Why Is My Wi-Fi Slow & Unreliable?

Stalled Zoom meetings, never-ending loading screens, and files that won’t download—are you sick of troublesome Wi-Fi?

If you’re experiencing slow or fickle home Wi-Fi in Manhattan, NY, you’re not alone. Total Home Technologies helps homeowners across New York and New Jersey to improve their internet coverage. We’ve seen our fair share of problematic home networks. Read on to see what the issue could be and how we can save your internet connection.   

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What’s Wrong with My Network?

Your Router Is Outdated

So, you have an old router. What’s wrong with that? Well, outdated routers can’t work with new Wi-Fi standards, like Wi-Fi 6. If you don’t have one already, a dual-band router will let you assign devices to a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency channel. The 2.4 GHz frequency is slower but goes further, while 5 GHz is much faster but has a shorter range.

Your Building’s Materials Are Interfering

Some buildings can cause network ‘loss’. Metal, concrete, marble, brick, glass, and drywall can all block Wi-Fi frequencies from traveling across your house. Data signals travel in straight lines, not around corners, so if you can’t place an access point in an open space, you could run into problems. 

 

Devices Are Too Far from the Router

Frequencies can only go so far, especially if you’re trying to connect multiple floors and rooms to one router.

There Are Too Many Electronics on the Network

If you use a smart TV, smart thermostat, automated lighting, laptops, phones, streaming services, and online games—you’re probably congesting the network’s bandwidth. This is increasingly common as entire households are working and schooling from home, competing for the router’s data.

Channel Interference from Your Neighbors

If you live in an apartment building or townhouse with neighbors close by, your neighbors could be using the same ISP, and their routers will be on the same channels as yours. This causes overlapping signals, which will slow down or cut out your connection.

How Can We Fix It?

First, we can start small by upgrading your router’s firmware and switching to a less crowded wireless channel. If that doesn’t fix things, you would likely benefit from installing a Wi-Fi 6-compatible router, switch, and access points.  

What is Wi-Fi 6? It’s the newest and speediest standard in Wi-Fi technology, also known as 802.11ax. A Wi-Fi 6 router can send and receive data with up to eight devices at the same time. For context, Wi-Fi 5 only lets routers communicate with four devices at once. Wi-Fi 6 also offers the fastest speeds yet at 9.6 Gbps, but you’ll need a compatible router to experience it.    

If areas of your home still can’t receive a strong signal because they’re blocked by your building’s layout or materials, another option is to create a hybrid network of wired and wireless connections. Wire your home office to the internet, for example, to take some devices off the wireless network and ensure you’re always connected.

 

Ready to upgrade your Wi-Fi? Contact Total Home Technologies to get started with a secure and speedy home network.