How to Increase WiFi Speed & Stop Network Drops
If you are continuously facing frustrating lag spikes during your favorite show or competitive online matches, the problem might not actually be your internet service provider (ISP). More often than not, it is your local network environment. Here is how to fix it immediately.
1. Master Router Placement
The physical area surrounding your router is the single biggest bottleneck of your home's speed test results. Wi-Fi signals cannot easily penetrate thick objects.
If your router is shoved into a wooden cabinet or trapped behind a large television or metal appliances, your speed will dramatically dive. Always place your router in a high, central, and unobstructed location in your home.
2. Shift to the 5GHz Band
Modern routers emit two separate frequencies: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band can travel further and pierce walls better, but it is notoriously slow and heavily prone to interference from Bluetooth devices and microwaves.
The 5GHz band is vastly superior for high-speed tasks. Always ensure your laptop, gaming console, or smart TV is connected specifically to the 5GHz network if you are in the same room as the router.
3. Opt for an Ethernet Cable for Gaming
If you desperately need an extremely low and stable Ping, you simply must ditch wireless networking completely. Wi-Fi is built on radio waves that bounce around the room, which inherently causes packet loss and fluctuating latency strings.
Connecting your desktop or game console via a hardwired CAT6 Ethernet cable directly into the back of your router is guaranteed to eliminate wireless network stuttering permanently.