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Home / Internet Troubleshooting / Not Getting Full Internet Speed Through Router โ€“ 6 Ways To Fix (Guide)

Not Getting Full Internet Speed Through Router โ€“ 6 Ways To Fix (Guide)

A router is part of the network hardware chain that enables internet communication between your personal computers and other connected devices.

Not getting full internet speed internet through the router

Simply put, the internet router links devices within a network by transferring data packets between them. This transferred data can either be sent between devices or from the devices to the internet. The router does this by allocating a local IP address individually to the devices connected to the network. This process guarantees that the data packets reach the designated destination, rather than disappearing within the network.

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There are two different types of routers, wireless and wired router. The difference between them is the type of connections allowed by each device:

  • A wired router makes use of only LAN cable ports, while a wireless router
  • Wi-Fi router comprises an antenna and a wireless adapter that easily enables devices to connect in the absence of a cable.

The majority of routers can connect to other network devices only with the aid of network cables in the driver to function in the Windows environment or any other operating systems. On the other hand, there are routers that use a USB or FireWire to connect to a computer usually require drivers in other to operate effectively.

Why Slow Internet Speed Through Router?

A whole series of wireless standards have evolved over the years with this router technology; however, all wireless devices stick to a specific standard identified as 802.11. Just as wireless technology improves, the transferable amount of data per second over a wireless medium also increases. This data is normally labeled as megabits (8 megabits equal 1 megabyte). So megabits per second (Mbps) is, therefore, the rate at which data measured.

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More recent devices use a standard that superseded 802.11 and is still the most predominant standard. Products based on this recent technology have the capacity of transferring maximum data rates of 54Mbps. It simply means that a shorter space of time, you can transfer huge amounts of data. This will be suitable for people leaving in an apartment, flat, or small house.

The fastest and newest wireless has the capacity to transfer 248Mbps maximum data. This can easily transfer larger media files like video and music at an acceptable speed to the consumers. They also have a longer range than others, making them suitable for multiple users and larger file transfers.

Single or dual-band wireless routers?

Single-band routers make use of 2.4GHz frequency spectrum to communicate, while dual-band routers can instantaneously transmit on both 2.4 and 5GHz frequencies, thereby giving faster speed and performance over longer distances.

These types of Dual-band routers can be of utmost importance if youโ€™re encountering intrusion with neighboring Wi-Fi signals. By simply changing the wireless channel, you can solve this problem because, on the 5GHz spectrum, there are more available channels when compared to 2.4GHz frequencies. However, these are more expensive to the single-band routers.

Things That Can Slow Down Your Router Internet Speed

Numerous Connected Devices โ€“ย Our homes are filled with a lot of Internet of things devices such as Google Home Minis, IP cameras, smart bulbs, smart plugs etc. Each of these devices connects on the Wi-Fi network with its own IP address. So depending on how old your router is, you might need to consider an upgrade to a recent model.

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Range of Wireless Network Plus Signal Penetrationย โ€“ Where your router is kept is an essential factor hindering the speed of your network. You might want to know that a thick concrete wall or floor will stop the 5 GHz network completely.

Outdated Network Cablesย โ€“ Network cables can be delicate. If with the aid of a cable, your laptop is directly plugged to your router, itโ€™s worth checking the cabling. You can use a cable tester to make sure each of the eight wires inside the cable is still directly connected.

Heavily Congested Wi-Fi Channelย โ€“ When youโ€™re bounded by many Wi-Fi networks, indirectly they all take from the bandwidth available. Try to change to a different channel. Modern routers are smart to automatically pick the best available channel.

How to Improve WIFI Speed by the Router?

You can try the troubleshooting tips listed below if your Wi-Fi is slow as a result of the router.

Reboot your routerย โ€“ A simple reboot might solve your slow Wi-Fi problems. Just unplug your router, wait for between 20-30 seconds, and then plug it back.

Change the channel. Try changing your wireless routerโ€™s channel to increase its speed, especially if you reside in a dorm or densely populated area.

Use a sophisticated password to protect your network โ€“ย Unauthorized people like your kidโ€™s friends, neighbors can have access to your network. This slows down the speed. You might need to generate a strong password that will be difficult to crack. Or better still you can regularly change it.

Reposition your router. โ€“ Wi-Fi speed can tremendously improve by just repositioning it a bit. Ensure itโ€™s not close to cordless phones, microwaves, or televisions. Also, it must be at least three feet above the floor. Preferably, let it be at the corner of your house where itโ€™s more likely to for you to make use of your connected devices.

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Change the routerโ€™s antennaeย โ€“ Routers specifically manufactured for residential use usually have an omnidirectional antenna, which releases a 360-degree signal. You should consider changing the omnidirectional antenna with a single-directional one, especially if you connect to your Wi-Fi from one location, like the family room. Doing will considerably build up your signal, which in turn improves your router speed.

These troubleshooting tips can help you find the cause of your slow Wi-Fi and correct it. If they donโ€™t, there could be that your router is outdated. At this point, you might need to purchase a new router with a better performing ISP.

Final Thoughts

Remember, your router is vital in influencing your internet speeds. Using any of these tips can go a long way in increasing your home Wi-Fi signal, which will make you enjoy faster internet at home. Peradventure youโ€™re still unable to get your desired speed, you might consider shopping for new router device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a better router increase Internet speed?

Yes, it can in a situation where your current router is unable to allow speeds from the service provided by your ISP. In this case, a new and better router can give you good options to increase the speed. Furthermore, better routers have better latency than outdated routers.

What is a good Mbps speed for a router?

The speed of wireless routers is normally advertised in megabits per second (Mbps). The first models offered 11 Mbps, followed by 802.11g routers at 54 Mbps which is a mid-range. 802.11n routers offer from 150 Mbps to 600 Mbps, and now the latest that offers 802.11ac routers offering above 1 Gbps.

How to tell the best location for your Wi-Fi Router.ย 

You need to test the signal at a different corner of your home. When you discover your router is faster in a particular location such as the basement or in a living room, you might consider moving your router to enhance your signal range.

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John
John
A tech maestro with a penchant for Android systems, John is also a self-proclaimed Mexican food critic. When heโ€™s not exploring the latest tech trends, heโ€™s likely binging on the newest series on Netflix.
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