8 DIY Ways To Improve Your Wifi

5 Simple Steps To Test your Wifi

Wi-Fi signal strength tells you how strong the connection is between your device (like your phone or laptop) and your Wi-Fi router. A strong signal means faster internet and fewer dropouts. A weak signal might cause slow speeds or constant disconnections.

Wi-FI Troubleshooting

Sometimes you may run into problems when trying to connect to the Wi-Fi but it is more important to know what the problem is. By doing some Wi-Fi Troubleshooting, you may be able to easily address these problems and get back online even faster than you previously did before.

Troubleshooting Tips – starting with your router

Start with rebooting the router. Sometimes routers need the occasional reboot to function efficiently. All you have to do is unplug the router’s power cable, wait a while and then plug it back in. You can try the same with a separate modem. If the device has a power switch, try turning it off and then back on. Frequent reboots to the router means that the firmware may need to change. Installing alternative firmware may be the answer to the problem.

Also, make sure that the router is not overheated. Make sure that the vents are not blocked. If the vents are not blocked and overheating still occurs, remove the router from the current location. Also, do not place it on top of a tower PC. It heats up easily and can damage the router thus affecting the performance of the Wi-Fi.

You should ensure that the cables are pressed inproperly. This is the easiest solution and yet the most forgotten one. Check each end of the power cables to the router and modem, the cable between your router and modem, the cable between the modem and the wall socket, and each Ethernet cable plugged into the back of the router.

You can also try repositioning the router. Simple appliances like the microwave or large metallic objects can disrupt the noise to signal ratio. Also, some cordless phones and other devices which use external antennas can pose a problem. Also, position the router’s antenna vertically as it will provide the largest coverage area.

What’s Next ?

Try changing the wireless channel if you still encounter problems. If lots of wireless routers are nearby, this could lead to interference. To change the wireless channel, log into the admin panel for your router and look for the best wireless channel for your area (it should be one that is not heavily congested). Once you have selected this channel, your Wi-Fi signal should improve tremendously.

If nothing else works, try resetting the router to Factory Default Settings. This can be done by long-pressing the Reset pinhole button the back of the router depending on what type of router it is.

Finally, consider that it could be that the modem or router is broken or the Ethernet cables may be damaged and need to be replaced. There may also be a software issue if only one device is having problems with its network connection. At the end of the day, you may need a new router or modem which is a lot simpler and a lot less confusing than dealing with a faulty router or modem.

Wifi With Data Cabling

Whether your home is made of thick bricks or stretched across two stories (or both!), getting fast and reliable internet everywhere doesn’t have to be a headache. The secret weapon? Strategic data cabling—paired with smart placement of your Wi-Fi gear.

Here’s your easy guide to a smarter setup.

1. Why Data Cabling Beats Wi-Fi Alone

Wi-Fi is convenient, but thick walls and large layouts can weaken signals or create frustrating dead zones. Wired data cabling (like Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6a) offers:

• Consistent, high-speed connections to key devices (like TVs, office PCs, gaming consoles)

• Stable backbone for Wi-Fi, supporting access points that broadcast solid wireless coverage upstairs and behind brick walls offering more reliability with minimal interference.

2. Plan Your Home Network Like a Pro

• Start with an assessment: Identify trouble areas—spot poor Wi-Fi reception, think about where people use the internet most, and spot structural obstacles like thick masonry.

• Choose a central hub: Run cabling back to a single location (like a utility cupboard) for neat, scalable management.

• Mix wired and wireless: Cable key areas, and use access points connected via cable to deliver strong Wi-Fi coverage across floors or through difficult walls.

3. Use the Right Cables—And Install Them Smartly

• Cable types matter: Cat6 or Cat6a gives better speed and future resilience than older Cat5e. For top-of-the-line futureproofing, consider fiber optic.

• Professional routing: Conceal cables in walls or conduits so your setup is clean and safe, while maintaining excellent signal quality. It is also a good idea to label and manage. This keeps things organised — if you label cables and ports, then expansion or troubleshooting down the line is painless.

4. Test, Tune & Secure Your Setup

• Test each connection: Use speed tests to ensure wired and wireless links hit expected speeds.

• Optimise placement: If an access point underperforms, a minor reposition or shield adjustment can make a big difference.

• Provide options: Keep wireless channels updated and secured with strong passwords to balance speed with safety.

5. Professional Installation Offers Real Benefits

Rather than trying to DIY a complex network:

• Trained electricians like ACE can design and install a structured cabling system tailored to your home’s layout and your usage needs

• We ensure compliant installation with quality materials—future-proof setups that won’t falter as you upgrade your gear.

• You’ll enjoy a clean install, with cables hidden and connections well managed—no unsightly or unsafe bundles of wires.

