Olga Novikova/Getty Images If you are paying for a high-speed internet plan but your internet connection is still slow, the first thing you should check is if the affected device is placed in a dead zone. Dead zones are areas with limited or no Wi-Fi connectivity. This means that devices located in these areas will suffer from poor speeds, lags, and frequent disconnections. In most cases, these dead zones are caused by physical objects blocking signals, such as a wall or metal cabinet, poor router placement, and Wi-Fi interference from other devices. But sometimes it can be due to your router settings, and a few quick changes can improve Wi-Fi coverage. Modern Wi-Fi routers are packed with features and not all of them are optimized for signal strength. Default values are often configured for convenience. So if you haven’t checked the router settings, it’s time to do so. Incorrect or automatic channel selection may harm wireless connectivity, or your router may have power-saving modes configured, which will affect Wi-Fi signals. Apart from this, built-in features like beamforming can help send signals towards devices near dead zones, thereby improving connectivity. If you don’t want to invest in hardware upgrades like range extenders or mesh networks to fix Wi-Fi dead zones, these smart settings can improve coverage. The changes may not be dramatic, but with the right settings, you’ll experience better coverage throughout your home. Change Wi-Fi channel Routers broadcast wireless signals over channels, and if too many nearby routers use the same channel, it will cause Wi-Fi interference. This is more common in apartments and shared spaces, where too many routers are operating in close proximity to each other. Keep in mind that the idea is not just to change the channel, but to move to the least crowded one. First, install a Wi-Fi scanner app on your phone. There are several available on the Google Play Store. Once you have the app, run a network scan to find out which channels are the most and least crowded. We must avoid the former and prioritize the latter. Now, open a browser on your PC and navigate to your router’s admin panel via its IP address. For most routers this is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Enter the login information. If you don’t know the credentials, look for a sticker on the router for this information. Once in the admin panel, go to Wireless Settings, then choose the 2.4 GHz band. Choose Manual from the drop-down menu and enter 1, 6, or 11 as your preferred channel, whichever is less crowded. Likewise, for 5 GHz you have to choose between 36, 40, 44 and 48, but there are more options to work with. This won’t magically expand Wi-Fi coverage, but it will improve connection stability. This way, you shouldn’t experience frequent call drops or lags in dead zones. Switch between 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands Another common problem that leads to Wi-Fi dead zones is band selection. If you have a dual-band router, you will have two bands, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. While the 2.4GHz band offers better coverage, the 5GHz band offers better speeds, which can make choosing between the two much more confusing. The trick is to choose the right band, based on signal strength and requirements. For example, in areas further from the router, defaulting to the 2.4 GHz band can help you enjoy a more reliable connection than the 5 GHz band. As for devices close to the router, the 5 GHz band is more suitable. The reasoning is simple: the 2.4 GHz frequency is better at penetrating walls and other objects than the 5 GHz frequency. A simple solution is to only connect to the 2.4 GHz band on devices far from the router. If a device continues to connect to the 5GHz band, forget about that network entirely in the system settings. Another option is to use a built-in feature called Smart Connect or Band Steering. It basically merges the available bands under a common Wi-Fi name, whether it’s 2 or 3 (if the router also supports 6GHz), then automatically assigns the best band to each device on the network. To enable the feature on supported routers, go to your router’s admin panel, go to the wireless settings, and enable Smart Connect or a similar option. Enable beamforming Beamforming is an often overlooked feature on routers that can improve wireless signal strength for important devices, for example your smart TV, PC or smartphone. Simply put, the technology helps routers direct signals to connected devices. By default, routers broadcast signals in all directions. But by focusing these signals towards the device, you will benefit from better connectivity. There are two types of beamforming, implicit beamforming and explicit beamforming. The first, Implicit Beamforming, works on all devices, even if the device does not support beamforming. Explicit beamforming, on the other hand, only works with devices that support this technology. Additionally, beamforming is usually enabled by default on routers that support this feature, but you should check it anyway. This quick change can improve wireless performance and connection stability for