Boosting Home Office Wifi: Easy Tricks

Working from home can be frustrating when your Wi-Fi connection is slow or unreliable. If you're looking to boost your Wi-Fi signal in your home office, there are several steps you can take to improve your wireless network performance.

Firstly, check your internet speed by running a speed test. If your internet speed is slow, consider upgrading your internet plan or contacting your internet service provider for assistance.

Next, assess your router's placement. Wi-Fi signals radiate outward and downward, so it's best to place your router in a central location, away from walls and obstructions, and elevate it above floor level. If possible, keep your router away from metal objects and appliances that emit electromagnetic waves, such as microwaves and dishwashers, as these can interfere with the signal.

If your router is already in an optimal location, you may need to update your router's firmware, change the wireless channel, or add a wireless repeater or range extender to boost the signal.

Additionally, ensure your router and devices are up-to-date and compatible with the latest wireless standards, such as 802.11n and 802.11ac, which offer improved speed and range.

By following these steps, you can improve your Wi-Fi signal and enjoy a faster, more reliable connection in your home office.

Move your router off the floor

Moving your router off the floor can help boost your Wi-Fi signal. Here are some reasons why:

Signal Interference

Walls, floors, and metal objects can interfere with and weaken your router's wireless signals. By elevating your router, you can reduce the impact of these obstructions and improve signal coverage. This is especially important if your home office is on a different floor than your router, as placing the router high on a shelf can provide a stronger signal to devices on another level.

Electromagnetic Waves

Many household appliances emit electromagnetic waves, which can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. The biggest emitters are typically found in the kitchen, such as stoves, microwave ovens, and dishwashers. Other problematic appliances include washing machines, tumble dryers, televisions, cordless phones, and radiant heaters. Keeping your router off the floor and away from these appliances will help to reduce interference and boost your Wi-Fi signal.

Wi-Fi Signals Radiate Outward

Wi-Fi signals radiate outward in all directions, not just horizontally. When your router is on the floor, its ability to emit strong signals is limited. Elevating your router above floor level, or even mounting it on a wall, can help to improve signal strength and coverage.

Multi-Storey Homes

If you live in a multi-storey home, placing your router near the ceiling on the first floor will ensure that the second floor also receives consistent Wi-Fi coverage. This is because the Wi-Fi signals will radiate outward and downward, providing a stronger signal to devices on both floors.

Dead Zones

Metal is a significant disrupter of Wi-Fi signals and can create large dead zones. By moving your router off the floor and away from metal objects, you can avoid creating these dead zones and ensure better signal coverage throughout your home.

Reduce wireless interference

Wireless interference can be caused by other wireless networks and household appliances. To reduce wireless interference, you can try the following:

• Move your router away from walls and obstructions.
• Place your router in the centre of your house.
• Elevate your router away from the floor.
• Avoid placing your router near metal objects.
• Change the wireless channel in your router's web interface.
• Eliminate 2.4 GHz wireless interference by minimising interference from common household electronics and neighbouring networks.
• Move your router away from household appliances that can cause wireless interference, such as cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens.
• Replace your cordless phones with phones that operate on a different frequency, such as 900 MHz or 1.9 GHz.
• Use a wireless repeater or range extender to boost your wireless signal.
• Add more antennas to your router.
• Create an aluminium foil reflector to place behind your router's antennas.

Update your router's firmware

Updating your router's firmware is an essential step in boosting your Wi-Fi signal and enhancing your home network security. Here's a detailed guide on how to update your router's firmware:

Step 1: Check for Available Updates

Before updating, it's important to check if your router's firmware is already up to date. Many newer routers have systems that automatically download and install firmware updates. However, it's still a good idea to manually check for updates from time to time.

Step 2: Find Your Router's IP Address

To access your router's settings, you'll need its IP address. This is usually "192.168.1.1", but it can vary. You can find the IP address by checking the sticker on your router or using the "ipconfig" command on Windows or navigating to "System Preferences" and then "Network" on a Mac.

Step 3: Access Your Router's Configuration Page

Open a web browser and enter your router's IP address in the address bar. This will take you to the login page for your router's configuration page.

Step 4: Log In to Your Router

Enter your username and password to log in to your router's configuration page. This information can usually be found on the sticker on your router or in the user manual. If you've forgotten your login details, you may need to reset your router to its default settings.

