How to boost Wi-Fi reception on a laptop
Having a weak Wi-Fi signal can be quite irritating when you are doing important stuff on your laptop. This may cause downloads and emails to be abandoned mid-way due to poor connection. One key way to boost Wi-Fi reception on your laptop is to move closer to your router or if range is an issue purchasing Wi-Fi extenders to extend coverage.
If you are using a new version laptop then it come with an internal built-in wireless network adapter but if you are using an older version then connection is going to be via a USB adapter or PCMCIA card. Here are some key things you need to check if your Wi-Fi reception is poor.
Table of Contents
Solutions to poor Wi-Fi reception
Router distance
This tends to be the most obvious reason why you are getting a low signal.The solution is to move your laptop closer to the router. If this is not possible you can purchase Wi-Fi extenders that extend your range to various rooms in the house. It is also advised to place your router at higher places where there is not blockage from walls and metallic objects
Changes to the router
Modern routers often come with multiple channels. If you are experiencing a lot of network interference then switch to neighboring channels.The other problem that affect router reception could be the router firmware. If it is outdated then you are going to experience challenges connecting to the net. Most of the routers often come with updates installed on them and they will automatically update themselves.
Some routers come with replaceable antennas. This means if you are not getting a solid signal with your existing one you can replace it. If the connection is still not good, you can use a network repeater. This device boosts Wi-Fi reception by receiving the signal from the router and then rebroadcasting it from a different location.
Replace router
Routers like all technological gadgets do get obsolete with time. Even if you have a superfast laptop if the router is slow there is nothing you can do to boost your Wi-Fi reception unless you upgrade to a better router/modem. You can check the specifications for your current router and compare them with what is currently offered in the market. Modern routers are nowadays tri-band. This means they offer 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. If you have a dedicated ISP company you can call their offices for the latest devices.
Upgrade your internet package
If your internet is slow then you may want to take a look at your internet package. Most ISPs offer packages depending on offered bandwidth. You can have a very slow plan that gives you 15Mbps to superfast ones with over 250Mbps. If your speed does not change then you may want to consider changing the mode of internet transmission. It is generally accepted that a DSL connection is slower than fiber. If you are not sure which package to go for then you can use the following guide.
Bandwidth |
Usage |
35Mbps |
Ideal for light streaming and surfing. Ideal when one or two people are streaming content from sites like Netflix or watching YouTube videos |
35Mbps to 80Mbps |
This is for those interested in slightly more heavy internet use. Idea for medium to heavy streaming and downloading. Can accommodate more people streaming on the network |
80Mbps plus |
Ideal for people who do extensive downloading and streaming. Allows for multiple to download videos. For more extensive streaming users can go for the 250Mbps plus package |
Changes to your laptop
Sometimes the reason you are not getting a good reception with your laptop is because your laptop is and drivers are outdated. An old laptop maybe unable to handle the fast internet speed offered by some modern routers. You can do this by upgrading your RAM. The RAM plays a vital role in the loading of web pages. If you try loading some browsers only to notice some lag then the RAM can be a problem. You can also try minimizing the number of applications that are downloading stuff on your laptop at any given time. You can run the task manager to close apps operating in the background.
While this is not a root cause for poor reception it can influence it to a degree. When you have a network security breach then your Wi-Fi network is compromised. The dangers go beyond slow internet connection to hackers having access to your password. To handle this scan your laptop for the presence of viruses. This can be done by downloading an anti-virus software. These often get downloaded to your computer whenever you access sites that are not safe. Most of the anti-viruses are free for download and are pretty much effective.
If the virus has been on your laptop for a long time then it has coded itself in your laptop in a certain way hence hindering your reception. You can choose to reset your laptop or take it to a professional. The purpose of resetting your laptop is to take your computer to the point it was before the malware come into existence.
You will need to create a backup of your files before doing this. You can reset your laptop or devices as when you choose to.
Conclusion
One the key things you can do when you are experiencing poor Wi-Fi reception from your laptop is to move closer to the router. Routers do face interference from walls and metallic objects that emit electromagnetic waves. If this does not work you can choose to purchase Wi-Fi extenders. This can plugged to wall sockets and extend coverage from your router. You can also choose to limit the number of devices connected to your network. Too many devices will slow down your speeds.
FAQ
What are Wi-Fi extenders?
This work like routers and are used to extend coverage from the router. You can connect them to a wall socket and automatically connect to your device.
What is the latest router technology?
Routers can either be 802.11n, g, ac or the latest 802.11ax. This is also called Wi-Fi 6
