provider you pay to allow you to have access to the internet.

WiFi: This is a signal that is produced and allows you to connect to devices that produce it. In turn, these devices with WiFi, connect you to the internet.

Problem 1: I have fast internet, but my WiFi is slow.

Many providers sell you on speed. Speed is the main thing they talk about in the commercials. “Get the fastest, most reliable internet.” When you buy these packages, the ISP gives you a fast, reliable connection, but they do very little in your home or office. Once they have their link inside the house, their job is done. Now it is your problem to make it work, and you know nothing about the WiFi. If the equipment inside your home or office is not capable of operating the signal that your ISP gives, then you may need to upgrade your WiFi devices.

Problem 2: My WiFi works great in this room but not the next.

WiFi has a limited reach. Many times, you need to add multiple access points for your WiFi to cover your whole house or office. There is no clear formula for how many access points you may need. There will be trial and error. One access point may work in one room, but you may need two access points in another. The reason is likely due to interference. Interference could be due to walls or other electronic devices. It can also be due to the actual wire carrying the signal to the access point.

Problem 3: My WiFi works great on one device, but not the other.

Just like in Problem One, if the device receiving the signal cannot handle the speed that the access point is providing, it will run slow.

How do you improve your WiFi signal? The first stop on this journey is to understand what you are getting from your Internet Service Provider. The next step is understanding what the capabilities are of the network equipment. What is the capability of the data wiring? These are all hard questions which will require more research on your part. Why not just call a professional and have them tell you what you have and what it is capable of producing for you? Don’t make the mistake of running to the closest store and buying the “fastest” router on the shelf. You may not need that. Every situation is different, and without understanding everything about your environment, you will not achieve what you are hoping to do. DataCom Technologies would be happy to help you with these tough questions. Contact us 330-680-6002 to begin this process of troubleshooting your WiFi signal.