We’re all looking for ways to make WiFi and networks faster and more reliable. Staying connected to the world for work, school and entertainment is more than just a luxury these days. It’s critical for success. So how can we fix this? First you may need a glossary of terms:

Gateway — the box the service provider gives you. It’s a multifunction device that works as the modem, the router, the network switch and the wireless access point.

Modem — a box that brings the service to the house

Router — a box that manages the traffic in and out of the house

Switch — a box that distributes the wired signal

WAP or Wireless Access Point — a hard wired box that creates a WiFi network

Mesh Node (similar to wireless bridge) — receives WiFi and rebroadcasts it in a Mesh WiFi Network.

Now check out my top ten ways to make this stuff better.

1. Bars don’t mean you have service.

I know it’s confusing. You have bars on your laptop or phone and you can’t pull up a web page. What does it mean? It means the WiFi is fine. The service is not. Most people call and say, “My WiFi isn’t working” because they don’t know the parts of this system. It’s like saying my tires aren’t working when the car is out of gas. So learn the parts so you can get the right kind of help. If you have bars, it’s likely that the gear in your house is working fine, but you’re not getting service from the provider.

2. Look for the bottle neck

What is really causing the problem here? Trace your signal path. The service comes from the provider into the modem, then the equipment in your house, then to your laptop or iPhone, etc… Is the service coming in? Does your equipment need a reset? Do you need to reboot your laptop? Maybe you’re service is just too slow since you haven’t updated in six years. Maybe your modem is four years old and needs to be swapped out. Maybe your laptop is the problem. Try rebooting one thing at a time and make note of the results. Get a solid description of the problems in layman’s terms and talk to a professional. Keep a log when problems happen to help diagnose the issue.

3. Test another way

You think that nothing is working, but did you try something else? You can’t get WiFi on your iPad, but you can stream a movie on the smart TV. What does that mean? For sure the service provider is not the problem because the movie is streaming right now. Try testing another way to narrow down the issue.

4. Don’t trust a speed test

Speed test websites tell you the speed this device is pinging right this second. Do it again in ten minutes and you may get a completely different result. Do it while you’re streaming a movie on the Apple TV and you’ll get a completely different answer. It’s a useful tool, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

5. Hardwire everything possible.

The goal is to have as few devices on the WiFi as possible. If something works on a hard wired ethernet connection, then use it that way. It’ll be faster and more reliable on the wire. Then you’re freeing up the WiFi for devices that can’t be hard wired.

6. The box from the service provider isn’t enough in a big house.

That box is really only going to provide enough WiFi for about 1200 to 1500 square feet. That’s it. If you have a small to average size house, relocate the box to the middle of the house. If you’re working from home in the study, move the box to the study. If you’re in a larger house, you need more boxes creating the WiFi around the house. If you’ve had that box for a year, get a new one from the service provider. Just take it back to them and tell them you need the latest and greatest.

7. Mesh Wireless means bandaid, avoid those

If you’re just trying to cover another thousand square feet or so, give it a shot. It’s a relatively cheap option. If you’re trying to cover 3000 feet or more, hardwired wireless access points are the way to go. As your data is passed from one mesh node to the next, it’s going to get slower. Best approach is hard wired Wireless Access Points.

8. Expect to update hardware every couple of years at least

It’s nobody’s fault that tech keeps improving. Historically, we had AM radio, then we had FM radio, then XM Satellite Radio. It just got better and better. WiFi is like radio. As the paradigm shifts over time, it does get better — more reliable and faster. We’ve got WiFi 6 breathing down our necks and some of you are wondering when we had WiFi 1 through 5. How did it all get reorganized and rebranded? What happened to 802.11 something-er-another. Just start looking at this like laptops and phones. We don’t wait for stuff to die before we upgrade anymore. We upgrade when there’s an argument to do it and we are willing to spend the money for that benefit.

9. Reboot Regularly

This may be infuriating to some people. All of these gadgets are subject to quirks and malfunction. The frustration happens because we generally wait for a problem to reboot. We’re having a party and the Sonos app won’t connect to the music system. The kids zoom class is at 11 and it’s 11:05 and there’s no connection. It’s inevitable. It’s going to happen. This is our life. Get yourself a remote management system like OvrC Home.

You can schedule automatic resets, you can reboot devices from an app on your phone, and you can have a maintenance agreement with someone like us to solve issues that are over your head.

Do you mow your own lawn? Fix your own car? Perform your own dentistry? This stuff has gotten complicated and having a pro in your back pocket just might be the thing that keeps you sane. Call me, we can help.

10. Get offline

The best way to relieve stress from technology is to just turn it off. Seriously turn it off. Don’t just monitor your kid’s screen time. Monitor your own. Take some time to rest, read, exercise, take a walk, ride a bike, look at your kid in the face and play cards. Sometimes it wears me out and I just need a break. Maybe it’s time to connect with people instead of screens. Remember the best face time is actual face time.