Benefits of Faster Home Wi-Fi: How to Improve Wi-Fi Speed

Benefits of Faster Home Wi-Fi: How to Improve Wi-Fi Speed

Do you have a high-speed internet plan, but still get slow or choppy Wi-Fi at home? It can be frustrating, especially if it happens even when you’re right next to your router!

Your home Wi-Fi speed will not always match your internet connection speed from your ISP. In this article, you will learn why there’s a speed difference, and the benefits of faster home Wi-Fi. You’ll also learn how to boost your Wi-Fi network’s speed and make the best use of your internet service.

What is High-Speed Internet?

High-speed internet (aka broadband) provides fast data transmission over a network. That means that when you press a button on your device, you get a fast response. You don’t have to wait and wait for a new screen to pop up.

The speed of your internet connection is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). “Megabits” describe the amount of data you can download or upload in one second [1]. The higher the Mbps number, the faster your internet connection.

The speed of your internet connection depends on several things, including your internet service provider (ISP), your internet plan, your location, and the type of connection you have (cable, DSL, fiber, satellite, etc.).

Internet speed = Mbps

FCC changes definition of high-speed internet

For almost ten years, the FCC defined “high-speed internet” as 25 Mbps download speed, 3 Mbps upload speed [2].

But all that changed in early 2024, when the FCC re-defined high-speed internet as 100 Mbps download speed/20 Mbps upload speed [3].

This change will rock the internet industry.

What do you need to know for your own internet use? Well, for now, download speeds between 25 – 100 Mbps can still work pretty well for most internet activities. And upload speeds between 3-20 Mbps will still deliver satisfaction for many users.

But if you are a heavy internet user—if lots of devices use the internet at once in your home—you should think big. Aim for that 100 Mbps/10 Mbps speed minimum.

What Should My Internet Speed Be?

Well, that depends.

If you often do data-heavy online tasks, your speed will need to be generous. Here are some of the tasks that need higher speed:

• streaming high-definition (HD) or ultra-high-definition (UHD) video,
• online real-time gaming
• video conferencing for remote work
• uploading large files
• using many devices at once, including Internet of Things

Faster internet speeds for these activities means above 100 Mbps download speed. Plans with 200 Mbps, 500 Mbps, or even 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) are common super-fast internet speeds.

What is the Highest Speed Internet?

Fiber-optic internet is the fastest internet option in the market today, with speeds up to 10 Gigs (Gbps). A fiber internet provider will often be the fastest internet provider in your area.

What’s even more important than that blistering speed? Fiber speeds are equal for uploads and downloads. That makes fiber different from every other internet type. Usually, upload speeds are much slower.

One regional fiber provider is even offering up to 50 Gbps! But honestly, no residential customer needs that much internet speed. Not now, at least. We’ll see what the next decade brings.

Fiber-optic internet uses thin fibers of glass or plastic to send data using light signals, which makes it much, much quicker and more dependable than other kinds of internet connections.

However, fiber-optic internet only reaches about half of U. S. households. So, you may not be able to get fiber-optic internet in your area. If you can’t, the next fastest option is cable internet.

Rural areas sometimes only have the option of DSL, or maybe even only satellite internet. Satellite internet is still incredibly important to help you stay connected in a remote area. It won’t be as fast as cable or fiber, but it can support lots of internet activities.

Fiber internet is fastest

Benefits of Faster Wi-Fi at Home

Having a fast internet connection is great! But it is not enough to ensure a smooth and enjoyable online experience.

You also need to have a fast home Wi-Fi network. That is the wireless connection between your router and your devices. Your home Wi-Fi speed is affected by

1. the distance from your router,
2. number of devices connected,
3. interference from other wireless signals, and
4. quality of your router and devices.

If your home Wi-Fi is slow, you may not be able to take advantage of your fast internet connection, and you may experience some of the following problems:

• Slow loading of web pages and apps
• Buffering or freezing of video and audio streams
• Low-quality or dropped video calls
• High latency or lag in online games
• Long upload or download times for files
• Reduced battery life of your devices

On the other hand, if you have a fast home Wi-Fi network, you can enjoy some of the following benefits:

Stream HD and Ultra HD smoothly

Oh, the frustration when a video keeps buffering or glitching on your computer. Or when it won’t even load!

