Many people get frustrated when they purchase a new streaming device and try to stream some content from their wireless router, but the signal is too weak. This can lead to buffering or loss of signal. It can become quite annoying. Some of the smaller streaming devices do not have a powerful enough antenna to pick up a signal from the other side of the house. How can you boost the wireless signal? There are several ways you can remedy this problem. Here are some options.

How to Boost The Wireless Signal

Move Your Wireless Router

One of the easiest ways is to relocate your wireless router to a central part of the house. This is the most cost-effective solution. It will ultimately depend on if you can move it without rewiring the house. Most cable or internet providers generally wire up one of your wall jacks or run a cable to where it is most convenient for them. This ultimately becomes the place where your signal is being transmitted, but this may not be the ideal place to reach all of the devices in your home. If you can move the cable or wall jack and extend it to a central location, you may be able to maintain full wireless coverage throughout your house. Sometimes it is as simple as finding the cable company’s splitter and screwing in the cable to another wall jack. Verizon has a handy virtual router placement guide that can help determine the best area for your router.

Use a Different Channel

All wireless routers broadcast their signal using a specific channel by default. Many of your neighbors may be broadcasting on the same channel as you. This can cause interference and a degraded signal. You can use your phone, tablet, or computer with network scanning tools to see what channels are free in your area. If you find an open or low-used channel, then login into your wireless router setting and switch it to the new channel and reboot the router.

Wireless Scan Tools

• WiFi Scanner – Windows and Mac
• Wifi Analyzer – Android

Wireless Repeater/Extender

This is a cheap way of extending the coverage to the dead spots in your home. The basic idea is you place one of the wireless repeaters somewhere in your house to extend or repeat your coverage. These extenders are easy to set up. You just pair them with your existing router. Once you program the extender with your router’s credentials it will begin repeating the signal to that part of the house. Generally, one repeater will suffice. If you have a gigantic area to cover with many obstructions then more are needed.

TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender

• Ideal for extending WiFi to devices
• Extend WiFi up to 300Mbps
• Convenient wall-plug design
• Works with any standard router or gateway
• Fast Ethernet Port to connect a wired device
• External antennas for better performance

eBay:

TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Amazon:

TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender

Purchase a New Wireless Router

If you have an old router, it may be time to upgrade and many of the wireless routers that your internet service providers rent to you are not that great. You are better off purchasing your own. Many older routers just don’t produce a powerful enough signal. Many contain internal antennas that do not transmit very strong signals. Some of today’s routers have very powerful external antennas that can cover further distances. They also offer faster data speeds that are perfect for streaming high-quality video content.

Tenda AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Router

• High-powered amplifier and two high-gain 5dBi antennas for maximum range
• Signal penetrates walls and other obstacles to eliminate dead zones
• Stronger Wi-Fi over longer distances helps prevent dropped connections
• 300Mbps Wi-Fi speed ideal for HD video streaming and online gaming
• Backward compatible with 802.11b/g products

eBay:

Tenda AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Router

Amazon:

Tenda AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Router

Power Line Network Adapter Kit

Another option is to use a power line network adapter kit. This uses the existing power lines in your home to network your devices. It’s a convenient option if wireless signals are ineffective or restricted in your house. They work by plugging one adapter into a power socket next to your router or switch and the other adapter next to a power socket to the device you want to connect to your network. You can also use the adapter in conjunction with a switch to expand your connections to other devices. It is a simple and cost-effective solution. The speeds are very good that allow for HD streaming and nice file transfer speeds. Just one tip, do not plug the powerline adapter into a power strip. This will degrade the speed. It must be plugged directly into the wall power socket.

See our how to article on how to use Powerline Adapters to network your home.

TP-Link AV1000 1-Port Gigabit Powerline Adapter

eBay:

TP-Link AV1000 1-Port Gigabit Powerline Adapter

Amazon:

TP-Link AV1000 1-Port Gigabit Powerline Adapter

Wire The Home For Internet

New Wall Plate

This would be your last option. If you are still not getting the best results, you can always wire the house with CAT 6 cable. This will take some time, but in the end, it will be the fastest and most secure connection. Click on our how-to guide below.

See our how to article on wiring the home for Internet and streaming.

Image courtesy of atibodyphoto at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Conclusion

Using some of these simple techniques can alleviate much loss of signal issues. More homes are becoming reliant on internet wireless coverage. Try incorporating one of these solutions to fix your wireless woes.