4 reasons why your Wifi connection gets slow – and tips to fix

Wifi connection is no doubt one of the most important elements in the modern world of today. And we all know that frustrating feeling when the connection is lagging. There are actually 4 common reasons why your Wifi gets slow, and tips to fix that.

Wifi connection

First of all, let’s have a look into the mechanics of how Wifi connection works and what affect the speed of it. Data is transferred through this wireless connection by 2 main radio frequencies: 2.4GHz (older technology) and 5GHz (newest one). Within these 2 frequencies, there are multiple channels, which determine whether you can browse the internet fast or not

1.Router : the delivery of Wifi connection

Your router is the agent that works on choosing the best radio frequency for your devices. Most people now still underestimate the importance of buying a high-quality router and choosing a suitable spot to place it in the house. Better routers will work more constantly and pick the better frequency for you. This will also ensure a smoother flow of the internet that you enjoy. And the positioning makes great differences in deciding whether your devices get the best speed of Wifi connection.

To clarify the matter of router position, higher places give clearer access to the wave. Also remember to check the surrounding and be sure it is not blocked away by any interferences. That being said, putting it on the ground or behind other objects will lead to considerably worse performance. Furthermore, objects made by concrete or metal are the worst for the speed of your wifi. Last but not least, as Wifi connection broadcasts in 360 degrees, so it would be best to place the router somewhere in the middle of the house, or room, instead of one corner.

Wifi connection

2. Other wireless waves

In the world of technology of nowadays, we have a lot of devices that work on or create different kinds of wireless waves. Bluetooth connection and Microwave are 2 examples. For instances, Bluetooth also operates at 2.4GHz, the same radio frequency with Wifi. This similarity results in a “frequency clash” and affects your Wifi connection speed. The same happens with Microwave ovens, when the waves are not shielded properly. So to solve this issue, try to switch off these kinds of wireless connections when not in use.

Wifi connection

3. LED lights – an unexpected element

Pretty and fairy as they may look, those colorful Christmas lights (or LED lights in general) are among the worst blockages of your Wifi connection. When turned on, these bulbs create an electromagnetic field that interacts with the Wifi band and then slows down its speed. Therefore, if you want to decorate your room with twinkling lights, think about another place to put your router so it is at the least prevented.

Wifi connection

4. Your living areas – the secret “opponent” of your Wifi connection

Of course if your neighbor accidentally knows your Wifi password and uses that on their devices, it would slow down your connection. But it’s not our point here by mentioning the neighbor. Truth be told, almost every household has their own Wifi network, and there are many of those in a small area. It is such density that causes a problem called “channel overlap” – which cause confusion and speed decrease when 2 or more routers broadcast at the same time. The issue is especially significant when you live in a crowded area where many routers are placed in a closed neighborhood. However, if you have the highest quality router and find an ideal spot for it, then you already minimized the effect.

Wifi connection

Closing note about Wifi connection issues

Some of the above issues are quite surprising to most of us, aren’t they? However, to make the long story short, buying a decent router and knowing a perfect position to place it in your house would help solve most of the problem. Knowing your surrounding and other devices in the house would help clear up all other issues .