Top Ways to Boost WiFi Signals and Improve Wireless Network Performance

With a newer Wireless N router, WiFi networks are usually fairly efficient. For at home setups, a quality router will usually be more than enough to run a decent network. After all, even your close neighbors can find your wireless router’s network. Of course, there are some exceptions. If you live out in the country or you live in a mansion, you may need to boost WiFi signals to cover the entire household. The main problem with WiFi comes from constant higher bandwidth usage, usually attributed to things like streaming movies and media. Weak WiFi signals can produce lagging chopped up streaming.

Luckily, there are several things that you can do to help boost WiFi signal strength, for whatever the reason. Here are some top recommendations for improving weak WiFi.
Use Wireless N
Wireless N has pretty much become the standard, but if you have not yet upgraded to a Wireless N router, and are still using Wireless G, you may want to consider upgrading. Wireless N has proven to be a much more capable technology that not only produces greater WiFi range, but improved and more consistent signal strength as well.
Of course, a Wireless N router will be most efficient with Wireless N devices. So, Wireless N wireless adapters as well. If you are using a newer device with a built-in wireless card, such as a laptop or an Xbox 360 Slim, it should already have built-in Wireless N.

Give Your Cable or DSL Provider a Call
Most cable companies are constantly refining their plans, and usually they are upgrading plans in order to stay competitive. This means the best possible deal for new customers, but there is a good chance that you are not a new customer and have been with your internet service provider for a while. The catch is, most cable companies don’t inform customers that they are eligible for an upgraded plan, nor do they automatically upgrade customers.
Check out your cable or DSL providers latest offerings on the web and compare their latest plans with the plan they have you on. If you don’t have the latest and greatest, often times your cable provider will update you to the new plan, without any additional charges; and if they won’t, there is nothing wrong with threatening to switch companies.
The good thing about this, the heavy majority pay for internet service on a month to month, no contract basis. Of course, a better plan can give you more download and upload power, as well as less restricting bandwidth caps.

Use a Cable Signal Booster
If you have cable internet, several factors can play into the actual cable signal strength coming from the cable company to your home. If you live in a busy neighborhood with many households, the actual cable power that your home receives may not be optimal. Aside from this, things like in-line cable line-splitters that allow for a cable outlet in every room tend to weaken the signal, and the more splitters you have, the weaker the signal will become.
A cable signal booster can help give your home WiFi network the best possible signal by acting as an amplifier. Basically, these devices look and work just like normal coaxial splitters. However, they are engineered to distribute cable signals in the most efficient manner. Cable signal boosters will also improve the signal strength to your television.

Keep Firmware Up to Date and Optimize Router Settings
This one is pretty much a given, but it’s always best to have the most up to date firmware update for your wireless router. As technology changes, firmware updates are needed to keep the router running at peak performance. You should also tweak the settings on your router for maximum output. For example, if you are getting a lot of interference, you may want to switch channels. Routers like Apple’s Airport Extreme also have different WiFi broadcast strength levels that can be utilized. It is best to consult a router’s user manual or router manufacturer’s website for firmware and settings tips.

Reposition the Router
For best WiFi coverage, a wireless router should be placed in a central location within a home. It should also be positioned not too close to the floor, but not too close to the ceiling either. WiFi signals travel in a lateral pattern, and most of the time, WiFi devices, such as laptops are used at midpoint within a home. For example, you usually sit on the couch when using a laptop computer, you don’t lay on the floor (most of the time), and you do not stand on a ladder.

Add a WiFi Booster Antenna
Depending on the exact model of your WiFi router, it may be compatible with an add-on WiFi booster antenna. WiFi antennas seem to have a varying degree of mixed reviews from purchasers, but for approximately 50% of people, they are worth the purchase. WiFi booster antennas work with the same concept that retractable antennas on old boom boxes work. While the default antenna may be built-in or minimal, a standalone WiFi antenna may help improve WiFi network signals.

Add a Powerline Wireless Network Extender
If you do a lot of video or media streaming, but the quality is not the best, a Powerline wireless network extender may help drastically. These devices basically extend the range of your existing WiFi network via a remote interface. Connect one device directly to your router, and place the other device in a room where you want to use a device. From there, you can connect the device, Xbox 360 for example, to the remote device via ethernet cable.

Use a Multi Router Network Setup
Although Powerline adapters are efficient, if you want greater WiFi air strength, you may want to consider utilizing a multiple router setup. This will ultimately give you the best boost in WiFi coverage, but setup can be more complex. Because your cable company may monitor router serial numbers and mac addresses, you may need to consult them before using a multi router setup.

Using any of the above methods should help strengthen your WiFi network, and using a combination of the above methods should greatly help boost WiFi in a home. Any other good ways to help improve WiFi signals?