This feature moves slower devices with weaker signals to the 2.4 GHz bands and puts faster, closer devices on the 5 GHz bands. Band steering acts like traffic control for your router so that your devices connect on the optimal channels. Use Smart Connect (band steering) on your router. They do no good if they’re still in the box. If your router has external antennas, make sure they are screwed in tightly. If you can’t plug in your router anywhere else, look for nearby shelves and place the router physically higher in the room with no obstructions around it. Wi-Fi signals radiate out from the router, so placing the router in the center of your home is your best bet, provided you can relocate the router and cable modem together. Don’t hide the router away in a cabinet-that can contribute to overheating, and the building materials in the cabinet can block Wi-Fi signals. Put your Wi-Fi router out in the open, in a central spot. Generally, you can find firmware updates under “system settings,” “advanced settings,” or “system tools,” but a Google search for your router’s model number should bring up a user manual with more detailed instructions. Most mesh-networking kits and many recent routers have automatic firmware updates, but some routers make you log in to your router’s admin page and then check and update the firmware manually. Firmware improvements often include speed tweaks and can solve known problems with buggy devices. But moving to a couch or table next to the router can stabilize a spotty connection during a call-and if you need the better speed only intermittently, it may be the most effective solution with the least amount of hassle. Some of the most effective tricks to improve your home network are also the cheapest, so don’t rush online to buy new tech before tackling a few finer setup issues. You can fix some problems without spending a dime, but some issues require buying new hardware. Working from home means you may have to be your own IT department and manage your Internet connection so that you can access company resources, connect with colleagues, and prove you’re not slacking off. But if it happens while you’re talking to your boss over Skype or giving a presentation via Zoom, it can feel like a calamity. ![]() If your Wi-Fi cuts out when you’re streaming a movie, it’s a bummer.
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