There are few things more frustrating in life than a weak wireless signal within your own home. But in this era of expansive estates, uniquely designed apartments and robust building materials, anemic internet speeds have become something of an epidemic.
Below we’ve outlined some strategies for keeping a quality online connection from basement to bedroom, and all points inbetween.
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Before you do anything to address your wireless woes, check your current wireless router.
As with all things tech, advancements are made in the blink of an eye and it’s very possible that all your online agita could be solved by upgrading to the latest and greatest in wireless routers.
We recommend "the Lexus of wireless routers," the Asus RT-AC88U, a top-of-the-line, top-speed, dual-band solution.
Router, Routers Everywhere
If a router isn’t what’s holding you back, then consider multiplying their presence.
The strategy is fairly simple: Link several routers and spread them throughout your property. The increased hot spots will greatly expand the online availability in your home, and as they are running off the same network, you’ll be able to seamlessly transition from connection to connection as you move throughout the house.
This isn’t a particularly expensive option, but it will require some investment.
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Unless you consider yourself tech savvy (or are willing to sacrifice a weekend to do the research), you’ll want to employ your local "nerd brigade" to do the set up. It is a somewhat complex process, and you’ll want the initial build to be solid.
All additional routers will need to be physically connected (via ethernet cable) in a chain from your primary router, which means a lot of cable, particularly if you are transitioning across floors. A contractor should help you determine where to best place the downline routers and how to hide the connecting cable.
As all additional routers are running off your primary router, the first will provide the strongest connection, but the secondary and tertiary (or more) routers shouldn’t see noticeable degradation.
If you’re unwilling to compromise on any connection speed (no matter how noticeable), you could install multiple routers with multiple modems. Your ISP (internet service provider) should be able to connect to your lines so you can seamlessly transition among routers, but note: They will treat additional modems as a new connection, essentially doubling or tripling your internet bill.
Extend, Repeat, Adapt
Before you go drilling holes and running cable, let’s explore some more agile options. Like a Wi-Fi range extender.
A Wi-Fi range extender, sometimes known as a repeater, serves as an internet outpost that you can place throughout your home.
Range extenders receive take the signal from your modem connected wireless router and redirect it towards the lackluster speed spots around your property. A signal boost, essentially.
Netgear's Nighthawk AC1900 Dual Band WiFi extender is celebrated signal boosting solution, which offers speed and simplicity of use as well as an essential element of any extender.
Extenders/repeaters must be within range of your router to pick up the initial signal, but you should also invest in a dual band extender, like the Nighthawk.
Single band extenders will suffer speed loss because they will need to receive and rebroadcast over a solitary band. Dual Band extenders can split their various responsibilities across their multiple bands.
Water/Weather-proof extenders are also available for people who need to check Politico while lounging poolside.
Powerline Wi-Fi adapters offer a smart and simple to set up solution for bringing connectivity to wired devices located in dead zones.
Powerline Wi-Fi adapters, like Linksys PLEK500, plug into an outlet in your home and receive the wireless from your modem connected router, via the electrical circuit. With a built-in ethernet plug, you can then transfer your wireless connection, by ethernet cable, to computers, gaming consoles or similarly wired devices.
Go With Google
Last week, Google announced that it has developed a solution to our online connection crisis: Google Wifi.
The company claims that a single unit of the sleek (dare we say sexy?) router provides better range than the standard commercial-grade router, but where the device really shines is in conjunction with other Google Wifi units. The units will work together, leveraging mesh Wi-Fi technology to blanket your home in Wi-Fi connectivity, to kill all your home’s dead zones.
Supposedly.
Google Wifi is not yet available for extensive at-home testing. Pre-orders ($129 for one unit, $299 for a three-pack) for the promising device begin in November.