Want a home network that actually works?

You can easily extend the range of your WiFi network with a new router or mesh system. Modern routers will have better technology that can increase your network’s range, but mesh systems can provide whole-home coverage and transmit a much stronger signal over a longer range than traditional routers.

You might need a mesh system if your home is over 1,000 square feet, you have multiple floors, or there are “WiFi dead zones” anywhere in your home. If you live in a small home or apartment with thin walls, a traditional router should provide enough WiFi coverage.

There are many ways you can boost your WiFi speed, but the easiest methods would be to buy a new router or pay for a better internet plan. However, doing either one of these alone might not speed up your WiFi. You might also be able to log into your WiFi router and change settings to improve your WiFi speed for free.

When choosing a new modem, you need to find one that is compatible with your internet service provider (like Comcast, Charter, and Cox). You also want to look for a modem that can deliver the speeds you’re getting from your internet plan. Finally, you should only get a model with the latest DOCSIS 3.0 or DOCSIS 3.1 technology.

When looking for a router, you need to find one that can deliver the WiFi speeds you’re getting from your internet plan. Then you also want to look for a router that can provide enough coverage for the size of your home. Finally, you should only get a router that features the latest WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 technology.

There are many ways to troubleshoot problems with your WiFi network. The first thing you should always do is unplug your router, wait 60 seconds, and plug it back in. If that doesn’t work, you can use troubleshooting programs on your computer or log in to your WiFi router and change settings there. If all else fails, you can reset your modem and router to default settings.

A mesh router and a single access point can provide 2,000 to 5,500 square feet of WiFi coverage. If you need more, you should install additional access points every 50 feet. Most systems allow you to add several access points and extend your WiFi coverage up to 10,000 square feet or more.

The most common reason video gets blurry when streaming is due to “buffering” or loading when you have a poor WiFi connection. To improve the video quality when streaming, you will need to boost your WiFi signal or upgrade your network with a new router or a better internet plan.

The internet is a global network where you can visit websites, check email, and watch videos on YouTube. WiFi is a term for wireless internet, which lets you surf the web on your smartphone. An ISP (internet service provider) is a company that sells you access to the internet (like Comcast, Charter, or Cox).

A good WiFi download speed for a single-person household can be as low as 25 Mbps (megabits per second). However, if you have multiple devices connected to the same network, you probably need download speeds of 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps and up.

A mesh WiFi system includes a router and one or more “access points.” The router and access points connect wirelessly to send and receive WiFi signals. This allows you to place access points anywhere in your home to instantly extend the range of your WiFi network.

A modem connects your home to the internet through cable, fiber, or DSL. A router connects to your modem, creates your WiFi network, and routes internet traffic to all your devices, like computers, smartphones, and smart home devices.

According to experts, you should probably replace your WiFi router every 3 to 5 years, while you only need to replace your modem every 4 to 7 years. As technology changes, newer modems and routers can deliver faster speeds, handle more devices, and provide next-gen security.

Your WiFi speed lets you know how many devices you can connect to your network and what kind of activities you can do online. With slow WiFi, you might only be able to check your email, surf the web, or stream music on one or two devices. With faster WiFi, you can stream 4K movies on multiple devices at once.

Your internet service provider (ISP) advertises a “theoretical maximum” internet speed, but that doesn’t mean you will always achieve those speeds at home. During times of peak demand, you may experience slower WiFi speeds, especially if you live in a densely populated area.