How to improve your business Wi-Fi connection?

In short, here's how to improve your Wi-Fi connection:

• Test your network speed
• Choose a suitable location for your router
• Set up a Wi-Fi relay
• Change the Wi-Fi channel
• Renew your equipment
• Secure your network

Do you use many electronic devices connected to the internet and your Wi-Fi router  sometimes seems too slow or weak?

Indeed, the number of devices that offer an internet connection and use the network is increasing. Furthermore, depending on the number of devices connected simultaneously, you've probably already noticed that your Wi-Fi capacity isn't sufficient.

You know as well as we do that a slow connection limits your employees' work and makes them less productive. It's safe to say that improving your Wi-Fi connection helps maximize your IT investments.

In this article, we give you some tips to optimize your internet signal and improve the Wi-Fi connection at your place of business. Improving your Wi-Fi connection helps maximize your IT investments

Test your flow rate

Before you start improving your Wi-Fi connection, it's a good idea to test your network's stability and speed. This will help you detect potential vulnerabilities and better identify areas for improvement.

There are many sites where you can quickly and for free test your connection, such as Speedtest , which is one of the most used. These sites will allow you to evaluate the connection speed, download speed and latency, as well as computer usage indicators (HD streaming, 4K, etc.). Furthermore, if you are looking for more in-depth expertise, our consultation service will allow you to have a professional external opinion on the matter.

Choosing a suitable location for the router

Often, one of the main issues is the placement of the wireless router. Most basic Wi-Fi routers offer a signal that has limited range if your workspace is large—for example, if your offices are on multiple floors, or if you're trying to access the network from outside. This could be the case for restaurants that have outdoor seating, for example.

So, the location of the router plays an important role in improving its Wi-Fi connection. To optimize connectivity, you should install the router as centrally as possible in the workplace. If the space has multiple floors, consider positioning it at an intermediate level. The router broadcasts a better signal when it is placed high up and in a fairly open area so that the waves are not slowed down or blocked by objects, furniture or walls.

Additionally, Wi-Fi is susceptible to interference from other devices that produce waves, such as telephones, microwave ovens, and Bluetooth systems. So, always remember to check the placement of your router, as a difference of a few centimeters can sometimes make a difference.

Set up a Wi-Fi relay

If moving your router isn't enough to improve your Wi-Fi connection, a quick and easy solution is to invest in Wi-Fi repeaters. A Wi-Fi repeater or extender is a device that captures the main Wi-Fi signal and sends it directly back within its range.

By moving the repeater as far away from the main router as possible and placing it at the main router's transmitting edge, the repeater will pick up the Wi-Fi and send it back even further. This allows you to quickly extend your Wi-Fi network, since it can emit a signal in the area where the main router no longer emits one.

For an even more powerful system, you can create a mesh network  . Rather than capturing the Wi-Fi signal and repeating it, this system manages the network through multiple satellites that connect to the main router via an Ethernet cable. They then rebroadcast the Wi-Fi signal to different locations.

Change Wi-Fi channel

The Wi-Fi signal operates on two different frequencies (2.4 GHz: the classic frequency and 5 GHz: more sensitive to the environment, but offering better throughput) in order to avoid interference with other devices.

Sometimes your Wi-Fi network may be on the same channel as other nearby networks, causing interference and affecting the quality of your connection. So, since most routers today offer channel switching, you can check the occupancy rate of each channel at any time and switch to the one that is least used.

Renew your equipment

If you've had your router for a while, it may be getting old and need replacing. This is the last thing you should do, but it may be necessary in some situations

Indeed, Wi-Fi routers have evolved considerably in recent years and standards have changed a lot (especially regarding frequency band aggregation).

Wi-Fi is faster today and having a newer router allows for an optimal connection.

Secure your Wi-Fi network

Improving your Wi-Fi connection also means ensuring its security, particularly ensuring that no strangers (neighbors or any unwanted person) can use your Wi-Fi network.

In fact, the more users connected to your Wi-Fi network, the slower it will be. In addition, this will prevent unwanted intrusions and any risk of malware (https://pal-ti.ca/le-malware-maliciel-quest-ce-que-cest-exactement-et-comment-se-proteger/) or data theft, since it is very easy to break into a Wi-Fi network when it is poorly protected.

To secure your Wi-Fi, we recommend that you select the WPA2 security protocol ( https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access ) when configuring it instead of WEP ( https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy ) which is enabled by default, but less secure.

Also, remember to always change the default network name and Wi-Fi key (password). The more personalized and complex your password, the more secure your Wi-Fi network will be.

Please don't use admin/admin as your login; it would be like leaving your front door unlocked all the time. There's no guarantee you'll get robbed, but we're told you wouldn't sleep soundly.

So, while your connection itself won't be improved, it will help secure both your network and your data, which is already an improvement.

Nexxo can help you improve your Wi-Fi connection

We hope this article has given you some food for thought on how to improve your Wi-Fi connection. However, if you feel you need additional expertise or have any other questions, contact us today. We'll work with you to explore how we can best leverage IT for your business.

About Nexxo IT Solutions

Nexxo Computer Solutions specializes in providing IT and technology services to Quebec businesses. Its mission is to offer Quebec companies IT services tailored to their needs. Acting as an external IT department, it handles all of a company's IT tasks, allowing it to focus on its business activities. It achieves this by collaborating closely with its clients and putting their interests at the center of its concerns.