Bad WiFi: These tricks help
Poor WiFi quickly becomes a problem in large houses and in apartments with many neighbors. However, with a few tricks you can improve the transmission and reception performance. We'll show you how.
Reinforce bad WiFi with optimal settings
WLAN is not the same as WLAN. You can increase the transmission power and reception by finding the ideal configuration for your situation:
- The right WLAN standard: Modern routers can send and receive wireless LAN at 2.4 or 5 GHz. The former is less disturbed by furnishings and air humidity, the latter has less competition from devices with overlapping frequencies, like microwaves.
- The right channel: Your channel should definitely differ from that of your neighbors. At 2.4 GHz you have 3 overlap-free channels to choose from, at 5 GHz significantly more. We'll help you find the best channel.
- We will show you in a practical tip how to change the radio channel if necessary.
- WiFi analysis tools on Mac and our tip on aligning the WiFi antenna can also help you get better WiFi.
Amplify WLAN with repeater
WLAN gets worse when there are massive objects or there is a large distance between the transmitter and receiver.
- Repeaters can help here. They amplify all WLAN signals in their set frequency band and channel.
- We will help you to buy and set up a repeater.
- You will find three good repeaters in comparison in another practical tip.
- A WLAN router with multiple antennas can also significantly increase your network coverage. For example, you can use the Fritzbox as a repeater.
WiFi amplifier do-it-yourself
You can also easily build a WiFi signal amplifier yourself:
- Get an aluminum beverage can, scissors, and good tape.
- We give you step-by-step instructions to build a kind of WLAN satellite dish out of a can.
- We also give you additional tips to increase the WiFi range.
- Printing out our WLAN amplifier is even easier, but not quite as effective.
