Common Home WI-FI Mistakes You Are Probably Making

Streaming a movie, scrolling through social media or sending an email are all things that are made possible with a strong home Internet connection. There are few things more annoying than dealing with an Internet outage. If you are constantly without an Internet connection at home, you have to figure out why this problem keeps occurring. Some people chalk their Internet problems up to the provider they are using, but this isn’t always the case. 

While having a great Internet provider is important, there are other crucial components that can affect the reliability and speed of your home Internet connection. Below are some common home WI-FI mistakes you are probably making and why correcting them is important. 

Connecting Too Many Devices

The average American household has around 15 devices connected to the Internet. If all of the devices you have connected are trying to use the Internet simultaneously, it will naturally slow down the connection. Instead of leaving all of your devices connected to your home WI-FI, you should turn off the ones not being used. Most modern smartphones and tablets will keep the Internet running in the background even when they aren’t being used. 

The best way to avoid the slow down this can cause is by turning off the WI-FI on your devices until you are ready to use them. You also need to avoid downloading large update files on your devices during peak Internet usage hours. Waiting until you go to bed to start these updates can help you avoid dealing with a slow connection. 

Ignoring Wireless Network Security 

Regardless of what provider you use, your WI-FI network will come with its own name and password. Generally, this information will be printed on the bottom of your router. You need to realize that the stock passwords your router comes with are easy to crack. If a person cracks your password, they can use your WI-FI connection to stream films and download content. 

Instead of leaving this stock password and network name in place, you need to change it. Developing a complex password with a mix of letters and numbers is a great idea. As you create this new password, be sure to avoid using personally identifiable information like your address or your last name. These basic elements are easy for hackers to figure out, which is why you need to think outside of the box when creating a new password. 

Don’t Hide Your Router

Another common mistake people make with their home Internet is hiding their router in a cupboard or behind an entertainment center. Ideally, you want to position your wireless router in the middle of your home. You also need to choose a higher spot in your home, like on the top of a bookcase, will help you get the strongest signal. 

If you are currently making the mistakes mentioned here, it is time to make some changes. With the information in this article, you can optimize your home WI-FI connection and make it a bit faster.