Have you ever experienced the joy of having a blown-out neighbor downstairs? Taylor Swift In deafeningly high decibels?Or maybe your heart warms to the family upstairs who refused to keep them 5 years old From running from room to room in tap shoes? Well, maybe he wasn’t wearing tap shoes. But you get the point. what, apartment living.
Then, there is frustration home office when battling blemishes wireless online. You know the pain points: During Zoom meetings your audio lags, YouTube videos won’t load and Netflix keeps freezing. Even worse, your roommate has no problem being in their room, but you’ve been struggling to keep in touch.
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To get a clear Wi-Fi signal, the apartment was cluttered with devices, heavy beams, metal barriers and a lot of equipment Airspace is also required. It can make you feel powerless. But there are a few steps you can take to improve your signal and get a better Wi-Fi connection in your apartment.
Oh, and one more thing.All things being equal, your first step should be to explore whether you have the option of using a different internet service provider. However, when it comes to living in an apartment, you usually don’t have much choice when it comes to ISPs.Many apartment complexes have housing contracts with specific ISPs, so even with multiple providers available in your regionyou may be bound by the lease and stick to the existing lease.
Ok, enough of the prologue. let’s start.
Protect Your Wi-Fi Signal
turn off internet security This is an important first step no matter where you live, but it’s especially important if you’re renting an apartment and using equipment that’s readily available. You can start by changing your router’s network name and password. If you are using a device provided by your internet provider, you should be able to change the information easily using their application.
If you want to avoid using your ISP’s application (or have their own router), you can easily access your router settings to change your Wi-Fi password. This doesn’t need to be intimidating, and my colleague Ry Crist does a great job of breaking it down for you and keeping it straight. But when it comes to your new password, make sure it’s anything but simple.Yes, it’s tempting to keep it simple so it’s easier to remember, but you want make it hard for others to crack (and Use a password manager to help remember it).
go channel surfing
Your router uses two frequency bands — 2.4GHz and 5GHz — and has channels within each band for sending and receiving Wi-Fi signals. Your Wi-Fi problems may be due to the fact that you are using the same channel as many neighbors. So you’re all blocking the same lane.
The solution is to jump out of that crowded channel and find a channel with a little less traffic. There are 11 available channels in the 2.4GHz band and 24 available channels 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 the router to that channel.
When doing this, it is best to use Internet speed test Compare how your Wi-Fi performs on different channels. It’s actually a good idea to run a speed test before changing any settings. This way you can get an overview of how your Wi-Fi is (barely) performing, and you can compare the performance of these new channels later.
Ideally, you don’t want to do this channel check every day, but if it’s effective at solving your problems, you can rely on it when you run into trouble.
move your router
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution.Maybe your Wi-Fi is unstable because Misplaced router. Is it hidden in a bookcase? Is it close to or blocked by large pieces of furniture or appliances? Try to give your router some space. While you might want to tuck it away for aesthetic reasons, you could inadvertently hinder your router’s ability to send a clear signal.
And while we’re talking location, location, location: avoid putting your router in the kitchen. Not only is your router signal struggling around all the big metal devices, especially microwaves can also interfere with your router. Both operate on similar frequencies, so if you’re near a microwave, your Wi-Fi connection will drop. Finally, all of these important things aside, you need to avoid the kitchen area, which will reduce the chances of coffee, water, spills, and other food debris damaging your router.
Also, remember the scenario I mentioned above where your roommate gets good Wi-Fi and you’re left with scraps? There’s a good chance they’re closer to the router than you are. Try moving the router to the center of the apartment. Not only should the Wi-Fi wealth be shared more equitably, but your router should theoretically perform better, too.
Finally, keep it away from other demanding Wi-Fi devices, such as your smart tv or game console. Again, having all of these devices close to each other interferes with the functionality of the router.
Get a Wi-Fi Extender
Can’t move your router? This is not uncommon in apartments. Your device is usually held in place with wires. But all is not lost in this case.you can go to Wi-Fi extenderIt shouldn’t be a huge investment or commitment—decent options range from less than $30 to about $100—but it can pay big dividends in improving your Wi-Fi signal.
Depending on the size of your facility, you may only need a Wi-Fi extender. Be sure to place it in a “dead corner” of your apartment and see if you can bring that area to connected living. One thing to note: getting a Wi-Fi extender doesn’t mean you skip the previous steps. For example, you still want to explore the best channels to use. If you and everyone in the building are using channel 11 or 144, you may still have problems even if you use a Wi-Fi extender.
Invest in Mesh Systems
Do you have high streaming or gaming needs and the router that your ISP gave you “for free” no longer meets your needs? If all else fails, or you live in a larger apartment, you may need to explore a pricier but still affordable option.Invest in quality products mesh router.
This option gives you range-extending satellites that help you extend your signal beyond 100 feet.If you want to integrate the router into your smart hometo find apps specific to your device (Google, Alexa, HomeKit, etc.).
Also worth considering when considering a purchase: If you envision an apartment as a temporary place to live, buy a wireless network 6 and other forward thinking skills. For example, you might want to prioritize your router’s ability to handle multi-gigabit speeds. Or, if your home size or number of devices grows, make sure you can add more satellites to the system.
The last sentence
Maybe I should start with this, but I’ll go ahead and end with this. If the Wi-Fi router in your apartment is having trouble and the speed is much lower than your ISP promises, I have to ask: have you tried restarting it? I know. I also don’t like to hear this question. It makes me feel like an idiot. But sometimes, it can be as simple as that. Just try restarting the router. But if that doesn’t work, you now have a roadmap of other options to try too.
Get Stronger Wi-Fi in Your Apartment
Could my Wi-Fi speed be constantly poor because I live in an apartment?
unnecessary. Of course, living in an apartment means you’ll face challenges with Wi-Fi connectivity. Namely, the proximity of other neighbors and potential interference from all their devices and signals. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to bad Wi-Fi. It just means that you may need to do some work to optimize your Wi-Fi experience.
Is there a way to upgrade my apartment’s Wi-Fi?
Yes. Perhaps the fastest way to upgrade your Wi-Fi is to get a faster speed plan from your internet provider. However, for many, this may not be financially feasible. So the next best option is to try moving your router to a more central location in your apartment. This should provide better Wi-Fi to more areas in your area. But if that doesn’t work, you can try buying a Wi-Fi extender to increase the range of your Wi-Fi connection in the apartment.
Will my apartment have free Wi-Fi?
it depends. While some apartment complexes advertise “free Wi-Fi,” that usually means free Wi-Fi connections in common areas like lobbies, gyms, and clubhouses. It usually doesn’t extend to your apartment. That said, you can basically get free internet — and, by extension, free Wi-Fi — if you qualify for the government’s Affordable Connectivity Scheme, a program designed to help low-income households qualify for high-speed internet.
