I have a paid gigabit internet plan. The speed on my PC via cable is excellent, so it’s not my ISP’s fault. But my Wi-Fi is terrible: in my apartment, all my wireless devices (MacBook, iPhone, TV) are incredibly slow, and even 1080p video buffers. The problem is obviously the high noise level in the air. Could you tell me how to properly diagnose my wireless network and fix the problem without blindly buying a new router?
If the speed is fine over the wire, but the wireless connection is lagging, the problem is either clogged neighboring networks, or the router is poorly positioned (or both). If you live in an apartment, don’t trust your router when it has “Automatic Channel Selection” enabled. This automatic system often chooses the worst option and sticks with it until it’s too late. In such cases, I use NetSpot on a Mac: open Inspector mode and immediately see which channels your neighbors are using. If your 5 GHz band is completely clogged, simply manually switch the router to a clear path. If your hardware allows, test DFS channels — they’re usually quieter there, although some gadgets don’t like them. And forget about 2.4 GHz for important tasks: in modern homes, this frequency is a complete and unplayable mess.
@Ok-Image6120 That actually sounds a lot like what I’m dealing with.
Fr, before you do the most, do the boring work first: hit that reboot on your modem/router, delete and rejoin the Wi-Fi on your phone, and test the speed while hugging the router. It’s a total snooze fest, but it makes sure your router isn’t just acting crazy, your connection isn’t bugged, or one device isn’t gatekeeping the whole bandwidth.
Your gigabit plan is fine. Your WiFi is getting jumped in the hallway.
Check router placement. Seriously.