Fix Slow Internet With These Network Settings
If you are fed up with suffering from poor Wi-Fi connection or slow streaming speeds in your home or brick apartment, this one router tucked away in a corner may not be able to effectively cover your home. In this case, you may need not just a new router, but a new type of router. To save yourself the headaches of finding (and not finding) the ideal router location, consider these two simpler alternatives: Powerline adapters, which transmit data using electrical wiring in your home, and network routers, small wireless routers that communicate simultaneously with a friend. friend, increasing the coverage of the wireless network.
How Powerline Networks Work
Powerline adapters, rather than transmitting data wirelessly, send it through the electrical wiring in your home from one Powerline adapter to others on the same network (you need at least two and they are sold in pairs). Devices, similar to AC adapters, plug directly into wall outlets and have one to two Ethernet ports used for direct connection to devices.
To set up a Powerline network, you need to connect the adapter either directly to your cable modem or to an Ethernet hub connected to the Internet. Some of them do not support wireless connection, but you can use the Powerline adapter with a wireless router by connecting them through the Ethernet port. After your first adapter is connected to the internet, plug the other adapter into the outlet where you need it and plug it into the device of your choice.
Pushbutton encryption syncs multiple Powerline adapters together and protects your data from others who might be using Powerline adapters in the same building. You can connect your Powerline router to an Ethernet hub or switch if you want to directly connect to multiple devices such as game consoles, TVs, or desktop computers.
Powerline Network Issues
The distance between Powerline adapters affects the reliability of the connection. If the distance between your devices is too great, your signal may be too weak to be reliable. You can always add one or two additional adapters to increase signal strength and compensate for weaker connections due to transmission over multiple electrical circuits.
The design of your home is the biggest obstacle to successfully using Powerline networking devices. Since data is transmitted over home electrical wiring, the older your home, the worse your connection. Also, some Powerline adapters do not support wireless connectivity, so you cannot use them to cast Wi-Fi through the rest of your home unless it is connected to your wireless router via an Ethernet cable.
One more thing: your Powerline device must be directly plugged into a wall outlet. Power strips, extension cords, and AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) fire breakers can impair electrical connections.
How Mesh Networking Works
Mesh networking devices look more like your current router than a Powerline adapter. A mesh network consists of multiple wireless routers designed to communicate with each other and extend the coverage of a wireless network when that single router simply cannot. Some have Ethernet ports on each router for direct connection to devices such as Ethernet hubs and computers, while others use a single primary router paired with smaller routers dedicated to plugging into outlets.
To set up a mesh network, you need to connect the primary mesh router responsible for broadcasting your connection to the companion routers to your modem (keep in mind that some mesh kits will allow you to use any router as your primary device). From there, you can connect other mesh routers anywhere in your home, posing as pieces of art on tables, tucking them away in different corners, or placing them in places where you need a more reliable internet connection. Once you have everything connected, you can set up your connection by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Mesh networking devices (like the much-loved Eero router ) usually have smartphone apps that give you more control over what’s happening on your network. You can control devices on the network, impose restrictions on devices owned by children, easily allow guests to access your network, and even turn it off through your smartphone.
Mesh problems
Mesh networks are not cheap, especially since you need more than one. Because they require multiple smaller wireless routers, they are usually sold in packs of two or three. That means options like the Google Wifi triple pack or Eero triple pack will set you back $ 289 and $ 399, respectively. Compared to Powerline adapters, which range in price from $ 60 to $ 100, this is an expensive investment and not everyone has to do it just to watch Netflix at the bank.