Router does not give out wifi what to do

This is a difficult question, since these two standards have their pros and cons. Recall that the IEEE standard 802.11ac, which has the largest radius works just at a frequency of 5 GHz. But as we remember from physics, the higher the frequency, the harder it passes through different obstacles and fades faster.

How do you boost your Wi-Fi network signal? Increasing Wi-Fi range

I decided to prepare an article with tips on amplifying the Wi-Fi network signal. There are many different articles on the Internet on this subject, but virtually every article contains a lot of unnecessary information. To be more precise, a lot of recommendations on some settings that have nothing to do with increasing the Wi-Fi signal range and can in no way affect the range of the network itself.

If we're talking about increasing Wi-Fi signal, of course we mean the range of the network itself, that is, the range of Wi-Fi. For example: we bought a router, installed it, set it up, but in the furthest rooms the Wi-Fi is not working at all, or the signal level is too weak. Or, the router is installed on the first floor (where there is a signal), but on the second floor the signal is very weak, or there is no signal at all. A common situation faced by many, and I have experienced it myself.

What does the range of the Wi-Fi network depend on? Many different factors: the router itself (the number and strength of the antennas), the walls in your home, the number of neighboring Wi-Fi networks, the location of the router, some other interference, etc. Many people ask for advice on a router that, for example, will provide a stable Wi-Fi signal for a two-bedroom apartment, a private house, etc. In such cases, it is impossible to advise anything specific. Everyone has different conditions, different walls, etc. The only thing I can advise is to be roughly guided by the area of your house. If you have, for example, a one-room apartment, even an inexpensive router with one antenna with a 3 dBi power will cope with its task without any problems. Well, if you have a house or apartment is larger, then buy a more expensive device. Although, even the price is not always an argument. I have a router Asus RT-N18U – an expensive one with three antennas and some kind of Asus proprietary feature that extends the network coverage. So, under the same conditions and at the same distance, it doesn't get much better results than the D-link DIR-615/A. Which has internal antennas, and it's several times cheaper.

How to increase the Wi-Fi signal in the router settings?

If you have already purchased and installed a router at your home or office, and your Wi-Fi does not work everywhere you need it, you can try to strengthen your wireless network. How to do this, we will now look at. You can boost the signal both with the settings in the router and with the help of individual devices and devices.

1 Find and change the channel on your router. If your devices see many of your neighbors' networks available for connection, then all of these networks may load the channel on which your network is running, and thus reduce the range of the network.

You can try, in the router settings, to set some static channel, or put Auto. Here you need to experiment. If you are not lazy, then using the program inSSIDer you can find a free channel, and set it in the settings of your router.

I will not describe in detail, just give you a link to the article How to find a free Wi-Fi channel, and change the channel on the router? In it I told in detail about channels and how to find a channel which is not busy. Also, there are instructions on how to change the channel on routers from different manufacturers.

2 Switching your network to 802.11N mode. Generally, all routers default to wireless networking in b/g/n mixed mode (11bgn mixed). If you force the router to broadcast Wi-Fi in 802.11N operating mode, it can increase not only the speed but also the range of Wi-Fi coverage (if your router has more than one antenna).

The only problem is that if you have older devices that don't support 802.11N mode, they simply won't see your network. If you don't have older devices, then without a doubt switch your network to n mode. It's very easy to do this. Go into your router settings, usually at 192.168.1.1, or 192.168.0.1 (see here for detailed instructions on how to enter the settings).

Changing the location of the router

This point is one of the most important, since many factors may influence the weak signal of a Wi-Fi router. First and foremost, it is best to place the device as close as possible to the center of the house or apartment.

If this is not possible, install it in such a way that there are as few walls and obstacles in the path of the wave. A good location is in the hallway, where all the rooms and the kitchen meet.

Also, there should be no mirrors, metal fences, or plates in the path of the Wi-Fi signal, which will kill the wave permanently. Keep radios and microwave ovens that operate at the same frequency away from the router. Another tip: Don't install it on the floor or under the ceiling. The router should be about centered between the ceiling and the floor.

You've probably seen a lot of videos where they allegedly install amplifiers made of beer cans and foil. But in reality they don't amplify, they just redirect the signal by reflecting off the metal surface. They also reflect the neighboring waves, which can interfere, but only in the range of this metal device.

I can't say anything about this method because I haven't tried it. But you can do this construction and then share your experience in the comments. The effect is supposed to be, but minimal.

Another point is the correct positioning of the antennas. They should be at a 90 degree angle. This way the waves will spread out over a longer distance. If you have three of them, then the two on the sides tilt at a 45-degree angle, and put the central one under 90 degrees.

Changing the Communication Channel

So, let's first sort out what the channels are. Routers work in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Most routers default to 2.4 GHz. This means that all of your neighbors are using this frequency, and you probably have the same frequency in your router. This frequency has 14 channels.

So, if, for example, your router is set to channel 5, and the neighbor sits there as well – then the transmission speed drops, there may be gaps and other problems. Our task is to configure it in standalone mode, so that the device itself searches for a free channel and connects to it. To do this, you need to go into the router's admin interface.

