A Wi-Fi router is usually provided by an internet service provider with the monthly bill including the charge for it. The Wi-Fi router performs perfectly, and there is usually no need to spend any additional money to upgrade it or purchase a new one. However, if you signed up with the ISP years ago, the model of the router is likely to be outdated or it is not powerful enough to cover the entire house.
An upgrade would make sense in such cases. You can search for ISPs that offer great speeds and are within your budget. For instance, Optimum offers promotional packages every now and then. Similarly, there are other providers. Make sure to keep up with the latest deals and offers for providers available in your area.
Occasionally, you may encounter issues with the internet or have slower internet speeds. In such cases, an upgrade to the router could be all that is needed for a better internet connection.
The thing to keep in mind before continuing is that no matter how much money you spend on a router, it will not affect the speed of the internet coming from our ISP since we will continue to provide the same speeds. However, you will get significant hardware upgrades including better coverage, more frequency bands, and improved software. Check out these ways to improve your Wi-Fi network’s quality with a router upgrade:
- Improved coverage
You will have better coverage if you get a new Wi-Fi router since modern routers cover a bigger area than older ones. A new Wi-Fi router will be able to resolve dead zones in your house where you cannot even load a web page, despite your whole existence being dependent on it.
Modern Wi-Fi routers are capable of transmitting much stronger signals, so they might be able to resolve these issues. In other words, the Wi-Fi network will have more uniform and faster speed throughout the house than it did before, even with the same broadband package.
It is recommended that when considering a new router, you look for more antennas since more antennas are generally better. This means you will have more Wi-Fi connections and a larger wireless signal range.
2. Support for dual bands
As dual-band routers are now common, you will also be able to upgrade your Wi-Fi router so it supports dual-band frequencies, that is 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Dual-band routers provide you with more frequency channels for your Wi-Fi signals to travel so that you can always be connected to the best possible channel.
In addition to their individual features, both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels have their own characteristics. There is a slower data transmission speed on 2.4 GHz channels compared to 5 GHz and higher interference on 2.4 GHz channels, but their range is much longer in comparison to 5 GHz and they are better at traversing obstacles.
The vast majority of modern routers have dual-band support, as well as the capability of automatically managing the frequency channels in order to ensure that you are always connected to the optimal channel at any time, regardless of where you are in your house.
For any router that does not have this feature, you will need to search for it in the router’s admin interface at 192.168.100.1. Other routers use the default gateway address of 10.0.0.1. Access the router’s admin interface and check for the dual-band feature under wireless.
3. Current standards for Wi-Fi
The latest version of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 6, is supported by a limited number of devices and routers, as do smartphone processors and video game consoles. The technology will soon be adopted by all in 2022.
Similar to software updates, upgrades to Wi-Fi bring along the latest enhancements in engineering and compression that will improve data transfer rates, make connections more stable and reliable, and reduce interference. As a result, multiple devices will also be able to connect simultaneously.
You will certainly notice improved Wi-Fi and coverage if you buy a router that supports Wi-Fi 6; as more and more devices get Wi-Fi 6 support, the improvements will become more pronounced.
Looking for other ways to upgrade your internet speed?
Below are a few tips for you:
Other Ways to Upgrade your Internet Connection
- Connect an Ethernet cable
It is easy to forget that wires still exist! There is no need for Wi-Fi. It is usually better to connect to your router via a wired connection rather than a wireless one. Other devices, large fish tanks, and other devices cannot affect it and it is faster and more stable. This has the downside of restricting your devices’ locations, which makes them less convenient.
For hardware, that demands the fastest connection possible, such as a gaming console, desktop PC, or streaming box, a wire may be worth it. All you need is an Ethernet cable to attach to the router’s Ethernet ports.
2. Switch channels or bands
Signals transmitted over Wi-Fi are divided into channels. When your router communicates with the devices in your home, it uses a particular Wi-Fi channel, and if your neighbors have routers using the same channel, then everything can quickly become congested. You can solve the problem by switching channels.
This will be handled differently by every router. The option should be somewhere in the settings of your device, but you should be able to find it in its documentation or online. The best channels to use when connecting multiple devices are 1, 6, and 11. They will have the least amount of interference when multiple devices are connected at the same time.
Almost all routers now feature dual-band technology, broadcasting at both 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz. Some routers allow you to prioritize one or the other devices – it is faster to connect to the internet using the 5-GHz band than the 2.4 GHz band, though the range is shorter. Because older devices may only work on 2.4 GHz, we recommend leaving both frequencies enabled.
3. Install a Wi-Fi extender
It may be easier to invest a few dollars in a Wi-Fi extender or repeater if you don’t feel comfortable messing with your router settings. A device like this plugged into a spare wall socket connects to the wireless internet-beaming out from your router and then extends it.
In most cases, they are easy to install, easy to use, and can eliminate dead zones in your house immediately. Wireless signals that are extended or repeated will not be as strong as those that originate directly from your router, so positioning is crucial. These devices are best suited for connecting gadgets that do not require a huge amount of bandwidth.
4. Set a Password for Your Wi-Fi
It should come as no surprise that your Wi-Fi network needs a password. Hackers and Netflix users will not be able to steal your bandwidth with this feature, which in turn will slow you down. The most secure and fastest encryption method is AES, which is both highly secure and fast.
5. Disconnect unused devices
It can be problematic to have dozens of devices using Wi-Fi at the same time. Make sure all Ethernet devices are connected and unplug anything you do not need (such as that “smart” tea kettle you can’t get to work). Ensure that only the devices that need internet are connected.
Most routers (all of those listed above, for example) offer control over which devices or services are prioritized. It is a great way to ensure that any videos someone else is streaming on Facebook will not interrupt your game.
6. Run a PC check
You can find out which programs are running in the background on your computer if the internet on your PC or laptop is perpetually slow, but other devices appear to be fine. It is possible to set some programs to auto-update when it is not necessary. That could be the reason for your slow internet if they are always updating in the background. Make sure the settings are adjusted.
Conclusion:
These are just a few ways to enhance your Wi-Fi network by upgrading your Wi-Fi router. Nonetheless, if you have a router that is past its prime, maybe it is time to upgrade so that you can get much better speeds. If you purchased a Wi-Fi router like a couple of years ago, you might not need to upgrade because the changes would not be that significant. We hope this article helps you with improving your network connection. If you have questions and concerns, leave a comment in the comments section below. We will get to you soon.