Most Common Problems with Wi-Fi

Are you frustrated when trying to connect to your Wi-Fi. It could be that you have a slow connection. But it may be more than that. Here are a few simple DIY tips to help improve your wifi when identifying the most common problems with Wi-Fi :

Router Placement

You may be too far from the router. If that is the case, move closer to the router. Try being in the same room as the router for a while and see if that makes a difference. If it doesn’t, try placing the router a bit higher, perhaps on a shelf away from other devices and place it in a central location in the home.

Reduced Internet Speed

There could also be a lack of bandwidth which can drastically slow down the connection. Try disconnecting any devices that aren’t currently being used from the Wi-Fi. You can also plug directly to the router using a Cat-5 Ethernet cable if there are multiple persons using the internet.

Be wary of the fact that someone may be also connected to your Internet. You should ensure that the network is secured at all times.

Interference

Your Wi-Fi is also affected by interference by other appliances which produce waves such as the microwave and even furniture can raise a problem.

For a stronger, connection, try to remove such objects away from the router. It can be due to leaving the settings unchanged which can lead to crowding of the default wires frequency channels. To fix this, perform a power cycle on the router.

Congested channels

You can manually select a different channel by logging into the admin panel. You can enable both frequencies (2.4GHz and 5GHz) if it is a dual-band router. It could be that the router is outdated and you may need a new one. Try to get a new router every two years to avoid further issues.

Hardware Issues

If it is that you cannot connect to the internet at all, there could be a slight glitch with the modem or router. Try unplugging the modem and router from power and wait up to a minute before connecting back to power. If the connection constantly drops and there has been a massive service outage, you may have to talk your Internet Service Provider.

Looking for an easier solution – watch our Youtube Channel to find out how to improve your Wi-Fi.

Find out which is best for you – home Wi-Fi or a hotspot connection ?

Although several improvements have been made recently to Internet speed and Wi-Fi, you may still encounter slow internet speeds and connection problems with the Wi-Fi. This is due to the fact that Wi-Fi operates in unregulated portions of the radio spectrum and Wi-Fi networks currently operate like a “a weak radio station in a busy city market” when trying to tune in. To efficiently tune in and get online, here a few pointers to help solve those Wi-Fi problems:

1. Try Rebooting the Routers

This may be the simplest solution to your Wi-Fi issues. Just try unplugging the power cord,wait a few seconds and then reconnect, if there are multiple routers or wireless access points(WAPs), reboot them all. Consumer or cheap Wi-Fi gear may need to be rebooted every few weeks to ensure that it works effectively. You can also turn the Wi-Fi off and on again on the computer as it would force the system to rescan for available networks

2. You Can Also Change the Location of The Routers and Computers

Just changing the location to just some meters away can make a big difference. Try a higher and more central location. You should keep the router away from large metal surfaces as these act as energy sinks and obstruct Wi-Fi signals. Also, keep the router away from mirrors and other reflective surfaces as these also affect Wi-Fi signals.

3. Watch for Overheating

It is important that the vents of the router are not blocked by any other equipment placed on top of it. The router already possesses a poorly ventilated box and not keeping these vents open may result in strange behavior from the router.

4. Updating the Firmware

Firmware updates are often done to improve performance. You should always check if the firmware is up to date if you run into problems. You can also apply available patches especially when using new devices. But be warned! Firmware updates may introduce bugs into the system, so only update the firmware when you run into problems.

5. Use A Larger or External Antenna

Wi-Fi antennas are typically a few centimeters long on the router and internal on your device. If you are having problems with reception, you can always use a larger or external antenna. Some routers may offer removable antennas which should be easy to buy and replace. An external antenna can help to boost the noise to signal on a desktop or laptop with a metal case. You can also create a parabolic dish antenna by using a vegetable strainer and work accessories.

6. Forget Previously Saved Networks

Sometimes computers and mobile devices may run into problems even if they are connected to previous networks. The password may be the same but network hardware or encryption methods may change. The best way to resolve this matter is to let your device forget a previously saved network. It acts as a sort of refresh for your device. Once this is done, if you need to reconnect, you most definitely can!

7. Change the Wi-Fi channel

Signal connection may be a problem especially if you live in quite a populated are as many devices use both 2.4 GHz and 5.8GHz bands. You can try changing the broadcast channel of the router. You can try running your router in automatic mode which will easily assign a clear channel. If you are still encountering problems, try using a Wi-Fi monitor so that you can see what channels are being used and be able to choose a channel that’s much less crowded.

Try changing encryption methods by using another encryption method. Some of these methods are WEP, WPA, WPA2. Your password encrypts transmitted traffic so you can change the encryption method and see what works best. Try using WPA as it is a huge improvement from using WEP. WPA encryption may not be supported by older 802.11b equipment, so stick to WEP.