Step 5: Navigate to the Firmware Update Section

Once logged in, navigate to the "Advanced Settings", "About", "Administration", or "Management" section, depending on your router model. Here, look for a section related to firmware updates. This could be labelled "Firmware", "Router Update", or something similar.

Step 6: Check for and Download Available Updates

Some routers will automatically check for updates and notify you if a new version is available. Others may have a button to manually check for updates. If an update is available, click "Download" or "Install" to initiate the process. Make sure your internet connection is stable during the download.

Step 7: Wait for the Update to Install

Do not interrupt the update process, as this could cause issues with your router. Depending on the age of your router, you may need to restart it manually after the update is complete to ensure the changes take effect.

Bonus Tip: Set Up Automatic Updates

Some routers allow you to set up automatic firmware updates. This is a convenient way to ensure your router always has the latest security patches and improvements without having to manually check and install updates.

Firmware updates are important for several reasons. Firstly, they can improve your router's performance and bring new features. Secondly, they often include security patches that protect your network from the latest malware and security threats. By keeping your router's firmware up to date, you're ensuring a more secure and reliable network for your home office.

Get a stronger antenna

If your router uses an internal antenna, adding an external one will likely boost your signal strength. External antennas tend to send a stronger signal than internal ones. Your router may have come with external antennas that you can attach yourself, but if not, you can buy them separately.

There are two types of antennas: omnidirectional and directional. Omnidirectional antennas radiate a signal at a 360-degree angle, delivering the widest signal coverage. They are best used when you want to improve your wireless signal in all directions.

Directional antennas, on the other hand, focus their power in one direction. They are a good option if you want to improve your wireless signal in a specific direction. For example, if your router is at one end of your house, you can use a directional antenna to boost the signal in the opposite direction.

When shopping for a directional antenna, look for a high dBi level, which indicates how far your WiFi signal will travel. You should also look for high-gain antennas, which further focus your WiFi signal and boost your network's range.

If you are using a wireless gateway (a router-modem combo device) that doesn't have detachable antennas, you can use an ethernet cord to connect the gateway to a wireless router that does have detachable antennas.

Types of Directional Antennas

• Yagi Antennas: The most popular directional antenna. Most Yagi antennas are shaped like arrows. They have a radiation pattern of 45 degrees.
• Mini Panel Antennas: Low-profile antennas designed to send radio waves to and from a specific area. They are most commonly used to improve your WiFi signal indoors. They have a radiation pattern of 60 degrees.
• Panel Antennas: Strong antennas that can be used to send or receive a signal from far distances. They are more directional than mini panel antennas and have a radiation pattern of 35 degrees.
• Parabolic Grid Antenna: These antennas have ultra-high gain and are extremely directional. They tend to have a very narrow beamwidth, usually between 3-20 degrees. They are perfect for point-to-point WiFi networks and can withstand extreme weather conditions.

Place your router centrally

Placing your router centrally is one of the most important things you can do to boost your Wi-Fi signal at home. Here are some tips to help you achieve optimal placement:

Choose a Central Location

Select a central spot for your router to ensure that the wireless signal can radiate in all directions. This will minimise the distance and obstacles the signal must travel to reach your devices, resulting in equal and reliable coverage throughout your home. If your home has two storeys, the centre of your house, or a split staircase, could be ideal locations.

Keep it Elevated

Place your router on a shelf or table, away from the floor. This will allow it to broadcast its signal more effectively, as fewer obstacles like walls and furniture will obstruct the signal's path. If you have a multistorey home, place the router near the ceiling on the first floor or near the floor on the second floor.

Minimise Obstructions

Try to ensure your router has a clear line of sight to your connected devices. Physical barriers like walls, furniture, and appliances can absorb, reflect, and block Wi-Fi signals, leading to weaker connections and potential dead zones. Even placing your router near a window can be problematic, as you'll be broadcasting outside as well as inside.

Avoid Other Electronics

Electronic devices such as TVs, charging ports, and microwave ovens can emit electromagnetic interference, which can disrupt or weaken your Wi-Fi signal. Microwaves are particularly problematic as they use the same 2.4 GHz channel as many Wi-Fi routers. Keep your router away from these devices to reduce the risk of signal interference and maintain a stable connection.

Test Different Locations

The best router placement can vary depending on your home's layout and potential sources of interference. Test your Wi-Fi speed in different locations to find the optimal spot. You can also use tools like NetSpot to visualise your network coverage and identify areas of weak signal strength.

Frequently asked questions