Quick Tips to Boost Up Your Internet Speeds on WiFi.

Understanding WiFi Signals

WiFi signals are unstable, line-of-sight radio waves that can be affected by people, radio/cellular signals (mobile phones, TV remotes), picture frames, walls, appliances, and pretty much anything else that is in between your computer and the router. Believe it or not, even the Sunlight, wind, humidity, and temperature can also have an affect on them.

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Understanding Your Router

Your router is the base where all communications to the internet happens so we want to make sure it is running the best it can. To do this your router needs to be tuned up from time-to-time by installing the latest firmware. To do this refer to your owners manual.

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Understanding WiFi Networks in your Router

Because WiFi signals are transmitted by radio waves, most routers these days offer 2 separate networks for connecting to it - these are 2.4ghz and 5ghz (commonly known as 2.4g and 5g). Each of these networks also has it's own speed limitations and ranges. We could get into real technical talk about this but for our purposes all we need to understand that the 2.4g network is slower and more prone to interference while the 5g network is faster, less prone to interference, and can reach longer distances. Therefore 5g is the preferred method to connect to WiFi for streaming.

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Beware of WiFi "Vampires"

Whether you realize it or not you probably have a lot of WiFi "Vampires" in your home. These are any and all devices that are connected to your WiFi network that even when they are "off" they are continually sucking up WiFi trying to ensure they are connected. So in all reality they are never "off" the internet.

Common Vampires

1. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Microsoft Home.
2. Smart TV's, Smart Plugs, Smart Refrigerators, Smart Washers/Dryers, pretty much everything "smart".
3. Wireless/WiFi Security Systems, Ring Doorbells, WiFi Cameras
4. WiFi enabled sound systems and speakers such as Soundbars and Sonos.
5. Apple TV's, Roku's, Fire Sticks, Google Cast Devices.
6. Cable / Satellite TV set-top boxes (they use WiFi for On-Demand content and updates) and Internet TV systems like Xfinity X1, AT&T TV, SlingBox, Spectrum, suddenLink, etc. and some COX packages.
7. Computers, mobile phones and tablets. Especially older ones greater than 2 years.

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Let's Speed Things Up

In order to ensure you to have the fastest internet available here are a few tips you can use to speed things up.

Before streaming...

1. UPDATE YOUR ROUTER in your Router settings (see owners manual) by configuring the 2.4g network to use the lowest speed (usually 54mbps) and 5g network the fastest speed (usually 1300mbps). Also update your firmware.


2. CONNECT ALL Vampires to the 2.4g network (except computers).


3. CONNECT ALL Computers to the 5g network.

When you are ready to stream...

1. UNPLUG as many hard-wired "Vampires" as possible. Especially home assistants, smart devices, and other items that stream. Think, if the Smart Device can talk to you, control things in the house via internet, use Spotify, Disney+, or Netflix, unplug it. Don't just turn them off as that does not shut off their connection.


2. TURN OFF WiFi on all mobile devices on your network.


3. RESTART your Router and your Computer.


4. COMPLETELY EXIT out of all applications running on your Computer. Especially anti-virus, DropBox, Adobe, Calendars, Email, browsers, & messaging apps.
   
   
   • Mac Users: make sure there is no "dot" underneath any icon in your Dock except for whichever app you're using to stream and nothing is on up by the click in the top right by the clock that uses internet.
   
   
   • Windows Users: make sure nothing is on next to the clock that uses internet.
   
   Don't worry, you can turn these apps back on after you're done streaming by simply restarting again.


5. DISABLE / RESCHEDULE BACKUPS if your Computer does automatic daily backups (ie. Time Machine for Mac).


6. That's it! You now have the fastest internet speeds now available to you.