A wireless Wi-Fi access point has not been an innovation for a long time, almost every apartment uses this method of obtaining Internet for devices. But sometimes it happens that the device starts to work incorrectly. One of the most common problems that users may encounter is a router cutting speed. What if this happens? Let's try to understand the causes of such a malfunction, consider ways to solve this problem.
Wi-Fi Router Device
In another way, this device is called a router. The main function is to distribute wireless Internet access via radio. Routers use the 802.11 communication standard for operation. Depending on the model, the operating range may vary, as well as the data rate.
The device itself is represented by a small case, connected antennas and a power supply for recharging the device. The range of a Wi-Fi network also depends on the technical characteristics of the router. Devices intended for home use create a network with a radius of 10-15 meters. The source of the Internet is a local area network, which synchronizes with the router in a wired way.
Technical characteristics of the router model
If you notice that the router produces low performance, then pay attention to the technical characteristics of this model. The theoretically possible speed limits indicated on the box are always far from real numbers. If the manufacturer claims that the maximum speed is 150 Mbit / s, then in practice you will get 20-30 Mbit / s.
The most important performance parameters are the following characteristics:
- Transmitter power. The possibility of the passage of waves through walls depends on this parameter. Routers with a weak transmitter, as a rule, do not give a stable signal in remote rooms of the room.
- Receiver sensitivity Some manufacturers do not even indicate this parameter in the list of technical characteristics of router models. The importance of this indicator is as follows: if the signal strength is poor, the connection will not be interrupted. It is better to choose models with sensitivity parameter -92, -94, -98.
- Number and type of antennas. The number of antennas is not always an indicator of higher router performance. If the antenna gain is 5 dBi, and the number of antennas is not less than 2, then such a router can easily cover the entire apartment or one-story house with a network.
- Antenna gain. The higher the coefficient, the more energy goes to the sides, and less up and down.
Routing speed
The speed of data transmission over a Wi-Fi network will always be lower than the wired connection method. This is due to the fact that wireless communication is less stable, and the radio waves are constantly overlapping and overlapping, creating interference. The result of this is a decrease in data transfer rate.
The figure declared by the manufacturer, which is written on the box of the router, is very far from the practically achievable speed level. The theoretically achievable speed is determined under ideal environmental conditions. The bandwidth of the real environment is reduced several times due to the presence of various interference and the action of other devices. To roughly determine the indicator of the maximum possible data transfer rate, you need to know the parameters of the router. Here is an example: an 802.11n network with a theoretically possible speed of 150 Mb / s gives a practical maximum rate of 50 Mb / s.
Reasons for a drop in speed when connecting
If you notice that over Wi-Fi, the Internet speed is lower than with a wired connection, then the router for some reason slows down data transfer. There are several common reasons why a router cuts Wi-Fi speed.
- The software is out of date. An irrelevant version of the firmware may reduce the performance of the router.
- Settings are incorrect. The choice of communication channel or network standard depends on the model of the router.
- The router model is out of date. The ability of the transmitter in the router to work at high speeds depends on what communication standards the model is designed for.
- The device model is outdated. The same situation is with the hardware. If you connect a laptop that is designed for 802.11g to the Wi-Fi network, and the router works on 802.11n networks, then the data transfer speed will be significantly reduced.
- A large number of connected devices. If you connect many devices to one access point, do not be surprised that the speed will decrease significantly. The speed is especially severe when downloading torrents.
- The remoteness of the router. The drop in speed in remote places of an apartment or house can be explained by the limited range of the router. You wonder why the router cuts speed? If the device is separated from the connected device by several walls, then a decrease in speed is normal.
How to check connection speed?
The data transfer rate from the router to all devices is measured in Kbps or Mbps. To measure the speed, you can use special programs that are installed on the device connected to the Wi-Fi network. An alternative is online services, with which you can also check the speed of the Internet.