1. The IP or standard URL of the router is on the label under the housing. There is also the login and password for the admin panel.
2. Connect to the network directly or via Wi-Fi from a phone, laptop or PC, start the browser and enter the address. Enter the data for authentication. The most commonly used addresses are 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1.
3. Now we need to go into the Wi-Fi settings. Here are the paths for different models:

Firm	The path is .
	Old Models	Newer models
TP-link	Wireless	1. Advanced settings Wireless mode Wireless Configuration Mode 3.
D-link	Wi-Fi	1. Advanced settings Wi-Fi Main settings
ZyXEL Keenetic	The staircase icon at the very bottom (Wi-Fi Network)	Wireless mode
Asus	Wireless network	Advanced Setting 2 Wireless
Rostelecom Sagemcom f@st 2804 and 3804	1. WLAN setup 2. Additional information

1. It is necessary to set the country, if there is such a field. This is necessary for the router to understand which communication channels, mobile operators and TV are used in your area.
2. Set the channel detection to "Auto" mode.
3. Save the settings and reboot the router.

Frequency range is overloaded.

One of the most common reasons for poor Wi-Fi performance is the large number of nearby devices operating at 2.4 GHz. Electromagnetic waves from routers, modems, and gadgets overlap, and some power is lost.

When using a new router that supports the 5 GHz frequency band, it makes sense to switch to a freer channel. Not all users have this option, and there are drawbacks to the solution:

New routers have a dual-channel mode feature: for older devices, it gives out at 2.4 GHz, and for newer devices, it gives out at 5 GHz. Follow these steps to switch the wireless access point mode:

After changing the mode, you will have to configure the wireless network again. To simplify the process of connecting clients, it is desirable to leave the network name and password unchanged.

Channel and its width

The 2.4 GHz channel is a symbol. It shows the approximate operating frequency of the router. In fact, the actual working band is divided into 14 channels ranging from 2.4 to 2.48 GHz. By default, the router is set to automatically select the freest channel. If the device is plugged in at lunchtime, when most of the neighbors have their Internet turned off, there may be no one on the air with the freest channel. But when everyone turns on their routers in the evening, the situation changes dramatically. And imagine that your device is constantly working on one selected channel.

1. Download the utility inSSIDer here metageek.net or look for its mobile version for Android.
2. Scan all available networks and, based on the results of the division of detected networks by band, choose the least loaded channel.

One more thing about channels. They all work in the 20 or 40 MHz band, and the difference in the frequency range of each of them is only 0.05 Hz. That is, with a 20 MHz bandwidth, there are 3 non-overlapping channels; with it doubled, there is only one. A network operating at 40 GHz channel width will interfere with all waves. Many older devices may not connect to such an access point.

In the wireless settings, select 20 MHz mode or its automatic detection.

Changing the channel of the wireless network in case of unstable Wi-Fi

This is the first, and most important tip you should definitely try. We know that every Wi-Fi network works on some channel. If there are many of these networks, they start to interfere with one another and interference occurs. And as a result, the Wi-Fi is unstable. And various incomprehensible problems, which I wrote above, and which you are likely to have already encountered.

You need to change the Wi-Fi network channel in the router settings. I wrote about channels, about finding a free channel and about changing them on different router models in a separate manual: How to find a free Wi-Fi channel and change the channel on your router?

You can try to set some static channel (if you have Auto) , or vice versa, put Auto, if you have a static channel. In the article above, I wrote about finding the most free channel with inSSIDer. You can use it.

Just go to the router settings, go to the tab where you set up the wireless network, and in the Channel section change the channel. This is what it looks like on Tp-Link routers:

After each channel change, do not forget to to save the settings and restart the router. Be sure to try several variants. This should help.

As for more interference, it can be caused by household appliances. Do not place the router near microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc.

Shaving the Internet via Wi-Fi: router firmware, and other tips

Almost always, such malfunctions in the wireless network are due to the router. Not infrequently, it is related to the firmware. Therefore, I highly recommend updating your router firmware. We have instructions for all popular manufacturers on our site. Here is the manual for Tp-Link, for example.

It is also possible that your wireless network may be unstable due to some technical problems with your router. Something with the board itself or the power adapter. By the way, power adapters are often the cause of such problems. The router just doesn't get the right power and the connection fails, etc. And strong power fluctuations can affect the operation of the router. If the Internet is broken after you create some load on the router (online videos, games, torrents, connecting new devices, etc.), then this happens usually because of an inexpensive (not powerful) router.

You need to rule out problems on the side of your Internet service provider.. It may well be that it is his toron is failing the connection, and the router is not to blame. Check is very simple, just connect the Internet directly to your computer and check its work.

For many people, the connection is broken in the rooms where the Wi-Fi signal is very poor. When there is only one division of the network signal on the device, for example.

In such a situation, you need to increase the range of your Wi-Fi network. On this subject we have an article: How to get a stronger Wi-Fi signal? Increase the range of Wi-Fi. Or, install a repeater. After that, problems with dropping the Internet should disappear.