Often, streaming problems happen because your home Wi-Fi network is too slow.

With fast home Wi-Fi, you can stream HD and UHD content smoothly and seamlessly.

You can also watch on multiple devices at the same time, without ever losing the quality or speed of your streaming content.

Fast Wi-Fi supports HD streaming

Connect more devices, including Internet of Things (IoT)

Do you have a lot of devices at home? Smartphones, tablets and laptops are only the beginning.

Then you might also have smart TVs, gaming consoles, smart speakers, smart thermostats, smart lights, smart cameras, and more.

You need a fast home Wi-Fi network to support them all.

A slow home Wi-Fi network can cause congestion and interference.

With a fast home Wi-Fi network, you can connect more devices without sacrificing the quality of your connection. You can also enjoy the benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT), which is the network of devices that can communicate and interact with each other over the internet.

Less glitching during remote work activities

If you work from home, you know how important it is to have a fast and stable home Wi-Fi network. A

A slow home Wi-Fi network can cause problems such as poor audio and video quality, dropped calls, lagging screen sharing, slow file transfers, and more.

These can affect your productivity, efficiency, and professionalism, and make you miss deadlines, meetings, or opportunities.

With a fast home Wi-Fi network, you can avoid these issues and perform your remote work activities smoothly and flawlessly. You can also collaborate with your colleagues and clients more effectively, using various online tools and platforms.

Better video uploads for social media

It takes a lot of bandwidth upload your videos to platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.

With a fast home Wi-Fi network, you can upload your videos faster and easier, and reach your audience more quickly and efficiently. You can also create and share more high-quality and creative content, using various features and effects.

Your engagement, reach, and growth will be much better if you can rely on fast uploads.

Better video uploads to social media

How to Improve Wi-Fi Speed

So, if your internet at home is slow, does that mean your home WI-Fi is bad?

Not necessarily. It depends whether your internet connection from your provider is fast enough. If it is, then you have to start looking at Wi-Fi problems. You will need to start by diagnosing the source of your slow speed.

Bypass your router with Ethernet cable

First things first. Plug in your device directly to your modem with an Ethernet cable. Then, test your internet speed.

Your test will show you how fast your original internet connection from your ISP is.

Then, plug your device into your router instead. If the speed is way faster through the modem than the router, you have a Wi-Fi based problem.

If it’s your WI-Fi, here’s how to boost your home Wi-Fi speed and performance:

Reboot your router

Start by rebooting your router. This can clear any temporary issues or glitches that may be slowing down your network, such as overheating, memory leaks, or firmware updates.

To reboot your router, you can either unplug it from the power source for a few seconds, or use the reset button on the back of the device. You can also schedule regular reboots, using a smart plug or a router setting, to keep your network running smoothly.

Position your router well

Another way to improve your Wi-Fi speed is to position your router well.

The location of your router can affect the strength and coverage of your Wi-Fi signal.

To position your router well, you should follow these guidelines:

• Place your router in a central and elevated location, where it can reach all the areas of your home.
• Avoid placing your router near walls, windows, metal objects, or other sources of interference, such as microwaves, cordless phones, or baby monitors.
• Adjust the antennas of your router, if it has any, to point in different directions and angles.
• Keep your router away from heat and dust, which can damage the device and reduce its lifespan.

Change your channel

Another way to improve your Wi-Fi speed is to change your channel.

A channel is a frequency band that your router uses to communicate with your devices. If your channel is crowded or overlapping with other nearby networks, it can cause interference and congestion. Both can slow down your Wi-Fi speed.

To change your channel, you can use a Wi-Fi analyzer app or tool to scan your surroundings and find the best channel for your network. You can then access your router settings and change your channel accordingly.

Change router channels

Upgrade your equipment

Another way to improve your Wi-Fi speed is to upgrade your equipment.

If your router or devices are outdated or incompatible, they may not be able to support the latest Wi-Fi standards and technologies. To troubleshoot your equipment, follow these steps:

• Check the model and firmware of your router, and see if it supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, such as Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6. If not, you may need to update your firmware or replace your router.
• Check the Wi-Fi capabilities of your devices and see if they are compatible with your router and network. If not, you may need to update your drivers or your devices.
• Check the age and condition of your other equipment, including cables and ports. You may need to clean, repair, or replace your equipment.

