The WiFi network is really a good thing because it allows you to connect to the internet from multiple computers simultaneously and also from smartphones and tablets without using cables and without complicated procedures: if the router is turned on, the devices will automatically connect to the internet automatically.
The only thing you need to be careful about when creating a wireless or wireless network is to make sure that the unbelievable radio signal arrives evenly at the points of your home where there is a computer without interference to ensure a clean, stable and fast connectivity.
At the same time, there is no obligation to install a WiFi network at home because, if there are no impediments, a wired network remains the most reliable solution.
Let’s see what can slow down a network in the sense of disturbing the wireless network signal or preventing fast data transmission in the wires …
1) WiFi Cover
The first thing to check is the location of the router in the home.
The router is the device that spreads the radio signal by taking it from a wall cable.
If this router is near a wall or wall, the signal is blocked in that direction.
You can do the tests by moving your router home and you can also buy amplifiers or repeaters to spread the signal in areas where it does not arrive.
2) Avoid Interference Wireless Networks
If you live in a town area with many buildings around, there are likely to be many WiFi networks coming from neighbors’ homes and offices.
The WiFi broadcasts on a channel that if it’s the same for everyone, it gets stuck and slows down the broadcasts.
Many routers, by default, use channel 6 to transmit while others automatically search for the best and most free one.
3) The WiFi network is slower than a wired network
The wireless network is a great convenience and gives order at home avoiding long cables passing through the walls.
However, if you are using fixed computers that are not moved, you should certainly connect them using Ethernet cable.
Wireless Internet connection is much less reliable and slower than cable connection.
If possible, it is advisable to minimize WiFi traffic to avoid slow internet connection.
Additionally, although there is not much evidence on this, decreasing radio waves at home can only be healthier.
4) WiFi Router
The WiFi router is the device that transmits the signal to connect to the Internet via a WiFi device.
A regular router has several ports to connect the cables to bring the Internet connection to different devices.
One important thing that anyone never does is updating the router’s firmware, that is, the management program that can affect its performance and prevent the network from being slow.
In the Router Configuration Panel, you can find options to optimize the signal diffusion.
If you are using a router provided by the internet provider, each problem can be fixed with a restart, removing the power for a few minutes.
If the WiFi router had detachable antennas, you could consider replacing it with larger and longer antennas to increase coverage.
You may also like to read: How to improve the speed of your Wi-Fi setting on the router channels
5) Using a Switch
Switches are those devices that are used to expand the number of devices to connect to the network and function as extensions that in some cases may be a slowdown factor.
To check that the switch is not slow, you can see what is written above: if it says 10/100, its maximum speed is 100Mbs and almost certainly slows down all the devices connected to it.
If it says Gigabit or 10/100/1000 then it’s fine and if the led is green, it means that the transmission travels at maximum speed.
6) Cable Network
We’ve said that network cables always provide faster speed than WiFi, the only condition is that you use a fast cable.
Not all network cables are the same and, in general, are of three categories: Cat-5, Cat-5e and Cat-6 .
Cat-5 is the oldest and slower type that can reach up to 100Mbps with a maximum distance of 100 meters.
Cat-5e is the most common type of cable used in home networks and can support Gigabit Ethernet speeds.
Cat-6 uses copper with less impurities, supports up to 10 Gigabit speeds for a maximum length of about 37 meters (Cat-6a goes up to 100 meters).
For home use, Cat-6 does not fit because it costs more, but make sure that the connection cable to which the router is connected is at least the Cat-5e.
This information is written on the same cable where “CATEGORY 5” or “ENHANCED CATEGORY 5” or “CAT-5” can be found.
7) Network Cable Cards
Finally, as with the network switch or router network card in the PC can be limited to 10/100 speeds.
in a desktop PC, you can easily add a network card Gigabit Ethernet PCI buying it to the computer store for less than 20 euros.
Note that if you it is using an old PC, the weak processor may slow down the network connection because it fails to process the information at the rate at which the data is being received.
8) The WiFi Network Card
If your router can transmit with the fastest IEEE 802.11n standard, check that there is a network adapter on your computer that supports this standard, and if so, change it.
Conversely, if the router was old and you own an 802.11n WiFi network adapter, it is better to change routers.
The signal starts from the router, is transmitted via cable or through an antenna, can pass through a switch or a WiFi repeater to increase coverage until it reaches the computer network adapter that processes the data at the maximum speed that the processor can have.
Keep in mind, however, that even having configured a network connection at most, slowing down may result from the speed of Internet sites transmitting data on which nothing can be done.
