devolo: World WiFi Day 2021: Five tips for better WiFi
According to estimates from Internet World Stats, approximately 727.6 million Europeans used the Internet in 2020. That’s 87.7 percent of the population. A high percentage compared to the rest of the world, where only about 55.3 percent is online. Belgium is at 93,9 percent, which is even higher than the European average(1).
Belgians browse the Internet primarily using WiFi in their own home. But did you know that almost half of all Belgians experience WiFi problems at least a few times a month? No wonder, then, that WiFi problems are a major source of frustration for 7 out of 10 Belgians(2). In the spirit of World WiFi Day on 20 June, devolo helps you get your WiFi in shape with these five easy tips.
Tip No. 1: Short WiFi check
Internet users notice very quickly if WiFi coverage is good or bad. Nevertheless, taking a brief look at your situation is a valuable first step. Helpful analysis tools are available to assist your efforts. Experts often recommend Ekahau HeatMapper. This program has you start by creating a floor plan of your home. Then you can measure the WiFi coverage (from green = good reception to red = poor or no reception).
Tip No. 2: Ideally position the router
Is WiFi too slow or does the connection stop entirely to an ever increasing extent? This is usually due to a range problem since many households have the router sitting somewhere in a corner, behind a flower pot or – worse yet – even in the cellar. A central and slightly raised position is ideal for a router, for example on a sideboard or on a cupboard in the middle of an apartment. The router WiFi should not be blocked by other objects located in front of or next to the router. Does the router possibly have external antennae? They can be arranged at different angles. Simply try out different antenna positions until reception improves.
Tip 3: Is the router too old?
If you have to replace your old router, the new model should definitely support WiFi 5 (WiFi ac) or even WiFi 6. Both standards are considerably faster than WiFi 4 (WiFi n). In addition, a portion of WiFi 4, the 2.4 GHz band, is extremely overloaded in many large urban areas. Your WiFi picks up speed again by changing to the 5 GHz band of the WiFi 5 standard.
Tip No. 4: WiFi repeaters for short distances
In a large flat or single-family home there can be large distances, walls or even reinforced concrete ceilings between the router and WiFi terminal devices. These obstacles act like a brake on WiFi which becomes increasingly slower and, in a worst case scenario, actually stops altogether. A WiFi repeater is useful for shorter distances, for example from one room to the next. In large living areas, however, a repeater is no longer adequate because repeaters also use the WiFi network for data transmission to each other. However, there is also a very good technical solution over a long WiFi distance.
Tip No. 5: For long distances – Internet from the electrical socket
Powerline adapters are the all-in-one solution for perfect WiFi. The trick: Use the home’s own electric circuit like a long data cable. The advantage: walls, reinforced concrete ceilings and even underfloor heating systems no longer pose an obstacle because there is a cable-based solution. WiFi Powerline adapters create a fast hotspot at any power socket. Installation is extremely easy: plug in, wait a short while and start surfing.
(1) Source: https://internetworldstats.com/stats4.htm
(2) Source: survey among 1000 Belgians conducted by devolo in collaboration with iVox
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