Wifi Speed For Home Use Guide

Most households are equipped with an internet connection, which is why everyone should understand how bandwidths work and be able to determine if a Wifi plan is enough (or not) for your use and other people sharing the connection. 

Why is Wi-Fi Speed Important? 

Wi-Fi is the wireless technology used to connect computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices to the internet.

When we say Wi-Fi speed, this refers to the speed at which data packets (like messages of one person on Facebook to you) or other content (such your boss’ email to you) travels from the world wide web to your home’s smartphone, tablet, computer or other devices connected to your Wi-fi. 

If you have slow Wi-Fi speeds, you will not be able to enjoy fast downloads from rarbg. If you are someone that loves to download games, music, tv shows and movies from the internet, you need to have a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection. Without the same, downloading a 700 MB movie will end up taking days!

The speed of these data packets are measured in megabits per second (Mbps) and it is used by internet providers to advertise their plans. As a Wi-Fi user, it is important you understand Wi-Fi speed because everything you do online (from watching YouTube, streaming movies, video-conferencing on Zoom, and so on) relies on how quickly your Wi-Fi can transfer these data packets.  

Things that can Affect Your Wifi Speed

Aside from the number of uploads or downloads of data packets that you use, other things could also slow down your wifi. These include:

• Number of people on one connection – Because each online activity is equal to data packets sent or received, online gaming, chatting on social media, streaming and other activities that use the internet will affect your wifi speed. Aside from your own activities, every person that connects to the same connection would also count. As such, the more people in your household are connected to the wi-fi, the slower your internet speed becomes. 
• Modem and Router – A modem is the device that translates internet data packets, while the router receives/sends it out wirelessly to the devices in your home. Both hardware are essential in having stable wifi connections and they could be the reason why your internet is slow. Maybe the modem or router needs an upgrade. Or maybe they are placed in a spot that isn’t ideal.
• Physical Objects – Sometimes, the physical location of your modem or router is blocked by physical objects such as trees, walls, or glass, among other things. When this is the case, signals cannot pass through and either gives you very slow wifi speed (or none at all).
• Type of internet – There are different kinds of internet, from fiber to cable, DSL, satellite and dial-up, all of which can be connected to a router and “give” you wifi. However, satellite and dial-up internet are the slowest types of internet with DSL and cable internet in the middle ground and fiber as the fastest option. 

Improving Your Wifi Speed 

You can improve your wifi speed using various techniques, such as solving interferences by objects blocking the router or modem. Other possible solutions include:

• Change passwords – Your neighbors might be connected to your internet and eating up bandwidth from your connection. Beef up your security by changing passwords that no one can easily guess and ensuring WPA2 security is turned on. 
• Move Your Modem or Router – Check if your wifi speed is slow because of an obstruction by moving your modem or router near your computer or work area. If this helped, then you’re lucky you wouldn’t need to spend a dime.
• Changing LAN or ethernet cables – Often overlooked, the cables connecting to your modem or router may be broken or need upgrading. If this is the case, you just need to replace them for reliable internet connection.
• Upgrade your modem or router – Another way to improve wifi speed is to replace the hardware completely. This is particularly true for hardware provided by your internet providers (the modems that come from most plans are generic or cheap). If you can, invest in a more advanced modem or router to maximize your internet plan. 
• Buy a wifi extender/booster – If your modem/router is still new, your problem could be dead zones (or areas not reached by the router). A wifi booster or extender “extends” the signals to areas like garage, attic, backyard, and so on. 

If none of these options work, you could also try asking the help of your ISP. If you’re able to compute your household’s wifi requirements, you know if upgrading to a higher plan is needed or not. 

The Bottom Line

The pandemic paved the way for other industries like education and non-IT to welcome virtual spaces with open arms. Now that the world is slowly going back to normal, some industries are even considering keeping the virtual option for some employees permanently. 

If you’re one of these employees and you’re going to need your wi-fi at home to accommodate your work requirements, I hope this guide has helped you understand internet speeds and determine how much you really need.