Garlands worsen Wi-Fi: how to solve the problem

As explained in Ofcom, complaints about the slow speed of the Internet come to providers much more often during the winter holidays. One of the reasons for the slow connection is the interference created by the Christmas lights.

The festoons themselves do not interfere with the operation of the router, however, if they are located too close to it or to a device receiving a signal, then there may be difficulties in the work of the Internet.

Also, the Wi-Fi signal may disappear if wireless networks in apartments and offices are often incorrectly configured or suffer from “interference” by other electronics, such as a baby monitor or microwave oven.

Ofcom has launched a free application called Wi-Fi Checker, which allows you to check the signal quality and offers ways to enhance it.

Here are 10 ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal.

1. Buy a new router

Routers that provide providers along with Internet packages, usually differ quite decent quality.

But if you want to have really fast Wi-Fi at home, why not ask for a new router for Christmas.

2. Rearrange the router

This may seem obvious to some, but the higher the better.

Therefore, install your router as high as possible - on the top floor of your house, on top of furniture and closer to the middle of the house. And never put it on the floor if you want a decent signal.

3. Change the channel in the settings of the router

This method requires a technical approach, however, most routers now have two frequencies (for more information, refer to the user manual).

In general, most routers operate on the 2,4 GHz frequency, like many household appliances: microwave ovens, baby monitors, Bluetooth, video surveillance systems and cordless phones.

If you change the frequency to 5 GHz, the obstacles will be less and the signal will be stronger. Your neighbor will probably use the 2,4 GHz frequency, so there will be one less obstacle.

4. Minimize intervention

Your Wi-Fi signal can make a big impact, so Ofcom mentions the fabulous lights of the garland.

However, any electrical cable can have negative consequences if it is in the path of the signal - just like metal doors, aluminum rivets, insulated walls, water (aquariums, etc.), mirrors, halogen lamps, cabinets, brick, glass and concrete.

5. Update software

Wi-Fi routers update is not just necessary, but necessary.

6. Think of repeaters

Repeaters improve existing signal. Old routers can be used for this, however, certain technical skills are needed.

The simplest thing is to buy a repeater. Also, if you have an old router with antennas, you can buy new antennas.

7. Share with neighbors

If you live in an apartment building and get along well with your neighbors, you can jointly purchase a new router.

Thus, your neighbor on the top floor (see point two) can host the router and distribute Wi-Fi to other apartments whose owners would share the costs.

You can also use your phone or laptop as an access point or get MiFi.

If someone in the house uses a significant amount of bandwidth (for example, an ardent gamer or video streamer), you can also use Quality of Service to prioritize your best Wi-Fi signal.

8. Protect your Wi-Fi

If you don't like your neighbors or just want a more secure network, use a different network security protocol - WPA / WPA2 instead of WEP (this is quite complicated, but you can just look up your router model on the Internet and instructions on how to do this).

You can also limit the number of devices. Again, the network has many instructions for self-tuning.

9. Do not advertise your Wi-Fi

When you are looking for open Wi-Fi, you usually see several options (of course, depending on where you live).

If your network is not protected, other people can connect to it.

You can make your network private with a password, but you can also make it even more secure by going to the admin page and unchecking the “Enable SSID Broadcast” checkbox.

After that, most people will not see your network on their devices.

10. And if all else fails ... take a foil

This is a slightly eccentric way that has no scientific basis, but it seems to work sometimes.

Download a free program to test the strength of a Wi-Fi signal before and after.

Some people place other metal objects behind the router, from beer cans to sieves or graters. We leave their choice to your discretion.