Home Networking Tips

Below are some useful tips that may help you identify and resolve slowness issues with your home WiFi. Please note that because everyone's set up and equipment is different, IMSS can only provide general tips and cannot troubleshoot your home network.

Before making any changes to your network, IMSS recommends Creating a Baseline of your current network setup. The following can help you create that baseline:

1. Test the speed you are receiving from your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
2. Test your current wireless speed
3. Test your wireless signal

Once a baseline has been established, if needed, you may refer to the following tips:

1. Upgrading your home wireless network
2. Extending your wireless network

Finally, there are service providers for network in-home consultation and setup.

Test the speed you are receiving from your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

1.Connect your computer via an ethernet cable directly to your ISP's router.

2. Ensure that there are no other devices using the internet (TVs, gaming consoles, etc.)

3. Perform several tests at www.speedtest.net or similar sites, multiple times during the day. Graph your results.

• While you can test speeds at multiple sites, all have different algorithms for determining your speed. This makes comparing results from them difficult, when creating your baseline stick with one testing site.

4. Check your bill and determine if you are getting the speed you are paying for. Ideally you will have a speed of at least 100Mbps, but if you have several devices using the internet simultaneously, you may require more bandwidth.

• If you are not receiving at least 100Mbps, stop here and contact your ISP for further support.
• If you are receiving at least 100Mbps, but are experiencing a slow network connection, continue to Test your current wireless

1.Connect your wireless network to your router, power cycle, if needed.

2. Re-run the speed tests using the same computer previously used for testing. Test connected to the wireless from a distance of 5 feet from the router.

• If results are significantly lower than when you are plugged in, this may be due to a bad wireless router or interference.

3. Perform and record further speed tests in the locations you will be using your devices.

• Placement matters, testing in the middle of the room may provide different results than testing with your laptop on a desk.
• If results are significantly lower than when you were next to the router, there may be a signal or interference issue. Do not trust the WiFi strength bars on your device.
• Common interference includes, but is not limited to: microwaves, cordless phones, wireless video cameras, fluorescent lights, and baby monitors.

1.Download a free WiFi survey app, such as Netspot, to visualize your network and possible interferences.

2. In Discover Mode, sort by Level (SNR-Signal to Noise Ratio). Your network should be at the top.

3. Select your network(s).

4. Click Details and look at the Channels 2.4GHz tab

• If your network shows here, continue to step 5
• Otherwise go to step 6

5. Select all networks with Green or Orange SNR bars

• If your neighboring networks are overlapping your networks with high strength, you are likely experiencing interference. Migrating your devices to a 5GHz network may help.
• If your networks signal is low, you may be too far away from your router.

6. Deselect all networks, except your network(s)

7. Click Details, and look at the Channels 5GHz tab

• If your network shows here, continue to step 8.
• Otherwise, continue to step 9.

8. Select all networks with Green or Orange SNR bars

• If your neighboring networks are overlapping yours networks with high strength, you are likely experiencing interference. Configuring your network to use a different channel may help.
• If your networks signal is low, you may be too far away from your router.

9. Repeat steps 3-8 in other locations in your house and record your results.

• Let your laptop sit at least 1 minute with the application running in each location before starting to look at results.

Wireless routers provided by ISPs are generally lower quality and less secure than those available for purchase. In most cases simply changing the ISP provided router to a new router will fix many issues.

Some ISPs have a wireless router built into their modem; you will need to contact the ISP when you are ready to install your wireless router so they can disable the built in one. Other ISPs provide a secondary box for wireless. You may be able to save on your monthly bill if you return the ISP provided router once you have upgraded.

1.Select and purchase a new wireless router. Technology changes all the time, as such, IMSS is unable to test routers as they come on the market, but when selecting your router make sure it meets the following minimum requirements:

• If you have a large house, you may need multiple routers, read the section on Extending your Wireless Network before making a purchase.
• Supports 802.11ac Wave 2 (WiFi 5) or 802.11ax (WiFi 6)
• Supports WPA2 or WPA3
• Has numerous good reviews

2. Re-run the wireless tests after your router(s) have been installed. This will help you determine if there have been improvements.

There are three options to add additional wireless routers to your house to extend signal to a weak area.

1.Run Cat5e or Cat6 ethernet cable from your router to a location and install a secondary wireless access point.

• Wire can be run in the attic, basement, or inside walls. An alternative is to purchase flat wire that can run along walls and under carpet.
• The secondary Access Point should be the same model as your primary router. Make sure your selection supports a configuration where multiple routers can be connected simultaneously. This is sometimes called ‘Bridge Mode'. All secondary access points should be placed in that mode.

2. Use your home's electrical wires as Ethernet

• Powerline Networking uses the existing electrical wiring in your house to connect Access Points together.
• Results will depend your home electrical wiring, and speed may be limited.
• If your Powerline Network is on the same circuit as devices that draw a lot of energy in a short time (such as devices with motors) outages may be experienced.
• The secondary Access Point should be the same model as your primary router. Make sure your selection supports a configuration where multiple routers can be connected simultaneously. This is sometimes called ‘Bridge Mode'. All secondary access points should be placed in that mode.

3. Mesh Access Points

• Mesh Access Points work as a group and connect to each other wirelessly to re-broadcast your wireless network to other parts of the house.
• If you have weak signal in one room, adding a Mesh Access point to that room may increase signal, but if it does not have good link back to another Mesh Access Point your speed will still be slow.

If you would rather not do an installation yourself, several companies offer in-home consultation and setup. For example, Best Buy offers network installation. You may also be able to find a local company that offers similar services.