Improving Your Home Network: Simple Methods to Increase Internet Speeds

When it comes to improving your home network and increasing internet speeds, there are several simple methods you can try. One of the best places to start is by thinking about where your router is placed. Placing your router in an open area can make a big difference in coverage. Avoid placing your router in a corner or cabinet that you never enter, as this can limit its effectiveness and lead to slow speeds.

The distance between your router and devices can also impact internet speed. If you work from an upstairs office with your router on the first floor, consider moving the router higher up to improve reception. Similarly, if your router has external antennas, try repositioning them for better coverage. When it comes to wireless connections, placement matters. Try getting those boxes near the router if possible, and consider wiring up your Apple TV or Roku with a network cable instead of using wireless connections.

Wired connections can provide much faster speeds than wireless ones, especially when it comes to video streaming. This is because wired connections are less prone to interference and dropouts. By physically connecting your devices to your router, you can significantly improve the quality of your video streaming. If your router doesn't have enough inputs, consider getting a network switch to expand its capabilities.

For those who don't have the luxury of wiring up their devices, there's another option: Wi-Fi extenders. A Wi-Fi extender receives a signal from your router and re-amplifies it further out, making it possible to access a stronger and more reliable connection in different areas of your home. According to CNET, one good option is the TP-Link RE220, which works with just about every router and can be purchased for under $40.

Another important aspect of improving your home network is checking your modem. Many people have their internet service provider install a new modem and then forget about it. However, if you have an older modem that's no longer capable of handling the speeds you're paying for, consider upgrading to a new one. This can make a significant difference in your internet speeds.

When purchasing a new modem, be sure to register it with your ISP before setting it up. While this may seem like a hassle, it's necessary to ensure that your service works properly and to prevent any issues down the line. Be warned, however: registering a new modem can also mean losing your current internet service for a few minutes.

Finally, let's talk about your router itself. Take some time to get familiar with its interface and explore its features. One of the most useful features is Quality of Service (QoS), which allows you to prioritize traffic on certain devices or applications. For example, if you want to ensure that your video streaming always looks great, you can use QoS to prioritize it over other applications.

With QoS, you can choose what devices should receive priority access to the internet and how much bandwidth they should receive. This can be especially useful for heavy users like gamers or those who stream a lot of video content. By getting into the details of your router's settings, you can optimize your home network for maximum performance and minimize lag.

