Do you have a Wi-Fi connection in your home? Well, in all probability you do! But, just getting a Wi-Fi installation isn’t enough! You need to ensure that you have a stable connection, especially when you're using your Wi-Fi for gaming or even for important business meetings.
But often, Wi-Fi stops working during crucial times. Temporary breakdowns or interruptions during your important meetings are quite frustrating. Make sure to eliminate any such disturbance by taking proper measures and care to boost your internet connection. Our Tata Play Fiber router provides you with a complete solution tailored to meet businesses' diverse needs.
You don’t always have to call a technician to get this fixed! In this article, we guide you through various strategies and expert tips that can help you get internet connection stability without much of a hassle! Read along!
Understanding Wi-Fi Signal Strength
Before we get into the strategies to stabilise your Wi-Fi, it is important that you know the answer to – how stable is my Wi-Fi? Understanding this is important because a weak signal will cause problems with your connection such as slow speeds, dropouts, and internet disconnection.
Wi-Fi signal strength influences the reliability of your internet connection. The stronger the signal, the more stable your connection will be. The methods for measuring and representing Wi-Fi signal intensity differ from those used to measure Wi-Fi speed. However, speed and signal strength are interdependent in order to provide the optimum Wi-Fi experience and connection.
Analysing Signal Strength Metrics
While there are several ways to measure signal strength, the most accurate and consistent metric that will help you answer – ‘how stable is my internet connection’ is dBm (decibels relative to a milliwatt).
When it comes to Wi-Fi, signal strength is typically expressed in the negative range of dBm, with higher values (e.g. -30 dBm) indicating a stronger signal, and lower values (e.g. -90 dBm) indicating a weaker one. This inverse relationship can take some getting used to, but it's an important concept to grasp.
What makes dBm so useful is its logarithmic nature. Unlike a linear scale, the dBm scale follows the rule of 3s and 10s:
3 dB of loss halves the signal strength, while 3 dB of gain doubles it
10 dB of loss reduces the signal strength by a factor of 10, while 10 dB of gain increases it by a factor of 10
This non-linear behaviour is key to understanding how small changes in dBm can have a significant impact on real-world performance.
So what signal strength should you aim for? For simple, low-throughput applications such as emailing, browsing the web, or scanning barcodes, -70 dBm is enough signal strength. For higher-throughput applications like voice over IP or streaming video, -67 dBm is preferable, however, some engineers advocate -65 dBm if you intend to support mobile devices such as iPhones and Android tablets.
Tips from Networking Professionals
If you want to know what signal strength you need to aim for, here are a few strategies from networking professionals that will help you get this range:
Choose the Proper Location
The location of your Wi-Fi setup holds a lot of gravity and importance. You must carefully and strategically set up your wireless network placement on your property. It is usually suggested that you must choose a central location in your property to set up your Wi-Fi.
This will make sure that no matter which corner of your home you are in, you will receive a stable internet connection. When you place your Wi-Fi router in a central location, it will make sure to provide the best signal across your entire floor or building. It is suitable to use a fiber router as it provides a super-fast Internet connection. Using a Tata Play Fiber broadband router can be your best choice.
Also, make sure that you place your router at a high access point on a shelf to provide a boost in internet connection stability for your devices.
You must also make sure that your router is not crowded with unnecessary things. Keep the area around your router clean, as this might also cause interference in your internet connection. Make sure to declutter around your Wi-Fi router.
When you make sure that there are no unnecessary devices or structures around your Wi-Fi connection, you make sure that there is a strong Wi-Fi stability.
Take the Router off the Floor
One of the most common mistakes most homeowners make is placing the router on the floor. Make sure that your router is not set up on the floor. Structures such as wall floors and also metal objects can interfere with your Internet connection and further weaken the signals of your Wi-Fi network.
Therefore, it is always suggested that you must place your router above the ground in a high location where there is minimum interference of structure.
This feature will make sure that you receive the absolute best Internet connection all throughout your property.
It is essential to place your router somewhere above the ground and at the center of your property.
Replace the Router's Antenna
The antenna of your router is usually omnidirectional. Omni-directional usually signifies that the signals of your Wi-Fi can be broadcasted in all directions.
So, if you have placed your Wi-Fi router in an area that also belongs to an outer property, then you might end up broadcasting half your signals to the outside world. Therefore, you must be absolutely sure about the placement of the antenna for your router.
On several occasions, the router also comes with a removable antenna. You can also replace your omnidirectional antenna with a high-gain antenna.This will allow you to effectively monitor the internet signals of your devices and manage their direction according to your preferences.
Eliminate Wireless Interference
On several occasions, there might be different devices that are connected to maintain stable Wi-Fi connection. Several devices might be connected to a Wi-Fi connection without your notice. Black devices such as baby monitors and smartwatches get connected to your Wi-Fi connection.
So, be sure of all the surrounding devices that are connected to your Wi-Fi connection. These devices can put extra strain on your Wi-Fi, making your internet stability unbearably slow. Be aware of all the wireless interference that is taking place within your property.
Limit the number of devices that require an internet connection to function, as this interferes with your internet connection.
Addition of a Wireless Repeater
A wireless repeater is a handy device that helps to re-broadcast your wireless signals. It helps to strengthen your internet stability from your Wi-Fi to the opposite side of the building.
With this, you can place your Wi-Fi router on any floor according to your convenience. However, it must be between your router modem or access point and your device of choice.
However, it is always suggested that you must conduct a corporate search before you buy a wireless repeater.
Also Read: How to Connect a Wireless Security Camera to a Wi-Fi Network?
Change the Wireless Channel
Your wireless router can usually broadcast over several different channels. If you are experiencing constant interference, then you must try changing the channel of your Wi-Fi router.
Visit the configuration page of your Wi-Fi router. You can usually get access to this option by opening your web browser and filling in your IP address. You will also not be required to change the configuration of your device, as it will automatically detect any new channel in the area.
Any modem router around your building or nearby property can also interfere with your Wi-Fi signal, further causing slow internet.
Also, assess that there is no external interference that is accessing your internet connection, as this can also cause your internet connection to slow down.
Finishing Lines
Maintaining a stable and reliable Wi-Fi connection is crucial in this era, where we rely on wireless connectivity for a multitude of tasks. By understanding the importance of Wi-Fi signal strength and taking proactive steps to optimise it, you can ensure that your wireless network performs at its best.
Throughout this guide, we've explored a range of practical tips to help you stabilise your Wi-Fi connection. From strategically placing your router, to investing in a Wi-Fi repeater and replacing the router's antenna, these techniques can significantly boost your stable internet connection and, in turn, the overall quality and reliability of your wireless network.
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