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| Reasons for slow home WiFi and how to fix it |
When you encounter slow home WiFi, you should first check the possible causes of the problem in order to find a suitable solution. Below we list 5 reasons why your home Wi-Fi is slow and the correct way to fix it depending on the cause:
1- Connecting multiple smart devices:
Many smart devices such as: security cameras, voice assistants, mobile phones, computers, etc. are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, which increases network pressure and reduces network speed. This is because most home routers are not designed to handle a large number of smart device connections.
To solve this problem, choose a newer router model that matches the number of devices connected to the network. And if you plan to add a large number of smart devices at home, use the (Z-Wave) protocol for wireless communication as much as possible, as it will work on a different frequency than the Wi-Fi network, so it will not affect the performance of the Wi-Fi network.
Devices that use the Zigbee protocol, such as other devices, such as Philips Hue lights, use the same Wi-Fi frequency, 2.4GHz, and can cause interference with Wi-Fi networks.
2- Put the router in an inappropriate place:
WiFi routers broadcast signals in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The 5GHz band is known for having faster signals but cannot pass through thick walls. On the other hand, a 2.4GHz signal travels easily through walls and other solid objects for a longer range, but transmits data at a slower rate.
All of this means that Wi-Fi speed is affected by stationary objects. Therefore, the more objects or walls between the phone or other smart device you're using and the router, the slower the Wi-Fi speed. .
Sometimes the router cannot be moved due to the connection of optical fibers or telephone lines. In this case, you can run the Ethernet cables elsewhere in the house and use an additional WiFi-only router.
3- There are many Wi-Fi networks:
If you live in an area with a lot of apartment buildings, you are surrounded by a large number of Wi-Fi networks that eat up your available bandwidth, resulting in slow home Wi-Fi speeds.
Alternatively, try connecting some smart devices to the Internet instead of using Wi-Fi, use Ethernet to connect to the Internet, and use Wi-Fi for phones and tablets that don't come with Ethernet cables to connect so you can get connected faster Build your home Wi-Fi network at the fastest speed.
4- Use an old network cable:
If you are connecting your computer directly to your router or using multiple Ethernet cables, it is important to check the cable type. The easiest way to check is to look at the cable and look for the number that appears next to Cat to indicate the diameter of that cable. Here are the specifications associated with each number:
- Cat-5: This is the oldest and slowest network cable with a speed of 100 megabytes per second.
- Cat-5e: This is the most widely used cable today, supporting Gigabit Ethernet connections and speeds up to 1000 Mbps.
- Cat-6/6a: This is the fastest network cabling supporting higher data rates of up to 10Gb (10,000MB) - with up to 250MHz bandwidth.
Using a Cat 5 cable for your computer can slow down your Wi-Fi network. On the other hand, use a cable tester to make sure that each of the eight wires of the cable is still connected at the other end. Also, replace damaged Cat 5 cables or cables with Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables.
5- Use a Wi-Fi signal booster:
Many people think that the easiest way to solve Wi-Fi problems is to use a Wi-Fi range extender, which is a small device that plugs into a power source and sends a Wi-Fi signal to another part of the house. Some people use power line adapters, which allow network signals to be transmitted over home wiring.
These devices often do not solve the root of the problems your WiFi is having and can make the situation worse by causing interference to your WiFi. If your home is large and Wi-Fi can't cover everything, consider a mesh Wi-Fi system or a UniFi system that allows you to add access points as needed.