devices near existing dead zones. To do this, open the router’s admin panel, go to advanced wireless settings and check the Enable implicit beamforming box. Depending on the manufacturer, it may appear under a different name or section, but it’s usually easy to find. Turn off power saving modes Some modern routers come with features like power saving or Eco mode, designed to minimize power consumption, especially during periods of low activity. Theoretically, this is a good idea since routers are one of the devices you should unplug to save on your electricity bills. But in practice, power saving mode can result in reduced performance and range, and dead zones with already poor connectivity could be the worst affected areas. On supported TP-Link routers, you will find options such as “Normal Mode”, “Power Saving Mode” and “Ultra Power Saving Mode”. These are usually found in System Settings under Advanced. If you have configured Power Saving or Ultra Power Saving mode, you need to switch to “Normal Mode”. On other routers, you’ll find a similar setting, sometimes called “Eco Mode.” Apart from this, other power saving features could be implemented, for example the ability to reduce the transmission power. Also make sure it is set to 100%. The idea is to disable any features that may reduce your router’s performance or coverage. Reset the router SOLDATOOFF/Shutterstock If nothing else works, a router reset might do the trick. Keep in mind that resetting doesn’t directly improve Wi-Fi coverage or performance, but if misconfigured router settings are responsible for poor coverage and dead zones, it should help. When you reset the router, everything returns to its default settings. Most routers have a dedicated reset button. If yours has one, hold it down for 5 to 15 seconds to reset the router. On some models, you also have the option to reset via the router’s admin panel or app. After the reset, you will have to reconfigure everything from scratch, including the network name and password. Additionally, after the reset, check for available firmware updates and install them. You should not skip firmware updates on devices like routers because they improve performance and security. Keep in mind that while reconfiguring settings or resetting the router can improve signal strength and internet speed, the effect may not be significant if the problem is due to poor router placement or Wi-Fi interference. So always make sure your router is placed in the best location or consider using a Wi-Fi repeater or mesh network to get rid of dead zones. Post navigation How long does nuclear waste last?
Olga Novikova/Getty Images If you are paying for a high-speed internet plan but your internet connection is still slow, the first thing you should check is if the affected device is placed in a dead zone. Dead zones are areas with limited or no Wi-Fi connectivity. This means that devices located in these areas will suffer from poor speeds, lags, and frequent disconnections. In most cases, these dead zones are caused by physical objects blocking signals, such as a wall or metal cabinet, poor router placement, and Wi-Fi interference from other devices. But sometimes it can be due to your router settings, and a few quick changes can improve Wi-Fi coverage. Modern Wi-Fi routers are packed with features and not all of them are optimized for signal strength. Default values are often configured for convenience. So if you haven’t checked the router settings, it’s time to do so. Incorrect or automatic channel selection may harm wireless connectivity, or your router may have power-saving modes configured, which will affect Wi-Fi signals. Apart from this, built-in features like beamforming can help send signals towards devices near dead zones, thereby improving connectivity. If you don’t want to invest in hardware upgrades like range extenders or mesh networks to fix Wi-Fi dead zones, these smart settings can improve coverage. The changes may not be dramatic, but with the right settings, you’ll experience better coverage throughout your home. Change Wi-Fi channel Routers broadcast wireless signals over channels, and if too many nearby routers use the same channel, it will cause Wi-Fi interference. This is more common in apartments and shared spaces, where too many routers are operating in close proximity to each other. Keep in mind that the idea is not just to change the channel, but to move to the least crowded one. First, install a Wi-Fi scanner app on your phone. There are several available on the Google Play Store. Once you have the app, run a network scan to find out which channels are the most and least crowded. We must avoid the former and prioritize the latter. Now, open a browser on your PC and navigate to your router’s admin panel via its IP address. For most routers this is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Enter the login information. If you don’t know the credentials, look for a sticker on the router for this information. Once in the admin panel, go to Wireless Settings, then choose the 2.4 GHz band. Choose Manual from the drop-down menu and enter 1, 6, or 11 as your preferred channel, whichever is less