If your favorite show on Netflix or Hulu is taking too long to load, you’re probably asking yourself: why is my home Wi-Fi so slow? A Wi-Fi speed test might confirm what you already know, but it doesn’t tell you why you have a slow Wi-Fi speed in the first place. Keep reading for some troubleshooting tips to determine why your internet access is too slow, and how to speed up slow Wi-Fi.
1. Interference
Metal objects, household appliances and other things in the home can actually interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. For example, if your router is situated too close to the kitchen, your microwave can interrupt the Wi-Fi signal. Some people like to hide the router, so they don’t have wires and blinking lights messing with their home’s decor. Unfortunately, that can also weaken your signal strength, depending on what is used to cover up the router.
Solution: Make sure the router is uncovered. If it is situated near the kitchen, see if you can move it to another location further away from appliances.
2. Too Many Users or Devices
It’s not uncommon for a family of four (or more) to be streaming four different movies, television shows or games at the same time on different devices. When you add a smart refrigerator, smart bulbs, IP cameras, Google Home Minis, a couple of Amazon devices, and other “smart home” electronics to the mix, your Wi-Fi is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Too many devices running at the same time can definitely lead to a slow Wi-Fi speed.
Solution: If you have a really high-tech home with a lot of connected devices, you may simply need to upgrade to a faster signal. Phoenix Internet can help you determine what speed you need in order to accommodate all of the devices in your home.
3. Not Utilizing Both Wi-Fi Channels
Most routers these days have a 2.4 Ghz channel and a 5 Ghz channel. These show up as “2G” and “5G” when you look for an available signal to connect a device or computer to your Wi-Fi. If you have all of the computers, laptops, tablets and other devices connected to the same channel, that can slow down the speed across all of the devices as they compete for bandwidth.
Solution: Utilize both the 2G and 5G channels on your home Wi-Fi. If you have six devices that you need to connect to the Wi-Fi, put three on one channel and three on the other. This will make full use of your signal strength and hopefully speed things up.
4. Signal Fails to Penetrate Walls
A lot of homes in the Phoenix service area are constructed with adobe or even concrete walls. This is great for keeping your home cool, but might be a problem for your Wi-Fi. The lower 2G channel will penetrate most walls with its signal, but the higher 5G channel will struggle in this area.
Solution: Play around with the two different channels until you figure out which signal — 2G or 5G — works best for each room in your home.
5. Device Too Far from the Router
If you have a large home, your computer or other device may simply be too far away from the router to get a good Wi-Fi signal. When you add a couple of walls to the mix, this can really slow your Wi-Fi down.
Solution: One option is to use a Wi-Fi extender. These devices plug into a wall socket within range of the signal to extend your Wi-Fi a little further. Another option, which is a bit more expensive, is to set up a “mesh network” in your home. This is a series of mini-routers that ensures a contiguous signal through every corner of your house.
Possible Causes of Slow Wi-Fi Speed:
- Interference
- Too many devices connected
- Not using both channels
- Signal doesn’t penetrate walls
- Too much distance from router
Tired of slow Wi-Fi? Phoenix Internet has the solution! Contact us today at 602-234-0917 to learn how we provide fast internet service — even in areas that our competitors can’t reach!