Is your apartment’s Wi-Fi slow? Here’s how to fix it

Have you ever experienced the joy of having a bomb-loving downstairs neighbor? Taylor Swift At deafeningly high decibels? Or maybe it warms your heart to remember the family upstairs who refused to defend their home. 5 year old child Do you find yourself constantly running from room to room while wearing tap shoes? Well, maybe he wasn’t wearing tap shoes. But you get the picture. ah, living in an apartment.

Then there’s the next frustration. work remotely While fighting against unevenness Wifi. You’re probably familiar with the problems when the audio lags during Zoom meetings, YouTube videos won’t load, or Netflix keeps freezing. What’s worse, your roommate has no issues in the room, but you continue to struggle to stay connected.

To receive a clear Wi-Fi signal, apartments are cluttered with multiple devices, heavy beams, and metal obstacles. large number of devices Airspace requested at the same time. It may make you feel helpless. However, there are some steps you can take to improve your signal and improve your Wi-Fi connection in your apartment.

Oh, one more thing. All things being equal, the first thing you should do is consider whether you have the option of using another option. internet service provider. But if you live in an apartment, you often don’t have many options when it comes to your ISP.Many apartment complexes have housing contracts with specific ISPs, so even if multiple providers are contracted. Available in your areaYou may be locked into a lease to continue using what you own.

That’s enough preface. Let’s dive in.

Protect your Wi-Fi signal

Turn off the network security button This is an important first step no matter where you live, but it’s especially important if you’re renting an apartment and using the equipment that comes with the place. First, change your router’s network name and password. If you’re using a device provided by your internet provider, you should be able to easily change your information using their app.

If you want to avoid using your ISP’s app (or have your own router), you can easily access your router’s settings and change your Wi-Fi password. This doesn’t have to scare you. My colleague and girlfriend Ry Crist explains it clearly. However, when it comes to new passwords, be careful not to make them simple. Yes, you may want to keep it simple so it’s easier to remember, but that’s what you want. Make it difficult for others to crack (and Use a password manager (helps you remember).

go channel surfing

Routers use two bands, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and within each of these bands there are channels for sending and receiving Wi-Fi signals. Wi-Fi issues can be caused by using the same channel as many of your neighbors. So you’re all clogging the same lane.

The solution is to leave the crowded channel and find one with slightly less traffic. There are 11 channels available in the 2.4GHz band and 24 channels available in the 5GHz band. Use your router’s Wi-Fi utility (via app or web) to scan for the least used channel available and set your router to that channel.

When you do this, internet speed test Compare Wi-Fi performance across different channels. In fact, we recommend running a speed test before changing any settings. Doing so will give you a basic idea of ​​how Wi-Fi was (barely) working, and later show you how these new channels are performing in comparison. You can check.

Ideally, you won’t need to do this channel check every day, but if it’s effective at resolving issues, you can rely on it whenever a problem arises.

move router

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. Possible causes of unstable Wi-Fi include: The location of the router is incorrect. Do you have it in your bookshelf? Is it near or blocked by large furniture or appliances? Try giving your router some space. Although you may want to hide it for aesthetic reasons, you may inadvertently interfere with your router’s ability to send a clear signal.

While we’re talking about location, location, location, don’t put your router in the kitchen. Not only will the router’s signal be difficult around all large metal appliances, but especially microwave ovens will also interfere with the router. The two operate on similar frequencies, so being near a microwave will disrupt your Wi-Fi connection. Finally, all these important things aside, you should avoid the kitchen area to reduce the chance of coffee, water, spills, and other leftovers damaging your router.

Also, remember the scenario I mentioned above where your roommate has great Wi-Fi but you’re left with some debris? There’s a good chance they’re closer to the router than you are. Try moving the router closer to the center of your apartment. Not only should Wi-Fi wealth be shared more equitably, router performance should theoretically improve as well.

Finally, keep it away from other high-demand Wi-Fi devices. smart tv Or PlayStation. Again, having all these devices close to each other will interfere with your router’s functionality.

Get a Wi-Fi extender

Can’t you move your router? This is not uncommon in apartments. Equipment is often held in place with wires. However, all is not lost in this scenario.you can rely on Wi-Fi extender. This is not too big an investment or commitment. Decent options range from just under $30 to around $100. But it can have huge benefits in improving your Wi-Fi signal.

Depending on the size of your location, you may only need one Wi-Fi extender. Be sure to install it in the “dead spots” of your apartment and see if you can bring that area into a connected life. There is one thing to note. Getting a Wi-Fi extender doesn’t mean skipping the previous step. For example, let’s say you still want to consider which channels are best to use. If you and everyone in your building are using channel 11 or 144, you may run into problems even if you use a Wi-Fi extender.

Invest in a mesh system

Is your streaming or gaming demand so high that it outgrows the router your ISP gave you for “free”? If all else fails, or you live in a large apartment, consider a more expensive but affordable router. You may want to consider pricing options.invest in good quality mesh router.

This option provides a range-extending satellite that can extend the signal beyond 100 feet.router smart homelook for one that specifically works with your device (Google, Alexa, HomeKit, etc.).

The following points are also worth considering when considering your purchase: If you envision your apartment as a temporary living environment, purchase a system with the following features: Wi-Fi6 Or Wi-Fi 7 and other advanced features. For example, you can prioritize your router’s ability to handle multi-gigabit speeds. Or, if your home grows in size or number of devices, you can add more satellites to your system.

A final word

I probably should have started with this, but I’ll go ahead and finish with this. If you’re having trouble with your apartment’s Wi-Fi router and the speeds are way below what your ISP promised, you have to ask: “Have you tried rebooting?” I know. I don’t want to hear that question either. It makes me feel like an idiot. But sometimes it’s very simple. Try restarting your router. But if that doesn’t work, we also have a roadmap of other options that you can try.

Apartment Wi-Fi FAQs