Get an extender, repeater, or mesh Wi-Fi

Another way to improve your Wi-Fi speed is to get an extender, repeater, or mesh Wi-Fi system. These are devices that can extend the range and coverage of your Wi-Fi signal. You can eliminate any dead zones or weak spots in your home.

An extender is a device can extend your internet signal through a combination of ethernet cables, pre-existing home wiring, and wireless signals. One popular kind is a powerline extender, which sends your modem’s signal through electrical wiring.

A repeater is a wireless device that picks up and rebroadcasts your Wi-Fi signal from an existing router or network.

A mesh Wi-Fi system is a network of devices that can work together to create a seamless and unified Wi-Fi network throughout your home. Mesh Wi-Fi usually includes access points called nodes.

Use mesh Wi-Fi

Prioritize your internet activities on router settings

One way to improve your Wi-Fi speed is use your router settings to prioritize your internet activities.

This means that you can give more bandwidth and priority to the activities that require more speed and reliability, such as video streaming, gaming, or video conferencing.

You can give less bandwidth and priority to the activities that are less data-heavy, such as browsing, downloading, or emailing.

To do this, you need to sign in to your router’s web interface and look for a feature called Quality of Service (QoS) or Bandwidth Control.

This feature allows you to assign different levels of priority to different devices, applications, or types of traffic on your network. You can optimize your Wi-Fi speed and performance for the activities that matter most to you.

Use a Wi-Fi password to prevent freeloaders on your network

Another way to improve your Wi-Fi speed is to use a Wi-Fi password to prevent unauthorized users on your network.

Freeloaders may try to use your Wi-Fi without your permission, and could be neighbors, strangers, or hackers. They can slow down your network by consuming your bandwidth and interfering with your signal.

They can also pose security risks by stealing your personal information, files, or devices on your network.

To prevent freeloaders, you should set up a strong and unique Wi-Fi password that only you and your trusted users know. You can do this through your router’s web interface, where you can also change the name of your network for greater security.

Call your ISP

If you decide you want some external help, call your provider! Tech support can be extremely helpful.

One word of caution here. Your ISP will be most able to help you with your home Wi-Fi if you are using equipment from your ISP.

Many ISPs cannot help you if you are using your own router.

However, they can still check things on their end to be sure there is no problem there.

Call your ISP

FAQs: Faster Home Wi-Fi

What if the slow speed is coming from my ISP?

If you’ve tested everything, and it seems that your slow internet comes straight in from your ISP, it may be time to switch providers. We have plenty of resources to help you get the right information and find the best provider near you by just entering your zip code.

How do I know if my home Wi-Fi is slow or not?

Use our online internet speed test to see if your speed matches what your ISP says. If your home Wi-Fi is much slower than it should be, follow our troubleshooting tips.

What can make my home Wi-Fi slow?

Many things can affect your Wi-Fi speed, including what’s between your device and your router, how many devices are on your network, other wireless networks or devices around you, and the age and compatibility of your router.

What’s the difference between home Wi-Fi and public Wi-Fi?

Your home Wi-Fi network is far more secure than public Wi-Fi, as long as you are careful. Public Wi-Fi carries many security risks [4].

How can I fix my home Wi-Fi problems?

If you have any trouble with your Wi-Fi, like slow speed, connection drops, or no signal, you can try some basic fixes, like restarting your router and your device, checking your cables and connections, resetting your router to factory settings, or calling your ISP for help.

How can I protect my home Wi-Fi network?

You can protect your Wi-Fi network by changing your router’s default password and name, turning on encryption (WPA2 or WPA3), turning off remote access and WPS, setting up a guest network, and updating your router firmware regularly.

Sources

[1] PCMag.com. “Mbps."

[2] FCC.gov. “2015 Broadband Progress Report."

[3] Fierce Telecom. “Maybe speed isn’t everything when it comes to connectivity."

[4] Harvard Business Review. “Why you really need to stop using public Wi-Fi."