It is not only frustrating but a struggle if you’re always facing speed issues with your internet. It is no longer what you’re using the internet for– browning, streaming, gaming or working, you always need a strong and stable internet connection.
Your providers need to offer the perfect internet connection, so we can enjoy a seamless internet experience. America survives on fast internet speed and without smooth browsing, you’ll be losing out on too many things.
But, before we start blaming our Internet Service Provider (ISP) for slow internet speeds, let’s ensure that we’ve done everything on our end to stabilize the internet speed. More often than not, a little fix as simple as replacing your Wi-Fi router may just solve your internet speeds.
So, does a Wi-Fi router affect your internet speed? Read on to find out!
How To Speed Up Your Internet Router?
First and foremost, you need to understand that an internet router is a small piece of hardware, almost the size of a desk-lamp.
The router supports multiple devices, all needing the internet for different reasons. Also, let’s clear the misconception that when a device is off, it isn’t using bandwidth. When in reality, it’s the opposite.
Many apps, consoles, devices, and services tend to run background programs that need bandwidth to run, and an internet connection as well even if they aren’t powered on. Moreover, you need to take peak hours into consideration.
Your router will be supporting multiple devices doing all sorts of things online during peak hours, which requires low pings and an incredibly high download speed–that’s a lot to ask for in all honesty.
At the end of the day, even machines need a break, thus allowing your hardware some time to breathe. Always turn off your computers and laptops when not in use, and even consider clearing your cache.
You can also consider unplugging and then plugging your router back in, to allow it to re-sync its communication.
How to Improve Router’s Coverage?
If you’re paying for a top-tier internet plan, and barely getting all the download speed that you were promised, it’s time to understand that there’s no router that will speed up the internet for you.
However, let’s take a look at the steps you can take to ensure user end improvements:
Speed Test
For starters, you should run an Internet Speed Test. This is best if done hardwired. You can use an Ethernet cable to plug the router directly into your computer or laptop. It’s always good to know how powerful your wireless router is, but with a dedicated line, you’ll end up getting faster speeds.
If that’s not working for you or your device has no Ethernet port, you can still do a speed test over the Wi-Fi. Remember to check that the internet speed is what you’re paying for in your plan, and if you’re getting lower speeds than promised, you might need to change your router entirely.
However, if you’ve changed your router and yet there’s no improvement in the internet speeds, it’s time for you to call up your ISP.
Router’s Location
Generally speaking, the farther your route is from your device, the slower the internet connection will be. Hence, the longer the distance between a device and the router, the longer the radio waves will have to travel.
This increases the chances of there being a disruption between the signals. Here are some examples that can easily blocked your Wi-Fi signal:
- Brick and concrete walls
- Thick wooden walls
- Aquariums
- TVs
If most of the devices that need the internet are in the living room, it’s important that you ensure the router is placed in an open area.
Power Cycle
If your internet router is giving you a lot of problems, it’s time to let it breathe. Reset it and once again try your processes. Move your device closer to the router to ensure a completely uninhabited connection.
This might improve your router’s overall bandwidth. Most modern routers offer a “dual band” frequency to accommodate newer internet options. A simple rest of your router should realign the frequencies.
Replace Your Router
If you have done all the above-mentioned things but none of them are improving your Wi-Fi coverage, perhaps it’s time to replace your router itself. You can consider linksys router tri band AC2200 for excellent Wi-Fi coverage and zero Wi-Fi dead zones.
Conclusion
Well, there you go! So to answer your question ‘does the internet router affect internet speed’, the answer is yes. That said, we have shared some of the easiest ways you can improve your router’s performance from your end!
