How to get faster Wi-Fi in your office and for remote workers

The correct setup and configuration will give you big wins

Slow internet is often caused by the way your Wi-Fi has been setup in the first place. It’s partly about where your router and access points are, and partly about how it has been configured.

Configuration is one of the least understood areas of Wi-Fi, but it’s so important. Again, this is something your IT partner will just handle for you.

Wi-Fi signals are divided into channels.

In your business it’s likely that you have several devices working together to provide your Wi-Fi. Each will have its own channel to communicate and connect with your devices. It’s important that these channels are balanced to avoid network congestion.

Think of your Wi-Fi like a walkie talkie. If someone else is already using a channel, then there will be interference and confusion if you use it as well! That’s why you switch to a separate channel. Wi-Fi is similar.

You may also wish to create a network policy that restricts the use of particular websites or services. This could include blocking ads, using streamlined browsers, and installing malware scanners.

Of course, this is harder to do on a home network as it will be used for both work and personal purposes.

And if your life partner works from home as well, you have to be careful not to restrict what they need to do for their work.

Interference is your enemy

One of the most common issues for any Wi-Fi network is interference. It happens when another wireless signal weakens or disrupts your Wi-Fi signal.

Common devices that can affect signal are wireless remote controllers, wireless cameras, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices.

To combat this issue, you need to look at the placement of your routers and your access points, and how much they get used. For example, if all your staff sit near one access point and that’s got interference, it’s going to affect everyone’s work.

You might consider using a Wi-Fi surveillance tool to perform automated channel checks. This is something your IT partner can help with.

Some routers offer QoS (Quality of Service) controls that restrict the amount of bandwidth specific applications can use. You can make better use of your network by prioritizing the apps you use the most and giving lower priority to those that are less important. 

You may even wish to blacklist applications that aren’t essential to the way your business works.

Updates are always important

This applies to all technology, not just your Wi-Fi. Keeping devices fully up to date is always a smart way to improve performance and reduce security risks.

Most people never touch their Wi-Fi once it has been setup. But it’s important to update your router’s firmware regularly. This keeps it secure. And sometimes manufacturers will send out speed improvements through updates.

Keep an eye on the age of the devices you are connecting to your Wi-Fi. If your business relies on up-to-date technology, you can use higher standards of Wi-Fi, which are always faster than older Wi-Fi standards.