Expanding the WiFi signal and thereby increasing the connection speed in remote places of the house usually entails an expense that generally depends on several factors, such as the size of the building or the characteristics of the original router. The good news is that we can resort to a series of tips and tricks that will allow us to expand the range of WiFi without spending too much on the process , and this time we have compiled several of them that we can carry out easily.
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- Change the channel through which the WiFi network travels
- Concatenate routers to create multiple access points
- Or use a mobile or computer as a WiFi repeater
- Change the location of the router and the position of the antennas
- Change antennas, or failing that, router
- Use a WiFi PLC or Mesh extender
- Update your router software and always use the 2.4 GHz network
Change the channel through which the WiFi network travels
In cities and buildings, where the number of WiFi connections and networks is usually high, it is quite common to find what is known as “channel overlaps” . Explained in a simple way, a channel is the road or path through which the different frequencies of the WiFi travel to reach our device. For this reason it is essential to find a path that is as clear as possible.
The way to know which routes are clearer is based on resorting to external applications, such as WiFi Analyzer for Android . In the upper capture we can see that the most suitable channel is 14 and 13 because they are the channels with the least number of WiFi networks.
To proceed with the change in the router we will have to go to its configuration through the address 192.168.1.1. In Settings or Advanced we can find a section with the name of Channel or Channel: it will be enough to indicate channel 13 or 14 in each of the router frequencies (2.4 and 5 GHz).
Concatenate routers to create multiple access points
Surely you have several routers collecting dust in a closet at home. The cheapest option, and probably the most effective to expand the WiFi inside the home, consists precisely in concatenating routers from the parent router , that is, the router that provides an Internet connection, through a simple Ethernet cable (the colored one). yellow).
The way to connect two routers in parallel will depend on the router model, although it is usually as simple as opening the DHCP ports on the parent router and setting a static IP on the child router. In the article that we just linked we explain how to proceed step by step.
The key to generating a continuous signal map is to place the child router several meters from the parent. The most advisable thing is to use an Ethernet cable of at least 10 meters and category 5e or 6a, depending on the speed we want to obtain (100 Mbps, 300…).
After configuring the two routers we can connect to each of the networks depending on the coverage.
Or use a mobile or computer as a WiFi repeater
It is not the most advisable because the power of the antennas in computers and smartphones is rather limited . However, there are programs (generally paid) that allow us to turn our devices into WiFi repeaters.
In Windows, for example, we can use the Network and Internet Sharing option and the netsh command to allow other users to connect to the Internet through the computer. The problem is that this must be turned on for the network to be active.
Change the location of the router and the position of the antennas
How do I place the router? And the antennas? Something that is of vital importance and that unfortunately is not taken into account. Placing the router in an area with height and preferably without obstacles , such as walls, walls or tables, is essential to provide WiFi network throughout the house. It should also be kept away from metal elements to avoid interference.
The position of the antennas is another of the fundamental aspects to have good coverage. The latter, by the way, depends on the number of antennas of the same. If you only have one antenna, it must be positioned upwards. If the router in question has two antennas, then the ideal position will place them perpendicular forming a L . That is, one facing up and the other towards one of the sides.
Change antennas, or failing that, router
Two solutions, one goal. If our router offers rather limited coverage, a good solution is to change the antennas, which are usually found in Amazon and other computer stores for 5 or 10 euros . Unfortunately not all routers allow adding additional antennas or changing them. We will have to review the manual of the device to verify it.
Not compatible with the installation or replacement of antennas? The only solution is to use a better quality router. We leave you below with some quite worthy models.
- TP-Link TL-WR940N
- Tenda AC6
- Asus RT-AC1200G +
- Xiaomi Router 4A
- TP-Link Archer C6
Use a WiFi PLC or Mesh extender
Preferably Mesh. This type of extenders form a mesh network between several points to give a network to the entire house. We are talking about surfaces of around 300 or even 400 square meters . If our house has less than 100 square meters, a cheaper and less cumbersome solution is to use PLCs.
TP-Link Deco P9
It is true that the coverage and the configuration possibilities offered by these are quite limited if we compare them with mesh networks. It is also true that they cost half.
- TP-Link TL-WPA4220 KIT (PLC)
- Netgear WIFI Mesh EX7300 (Mesh)
- Xiaomi WiFi Extender 2 (PLC)
- Netgear WiFi EX3700 (PLC)
Update your router software and always use the 2.4 GHz network
Last but not least, we must mention the possibility of updating the router software or signature. In general, most routers have updates that fix several of the possible bugs that the device has generated from the factory. All you have to do is access the router configuration to check if it has an update .
Another method to gain extra WiFi range is to use the 2.4 GHz network. The main advantage of this type of network is that it has a greater range. Drinking at a lower frequency makes it easier to penetrate large walls and walls . By contrast, it is not as fast as 5 GHz networks. In fact, they do not usually take advantage of the maximum speed contracted if it is higher than 100 MB.
5 GHz networks also offer greater connection stability . However, if what we want is to achieve the best coverage, it is best to connect to 2.4 GHz networks.