How to Optimize Wi-Fi Part 1: Some Basics
Today, almost each and every home revolves around a Wi-Fi connection. Just a few short years ago, setting up a home network to share files and connect multiple devices to the same high speed Internet connection was quite the ordeal. Thankfully, technology has evolved to the point where enjoying seamless and wireless connectivity throughout your home is well within most people’s technical capabilities, once they are armed with the right information.
With the advent of home Wi-Fi networks, we’re seeing an explosion of exciting new technologies and the evolution of the Internet of Things which will greatly impact our day-to-day at an accelerated rate. To take full advantage of this new wave of gadgets and services, it will become increasingly important to understand all the different ways to optimize Wi-Fi at home. So we want to help you make the most of it.
This is a hot topic of conversation and can be incredibly important to many of our valued customers and fans, therefore, Acanac is proud to present a series of blogs to help readers optimize Wi-Fi at home. In each part of the series, we will provide a comprehensive set of easy to understand tools, references and tips. In this edition, we’ll start with some basics and focus on how to determine which type of technology best suits your needs.
Why optimize Wi-Fi in your home?
Have you ever performed a speed test on a device connected wirelessly through your Wi-Fi network, then tested it again when plugged in directly to your modem and noticed a big difference?
An optimized Wi-Fi network should ideally compare favorably with the speeds you’ve come to expect with devices that are directly plugged via an Ethernet connection. There are, however, many factors that can inhibit the performance of your wireless connection and prevent you from reaching peak performance from your high speed Internet service. This is why it is very important to understand that taking steps to optimize Wi-Fi in your home will help you achieve the same speeds wirelessly for the ultimate in enjoyment.
In many cases, once users notice a difference in performance from one device to the next, they wonder whether there is something wrong with their high speed Internet service or their high speed Internet provider. The good news is that with the right know how and the right steps, you can take control of the situation and optimize Wi-Fi at home.
What factors have an influence on the quality of your Wi-Fi signal?
There are several factors to consider before you begin your quest to optimize Wi-Fi in your home. There is a lot of information available online, such as: Which Wi-Fi router to use, including Wi-Fi router reviews, which Wi-Fi frequency or Wi-Fi frequency band to use, how to avoid Bluetooth interference with Wi-Fi, how to ensure your Wi-Fi home modem settings are correct…. and many more.
A good place to get started is with what type of hardware or technology you need for your ideal experience.
Using the right hardware and technology for you
Before covering more tactical and technical things you can do to optimize Wi-Fi at home in future parts of this blog series, we’ll start with the basics. Of course, you will first need dependable and affordable high speed Internet service from a well-established Internet service provider like Acanac and you will need a modem, a wireless router or a device that combines both.
Most high speed Internet providers offer a variety of combined devices that function as both a modem and a wireless router, and some will also allow you to bring your own device to the party. Depending on which network footprint the service is being provided on, there may also be limitations on the model of combined device you can use. While evaluating your options for hardware, it’s important to determine what’s important to you as a user and take that into consideration.
Why a combined router/modem?
The main advantage with a combined modem/router unit is that it’s pretty simple to hook up. If you already own one that is compatible with the high speed Internet service provider or network you are on, you won’t have to buy anything extra or set anything else up. If the unit was provided by your Internet Provider, you can also expect help with troubleshooting if you ever run into issues. Please note that with many of these combined units, you can also disable the router functionality allowing you to connect your own router.
Why you may want to get your own router.
If you are interested in customization, extra features or generally want to get in under the hood and control the extent to which you will be able to optimize Wi-Fi in your home, you will benefit from getting a separate wireless router.
This type of control is typically most desired by users who want to control Quality of Service and prioritize bandwidth to the activities that are most important to them, or who want to take advantage of other features like a dynamic DNS.
If you determine that you want all the extra functionality and everything that entails, we recommend you do your research and consult Wi-Fi router reviews online to find one that works best for you, within your budget.
Next in Our Series
Now that we’ve covered some basics and talked about hardware, stay tuned for our next Blog in this series where we will cover the best places to put your hardware in your home and what to avoid in order to maximize your device’s signal strength.
Until then, we invite you to visit us at www.acanac.ca and learn more about how we’re helping our customers enjoy the simple pleasures of the Internet and how you can make the simple switch.
At Acanac, we’re the Internet Provider that understands how important it is for you to have dependable access to your high speed Internet service on all the devices in your home. We make it our mission to deliver all there is to love about the Internet without any of the hassles. All you need to worry about is where your next journey on the Internet will take you, because we’ve got the rest covered.
Bonus Tips
Networking with Wi-Fi
Did you know that you can transfer and share resources through your Wi-Fi network?
Networking before Wi-Fi and the Cloud was as much of an art than it was science. With a home Wi-Fi network, there are several methods you can use to transfer data between computers. The easiest perhaps is by using or setting up a Homegroup in Windows 7 or 8. On details on how to do this, check how to create a Homegroup network in Windows 7 and Windows 8. You’ll be able to share or un-share folders, media and documents between your PCs within the household with ease.
You can also use a tool like Filedrop or Airdrop for Mac/Apple users.
Tethering Your Connection
Picture it: Your laptop has failed to recognize your home Wi-Fi network for some reason and ironically, you need to access the Internet to help you diagnose a solution. Or, the power in your house goes out and you absolutely need to submit that last document you were working on. Solution: You can tether your smart phone and use it as a temporary Wi-Fi Hotspot. Very handy in a pinch, but be aware that you will be using wireless data from your mobile plan until connectivity is restored.