If you want to get a reliable result, then before measuring it is necessary to disconnect all other devices from the network, and correctly configure the router. To determine the performance of the router, first measure the speed of the wired connection, and then the speed over the Wi-Fi network. You can check the speed of the Internet using servers such as Speedtest, Speed.yoip, etc.
Router setup
The correct indication of the parameters in the menu of your personal account will change the capabilities and performance of the device. Let's try to figure out how to configure so that the router does not cut speed. We list the most significant indicators for the correct operation:
- Channel selection. In total there are 13 communication channels that routers use. Each device, when connected, sees several routers that are located in the neighbors. In order to avoid connection failures, you must select one channel that is least used by neighboring routers.
- Signal strength. In most cases, the standard settings assume low signal strength. Set the maximum value. This will improve transmission in cases where you constantly move around rooms with a mobile device.
- Channel width In most router models, the frequency range can vary from 20-40 MHz. The highest channel width gives a significant increase in speed only with good reception. If in remote rooms reception is poor, then increasing the channel width will not help you. Select the channel width of 20 MHz in the settings of the router and measure the speed, then do the same with the parameter of 40 MHz. We leave a more stable option.
- Security mode. Choose the most reliable WPA2 mode with AES encryption. If you use WEP, WPA or TKIP, then the router automatically cuts the Internet speed up to 54 Mbps.
How to increase the speed of data transmission over Wi-Fi?
First of all, you need to update the firmware of the router. To do this, go to the official website of the manufacturer of your equipment and download the latest firmware there. You can determine which one is the most relevant by the date of update and serial number.
The next step is to configure the router. You can select the necessary parameters through the personal account of the router. On the box is the IP address that you need to go to drive all the necessary settings.
You must choose the right location for the location of the router. Consider the fact that a uniform distribution of the network will only occur when the router is installed in a place of equal distance from the extreme points of the room. Even if you made all the settings correctly, but the transmission speed is low, pay attention to the fixation of the access point and planning features. The passage of the signal through several walls will significantly reduce the speed.
Router firmware update before use
Why update the firmware of the router? The thing is that periodically manufacturers release new software for their products in order to increase equipment performance, fix errors of previous versions, optimize work in modern networks, improve some functions.
The device can be updated independently without the assistance of specialists. To do this, you need to connect the router to the computer via a cable, disconnect the connection from the provider. Throughout the firmware process, the router must be in the on state.
Download the latest firmware from the official site, unzip the archive on your computer. Go to your router’s personal account via your IP address and find the category of updates in the menu. Select the file with the firmware in the menu, after which the update process will begin. When the download is complete, the router will restart. The installation of the new software is completed.
Choosing a Productive Router
The most important factor when choosing a router will be its future scope. If you choose a router for home use, then you can limit yourself to an inexpensive model. Pay attention to the inputs: the router must be able to connect both wired and wireless.
Be sure to study the characteristics of the models. Consider parameters such as transmitter power, antenna sensitivity, number of antennas and their gain. If you decide to purchase a productive device, then choose a model that works in the frequency range of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This band is less loaded by other devices, so the data transfer speed will be higher. Regarding the quality of the router, the following should be considered: beware of cheap Chinese devices, choose time-tested brands.
Device compatibility
If you notice that the data transfer speed on some of your devices is lower than on the others, or the connection cannot be established, then most likely there is a hardware conflict.
Sometimes it happens that synchronization causes problems due to device incompatibility. The latest modern computer will not be able to connect to an outdated router and vice versa. The problem is the standards and operating frequencies supported by the devices. If the router transmits a signal at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, and the device is designed for an operating frequency of 2.4-5 GHz, then the operation may be incorrect, or synchronization will not be established at all.
There is only one solution to a hardware conflict - replacing the hardware. The older model of the transmitter or receiver will have to be replaced with a new, more modern one.
Finally
Before throwing away your old router, which has served you faithfully for a long time, try to figure out the reasons for the drop in speed. Perhaps, after correctly setting the parameters, the router will stop cutting speed, and the performance of your devices will return to normal.