Signal Winter 2019 Newsletter

www.alliancecom.net 11 load, resulting in slower performance for everyone. To protect your network’s resources, encrypt your Wi-Fi network with a strong password to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your network and piggybacking on your Inter- net service without your permission. Tip #3: Update Your Router’s Firmware Wi-Fi router manufacturers routinely update the router’s underlying software to improve speed and performance as well as address potential security threats. That’s why it’s important to regularly check for updates to your router’s firmware and make sure your router is always running on the latest version. Not only will you gain increased network efficiency through new and enhanced features, you’ll also protect your router from unauthorized intrusions and dangerous malware that can steal bandwidth and infect other devices on the network. Tip #4: Replace the Antenna If your router uses an external antenna, you can replace it with a bigger one to achieve a stronger signal. (Similarly, if your router uses an internal antenna, you can add an external antenna to boost its signal.) You can use an omni- directional antenna to send a signal in all directions or a directional antenna to target one specific direction, which is useful if you know you have a dead zone spot in your coverage. Tip #5: Use a Less Crowded Channel Most people don’t realize that their Wi-Fi router can broadcast on more than one channel, and therefore, they never change the default setting. If your neighbors are using the same channel for their Wi-Fi routers, you’ll quickly end up in an “Internet traffic jam” and everyone’s signals may start to degrade. There are free Wi-Fi analyzer tools you can use to determine which channel is being used the least, so you can switch your router to it. Tip #6: Prioritize Your Apps Not all applications are created equal, and some are very bandwidth intensive. It only takes one or two bandwidth-hun- gry apps to slow download and upload times for everyone on the same Wi-Fi network. Use the Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router to make sure the right applications get priority, so your video call with your Mom won’t drop because someone else on the network is downloading a large file. Tip #7: Buy a Wi-Fi Repeater or Access Point Also referred to as Wi-Fi boosters, WiFi access points basically take a Wi-Fi signal, amplify it, and transmit it again. They’re affordable and can be installed in a few minutes. Tip #8: Don’t Forget to Reboot The timeless IT advice, “If it doesn’t work, try switching it on and off,” also applies to Wi-Fi routers. A simple reboot is often enough to considerably improve your Wi-Fi speeds. A reboot clears the router’s memory and allows updates to install. Improving your home Wi-Fi performance doesn’t necessarily have to mean upgrad- ing your Internet plan or replacing your existing equipment. With a few simple DIY tweaks, you may be able to turn a sluggish Wi-Fi network into more of a high-speed hub for all of your household’s streaming, gaming, posting, emailing, and more. If you’d rather not tackle Wi-Fi main- tenance and troubleshooting on your own, ask about Alliance’s Whole Home Wi-Fi. FAST FACT: A Wi-Fi analyzer tool is an app that provides detailed infor- mation about your wireless network. Search for “wi-fi analyzer” in your search engine of choice to see your options.