How To Improve Your Wifi Coverage
Wifi Technology
Of the many recent technological advances developed today, WiFi is one of the most common and widely adopted technology. It allows the users and machines to connect to the internet technology without the need of wires. Unfortunately, sometimes connections can be slow or unreliable, causing frustration and productivity loss for employees and visitors alike. If you’re wondering what you can do to improve WiFi speed or coverage in your office, try few ideas.
How can it be done?
- Position your router correctly.
Yes, the most basic one. Apparently many businesses sometimes hide their router in a cabinet where it’s out of sight and then stacked together with other office devices like the modem or the server. Unfortunately, this is not a very good place to leave your router. It is discovered that at times the cabinet walls can block the signal, and also nearby technology can cause additional interference. Thus, position your router where it will send the clearest signal to a considerable number of users. If most of your employees use a hardwired connection such as LAN cable, then it is advisable to have your router/hub placed nearer to the conference room. In addition, positioning your router from the ceiling can provide better coverage. - Install a WiFi Range Extender or use Mesh Wi-Fi System.
Another way to attain decent WiFi coverage throughout your office is to install a range extender. A range extender increases the WiFi coverage by connecting to your existing WiFi router and creating a separate and new WiFi network that has its own name and security credentials. If you prefer you might configure the same existing credentials for consistency. However, while extenders are inexpensive, they’re often not as effective as the idea of a mesh Wi-Fi system. Instead of simply replicating a router’s signal, multiple units work together to intelligently route traffic back and fourth to your modem, covering your entire office in a single Wi-Fi network that reaches everywhere you need. - What's Your Frequency?
Take a look at your network's administrator interface and confirm that you have it configured for optimum performance. If you have a dual-band router installed, you will likely get better throughput by switching to the 5GHz band instead of using the prominent 2.4GHz band. However depending on your environment, you might want to play around with the bands to see which one provides better coverage. - Replace Your Antenna.
If your organization's router uses an internal antenna, you might consider adding an external one, as this might help to send a stronger signal and overall improve your WiFi coverage. Many router manufacturers sell antennas separately thus it should not be a hassle getting your hands on them. - Maybe its time to upgrade.
It's a good idea to get the most out of your existing equipment, however if you’re running on old hardware, you cannot expect exceptional performance. Take note that higher-quality routers won't just support those faster standards — they also will do a lot more than expected. They will have better channel selection, perform better band steering for 5GHz devices, and include better quality of service features. Aerohive Networks have a wide range of products you might want to consider when upgrading your hardware.