Are you sick of waiting for your streaming movies to buffer? The problem is probably your internet! Here’s how to improve WiFi speeds and end the frustration.
There it goes again! That annoying spinning circle in the middle of your screen during a movie. And it always seems to happen at the absolute worst moments.
Are you frustrated about the speed (or lack thereof) at which your WiFi runs?
There are actually several simple ways to improve WiFi speeds. Give these 5 a try and see if you notice any improvement.
1. Reset the Router
What if your Internet speed is usually fast enough, but suddenly slows down one day? It could be that the router is simply in need of the classic IT trick–turn it off and back on again to see if it works.
You can first try holding the reset button. If that doesn’t work, unplug it for 30 seconds and plug it back in. If that doesn’t work the next step is to reset and reinstall the router software.
2. Turn Off Eco Mode
In the interest of saving energy, some routers come with an eco mode. It’s usually on by default and may be limiting your router’s capabilities.
We all want to save the planet, but we also want to be able to watch movies without seeing that dumb little circle go round. Try turning off eco mode to see if that speeds things up.
It doesn’t really save that much energy anyway.
3. Check for Interference
There are all sorts of frequencies bouncing around our homes these days. Your devices, your neighbor’s devices (in close quarters), garage door openers, radios, microwaves, security cameras, and many other items are sending out signals.
WiFi works in a relatively narrow frequency range of 2.4 GHz. You might think that the IPTV server is being slow when, in reality, your baby monitor is interfering with the signal.
Download a WiFi sniffer to find out which channels around your home are the most crowded. Then set your router to the least crowded one.
4. Try a Different Spot
Where is the router positioned in your home? Do you have it on one side and are trying to watch a movie on the other? You may be taxing the limits of your router.
Try moving the router to a more central location. Or move your movie watching station closer to the router’s location.
5. Buy a New Router
Lastly, if nothing seems to work, it may just be time for a new router. An old or very basic router may not be powerful enough for your streaming needs.
When choosing a new router, think about how much bandwidth you’ll need for all the users on your system. The more bandwidth you buy, the higher the cost will be. So consider carefully to avoid overspending but still get what you need.
You Can Improve WiFi Speeds
It isn’t as hard as you might think to improve WiFi speeds. And the next time you’re watching a movie, you won’t be visited by that annoying little circle in the middle of the most thrilling part.
For more technology tips, be sure to check out the technology section of the blog!
