Wireless internet has become a staple in our homes, we use it for just about everything we do. Unfortunately it can be difficult to get wireless signal in the far corners of your home, and sometimes our wifi can seem slower than it should be. There are a few things that you can do to improve your wifi.

1. Direct your signal where you want it to go. If you can’t move your router to a better location you can direct the signal where you want it to go by making one of these: http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/

This is an easy to make reflector made from paper and tin foil, it will direct the signal in one direction which will decrease signal strength behind it but will increase strength where you need it.

2.Upgrade your gear. Upgrading to the most up-to-date wireless devices can make a huge difference in your wifi experience. this can be expensive as it could mean buying a new router, a new computer, or both with devices that will use the 5GHz signal instead of 2.4GHz.

The higher frequency will experience a lot less interference which means it will be smoother and faster however the range can be lower than that of a 2.4GHz router with the same power output. If you are always close to your router or never have issues with signal strength; consider trying 5GHz, if you are always struggling to get signal, stick with 2.4GHz.

3. Eliminate interference. If you are going to stick with the 2.4 GHz system that most people have in their house; try eliminating other devices that are trying to use the same frequencies. This includes wireless phones and Bluetooth devices; all of these devices will interfere with your wireless internet which can cause it to slow down or drop out.

4. Don’t let people steal your internet. If you don’t have a password on your wireless internet then other people can steal your internet, this can even be done from outside your house in most cases. Your internet can only work so fast so if someone else is using it your speed will be limited. Not having a password is also a security issue; passers-by can access information on your computer depending on security settings. If you do not have your internet secured, secure it immediately.

5. Limit how many devices are using the internet. If you have a few computers that are watching videos online or playing bandwidth-intensive online games at the same time, this will cause every device to have slower internet for the same reason as number four; your internet can only work so fast. Try watching movies together instead, this way the movies will load much quicker and you will have more free time to do something productive (or watch another movie).