Business Connections for Fall 2016

Business Connections

FALL 2016

If your Wi-Fi router is out of date or not set up correctly, it could

be slowing down your internet speed. Here are some tips to help

you maximize router performance:

Buy a new router that supports 802.11ac.

One of the best ways to make sure your

network is as fast and reliable as possible is to use up-to-date hardware that supports the

latest standards. With all the devices in your office, it’s more important than ever to have

a wireless router that can handle the increased demand for Wi-Fi connectivity.

Move your router to its ideal position.

For the best signal and coverage, put your

router in an open space near the center of your office space. Keep it away from thick

walls made of brick or concrete, and make sure it’s not around metal items, which can

reflect Wi-Fi signals.

Make sure your router is secured using WPA2 with AES.

The latest two stand-

ards, 802.11n and 802.11ac, don’t operate at the highest possible rates when either the

client or router use WPA or TKIP. Putting a password on your router or limiting which

devices can access your network will keep others from using your network and slowing

it down.

Reduce interference by removing or minimizing the use of interfering

devices.

These include older cordless phones, microwave ovens, wireless speakers, and

some security cameras.

Make sure your router is configured to automatically identify and use the

least congested frequency.

Or you can manually choose the best non-overlapping

channel. Slow Wi-Fi speeds may be the result of interference from nearby businesses’

Wi-Fi networks, as all the devices compete to use the same channel. For example, if neigh-

bors are downloading a large file using the same Wi-Fi channel as your company’s Wi-Fi

router, your router and devices may only get thin slices of “air time” to talk.

Get a wireless signal extender.

If your office is larger than about 3,000 square feet,

getting good Wi-Fi signal from one corner to another can be a challenge. Multistory

offices can also be difficult if the router isn’t plugged into the broadband line somewhere

on the middle level. These situations may call for a wireless extender to boost your Wi-Fi

signal to hard-to-reach places.

For help selecting a new router, call Wilkes Communications at 336-973-3103.

Adjust Your

Router for Better

Wi-Fi Speed

HOW TO CHECK

YOUR ROUTER

PERFORMANCE

Nothing lasts forever, including that router

you have under your desk. Routers have a

lifespan—typically three to six years—and

become outdated as technology advances.

For example, some older routers have a

speed cap limiting the maximum internet

speed possible.

If your internet connection from Wilkes

Communications doesn’t seem as fast as

you expected, the router you purchased

several years ago could be to blame. You

can find out if this is the case by following

these steps:

Go to

www.speedtest.net

and do a

speed test. In seconds, your download

and upload speeds will be displayed.

Next, unplug the internet cable from the

back of your router and plug it directly

into a laptop or desktop PC.

Run the speed test again to see what

your speeds are without the router. (Be

sure to plug the internet cable back into

the router after testing to continue using

your wireless devices.)