Overall, there are many simple methods you can try to improve your home network and increase internet speeds. From placing your router in an open area to upgrading your modem or using QoS, there are plenty of options available to suit your needs and budget.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enso let's say you got your home network up and running but you want to make your internet connection faster there's plenty you can do first up is one of these simplest methods for increasing speeds this is gonna sound silly but think about where your router is placed one of the best things you can do for your coverage area it's placing your router out in the open don't just put it in a corner or in a cabinet that you're never near remember that router is pumping out your connection distance can be an issue if you do a lot of work in your upstairs office with your router on the first floor maybe place that router higher also if your router has external antennas try repositioning them the better your connection to your network the better your internet speed will be maybe you'll love streaming all kinds of video I mean who doesn't right if you're doing wireless connections placement matters so get those boxes near the router if you have the luxury think about wiring up your Apple TV or Roku with network cable wired connections don't run into the same issues as wireless ones with wireless connections you are subject to interference and maybe dropouts physically connecting your devices to your router can give you much faster speeds and for video streaming that usually means higher quality video so if you're sick of seeing pixelated boxing muddy streaming video think about getting that device on a wired network if your router does not have enough inputs consider getting a network switch in my home theater setup I've got in my Apple TV Roku shield and AV receiver all physically connected to the network thanks to a switch I've got an older Roku and I have seen a real difference in its video quality thanks to a wired connection now if network cables and moving around are not an option think about a Wi-Fi extender like the name says it extends your Wi-Fi range it receives a signal from your router and re amplifies it further out CNET recommends the tp-link re 220 it's under 40 bucks and it works with just about every router out there here's something I found out firsthand check your modem usually people have their internet service provider come in install whatever equipment they have to do and then you forget about it if you have an older modem it might not be able to handle the download and upload speeds you're paying for I had an old modem that was capable of up to a hundred and seventy two megabits per second that's pretty quick but here's the thing I was paying for internet speeds higher than my modem could pump out I picked up a new modem I called my service provider to tell them I was using my own modem and we did the setup over the phone boom I was getting faster speeds if you do decide to buy your own modem and install it make sure you talk with your service provider usually you have to register your modem with your ISP so the service works with the hardware oh and prepare yourself for that phone call you will not have internet for like a few minutes it's absolutely awful finally let's talk about your router take a good look at your router when did you get it how fast is it if it's super old you may want to look into replacing it otherwise if you're feeling like tinkering connect to your routers interface look for a quality of service or QoS section you could prioritize traffic on your network so if you want your video streaming to always look great you can prioritize immediate streaming games web browsing yep you can choose what devices should get the speed you can also limit bandwidth going to certain devices you can really get into the weeds with router settings I'll have some helpful links for you guys if you want to know more about the next video game consoles check this out a big thanks to Reich wrist CNET's networking master for his help on this video a my as a colonel see you online youso let's say you got your home network up and running but you want to make your internet connection faster there's plenty you can do first up is one of these simplest methods for increasing speeds this is gonna sound silly but think about where your router is placed one of the best things you can do for your coverage area it's placing your router out in the open don't just put it in a corner or in a cabinet that you're never near remember that router is pumping out your connection distance can be an issue if you do a lot of work in your upstairs office with your router on the first floor maybe place that router higher also if your router has external antennas try repositioning them the better your connection to your network the better your internet speed will be maybe you'll love streaming all kinds of video I mean who doesn't right if you're doing wireless connections placement matters so get those boxes near the router if you have the luxury think about wiring up your Apple TV or Roku with network cable wired connections don't run into the same issues as wireless ones with wireless connections you are subject to interference and maybe dropouts physically connecting your devices to your router can give you much faster speeds and for video streaming that usually means higher quality video so if you're sick of seeing pixelated boxing muddy streaming video think about getting that device on a wired network if your router does not have enough inputs consider getting a network switch in my home theater setup I've got in my Apple TV Roku shield and AV receiver all physically connected to the network thanks to a switch I've got an older Roku and I have seen a real difference in its video quality thanks to a wired connection now if network cables and moving around are not an option think about a Wi-Fi extender like the name says it extends your Wi-Fi range it receives a signal from your router and re amplifies it further out CNET recommends the tp-link re 220 it's under 40 bucks and it works with just about every router out there here's something I found out firsthand check your modem usually people have their internet service provider come in install whatever equipment they have to do and then you forget about it if you have an older modem it might not be able to handle the download and upload speeds you're paying for I had an old modem that was capable of up to a hundred and seventy two megabits per second that's pretty quick but here's the thing I was paying for internet speeds higher than my modem could pump out I picked up a new modem I called my service provider to tell them I was using my own modem and we did the setup over the phone boom I was getting faster speeds if you do decide to buy your own modem and install it make sure you talk with your service provider usually you have to register your modem with your ISP so the service works with the hardware oh and prepare yourself for that phone call you will not have internet for like a few minutes it's absolutely awful finally let's talk about your router take a good look at your router when did you get it how fast is it if it's super old you may want to look into replacing it otherwise if you're feeling like tinkering connect to your routers interface look for a quality of service or QoS section you could prioritize traffic on your network so if you want your video streaming to always look great you can prioritize immediate streaming games web browsing yep you can choose what devices should get the speed you can also limit bandwidth going to certain devices you can really get into the weeds with router settings I'll have some helpful links for you guys if you want to know more about the next video game consoles check this out a big thanks to Reich wrist CNET's networking master for his help on this video a my as a colonel see you online you\n"