crowded. Likewise, for 5 GHz you have to choose between 36, 40, 44 and 48, but there are more options to work with. This won’t magically expand Wi-Fi coverage, but it will improve connection stability. This way, you shouldn’t experience frequent call drops or lags in dead zones. Switch between 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands Another common problem that leads to Wi-Fi dead zones is band selection. If you have a dual-band router, you will have two bands, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. While the 2.4GHz band offers better coverage, the 5GHz band offers better speeds, which can make choosing between the two much more confusing. The trick is to choose the right band, based on signal strength and requirements. For example, in areas further from the router, defaulting to the 2.4 GHz band can help you enjoy a more reliable connection than the 5 GHz band. As for devices close to the router, the 5 GHz band is more suitable. The reasoning is simple: the 2.4 GHz frequency is better at penetrating walls and other objects than the 5 GHz frequency. A simple solution is to only connect to the 2.4 GHz band on devices far from the router. If a device continues to connect to the 5GHz band, forget about that network entirely in the system settings. Another option is to use a built-in feature called Smart Connect or Band Steering. It basically merges the available bands under a common Wi-Fi name, whether it’s 2 or 3 (if the router also supports 6GHz), then automatically assigns the best band to each device on the network. To enable the feature on supported routers, go to your router’s admin panel, go to the wireless settings, and enable Smart Connect or a similar option. Enable beamforming Beamforming is an often overlooked feature on routers that can improve wireless signal strength for important devices, for example your smart TV, PC or smartphone. Simply put, the technology helps routers direct signals to connected devices. By default, routers broadcast signals in all directions. But by focusing these signals towards the device, you will benefit from better connectivity. There are two types of beamforming, implicit beamforming and explicit beamforming. The first, Implicit Beamforming, works on all devices, even if the device does not support beamforming. Explicit beamforming, on the other hand, only works with devices that support this technology. Additionally, beamforming is usually enabled by default on routers that support this feature, but you should check it anyway. This quick change can improve wireless performance and connection stability for devices near existing dead zones. To do this, open the router’s admin panel, go to advanced wireless settings and check the Enable implicit beamforming box. Depending on the manufacturer, it may appear under a different name or section, but it’s usually easy to find. Turn off power saving modes Some modern routers come with features like power saving or Eco mode, designed to minimize power consumption, especially during periods of low activity. Theoretically, this is a good idea since routers are one of the devices you should unplug to save on your electricity bills. But in practice, power saving mode can result in reduced performance and range, and dead zones with already poor connectivity could be the worst affected areas. On supported TP-Link routers, you will find options such as “Normal Mode”, “Power Saving Mode” and “Ultra Power Saving Mode”. These are usually found in System Settings under Advanced. If you have configured Power Saving or Ultra Power Saving mode, you need to switch to “Normal Mode”. On other routers, you’ll find a similar setting, sometimes called “Eco Mode.” Apart from this, other power saving features could be implemented, for example the ability to reduce the transmission power. Also make sure it is set to 100%. The idea is to disable any features that may reduce your router’s performance or coverage. Reset the router SOLDATOOFF/Shutterstock If nothing else works, a router reset might do the trick. Keep in mind that resetting doesn’t directly improve Wi-Fi coverage or performance, but if misconfigured router settings are responsible for poor coverage and dead zones, it should help. When you reset the router, everything returns to its default settings. Most routers have a dedicated reset button. If yours has one, hold it down for 5 to 15 seconds to reset the router. On some models, you also have the option to reset via the router’s admin panel or app. After the reset, you will have to reconfigure everything from scratch, including the network name and password. Additionally, after the reset, check for available firmware updates and install them. You should not skip firmware updates on devices like routers because they improve performance and security. Keep in mind that while reconfiguring settings or resetting the router can improve signal strength and internet speed, the effect may not be significant if the problem is due to poor router placement or Wi-Fi interference. So always make sure your router is placed in the best location or consider using a Wi-Fi repeater or mesh network to get rid of dead zones.