And if your home devices find a lot of available networks that operate on a frequency of 2.4 GHz (as most likely your network), and the change of channel, and even changing the router does not work, and Wi-Fi network is very unstable, then to solve this problem you can buy a router that supports the work on a frequency of 5 GHz. This frequency is practically free. I just know a case where there were a lot of wireless networks in the house, and Wi-Fi was simply impossible to use until they switched to the 5 GHz frequency.

Why does a Wi-Fi router slow down?

Every router can slow down. Some are slower, some are faster. As a rule, it depends on the price of the router. The more expensive it is, the more powerful it is, and the more powerful it is, the slower it will slow down. I'm talking specifically about the Wi-Fi connection. If the cable speed through the router is slower, it's usually not critical. But over a wireless network, the speed loss can be decent.

Many people are also interested in the numbers that are listed on the box with the router, or in the specifications. There you can see the speed information. For example: Up to 150 Mbps, or 300 Mbps. And here again there are questions: "Why does my router support 300 Mbit/s, but I have a speed of 50 Mbit/s? Well, the manufacturer indicates the maximum speed, which under normal conditions you can never get. The speed will always be much lower. And with those 300 Mbps, which are written on the router, we often get speeds several times lower. And the extent to which the speed will be less depends on the power of the router (mostly) , and on a number of other factors, which I will now discuss.

Also, do not forget that in addition to the router, we have a network receiver Wi-Fi, in our laptop, tablet, smartphone, or USB/PCI adapter in a desktop computer. Which also supports different standards, and the speed at which it works can be lower than what the router can deliver. The speed is always determined by the slowest device in the network. For example: the router gives a theoretical 300 Mbit/sec. But the adapter, which receives the signal, can work at a maximum speed of 150 Mbit/s. So we are already limited to 150 Mbit/s, because this device is the slowest in the network. Well I will go into these nuances further, I just wanted to explain why the speed suffers so much when connected via Wi-Fi network.

What does Wi-Fi network speed depend on, and how to get maximum speed?

As promised, I'll go into more detail about how to get faster speeds in a separate tutorial. And now, I will list the main reasons that affect the speed of the Wi-Fi network:

• Wi-Fi router. The network standards (802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11as) that it supports, what technology it uses, and the power of the hardware itself. As a general rule, the more expensive the router, the faster the wireless speed.
• The software on the router and the Wi-Fi receiver on your computer. Very often, with the update of the router firmware, or the adapter drivers on your computer, the speed becomes faster.
• Interference. Interference can come from other neighboring Wi-Fi networks (mostly) as well as from household appliances.
• Power of the Wi-Fi network. It's no news that near the router, where the signal is maximal, the speed will be higher than in the other room, where the network signal is not so stable.
• The number of devices connected to your network. If you have one device connected to your router, it will get all the speed the router can deliver. If we connect another device and start loading something on it, the speed will already be divided by 2, etc. In addition, all connected devices create a load on the router's hardware, which leads to a drop in speed.
• The type of Internet connection used by your ISP. The fact is that if your ISP uses a connection type Dynamic IP, or Static IP, the router will cut the speed less than with PPPoE, L2TP and PPTP connections.
• Router settings. Proper setting of network protection, selection of network mode and channel width, as well as changing the channel can slightly increase speed.

How to change the channel settings

Go to the web interface of the router (the way is described in the "Change frequency" section). In the menu, find the item for Wi-Fi settings – there may be different items for 2.4 and 5 GHz.

You can change the channel separately for each network – 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

In the Wi-Fi settings menu, find the item for selecting channels – this line may be called "Channel Number" or simply "Channel". By default, this field will be set to "Auto", instead you should select the freest channel that is not used by your neighbors' routers.

Boost the Wi-Fi signal

No router can cope with the coverage of a large multi-storey brick house or a multi-bedroom apartment with a complex layout – in remote corners of the Wi-Fi will work unstable or the network will stop catching at all. You will need to use a signal booster – repeaters or mesh-systems.

Repeater. Takes the signal from the main router and creates an additional network with the same name around it. Suitable if the router does not support mesh-networks and its signal is not enough to make Wi-Fi work throughout the house. It is important to keep in mind that the repeater creates additional delay in the network, so it is not suitable for games on a PC or console, where ping (delay in data exchange) is important.

Repeater catches the signal from the router (in the overlapping coverage area) and distributes it around itself with separate antennas

Mesh system. This is a set of two or three modules or more (can include up to several dozen devices), similar to full-fledged routers. The system scales the Wi-Fi signal and creates a single wireless network. It uses a separate channel for data exchange between access points, so the ping in such networks is not increased. Suitable if you have many devices and rooms and need a good signal everywhere.

The mesh-system modules receive the signal from the main device on a separate channel, so the speed in the main network does not drop

To check whether your router supports mesh systems, look at its specifications in the manual or on the manufacturer's website. If they have the designation mesh or mesh Wi-Fi, it means that you can connect one or more mesh modules to it and get a large-scale network.

Ways to solve the problem

If your phone has poor wi-fi reception, you need to discover the cause and take ways to fix the problem. Most methods of solving the problem can improve the signal at home. Quite often wi-fi begins to lag due to the quality of your ISP's Internet transmission. Below you can read about the most common causes of weak Wi-Fi signal and ways to solve them.

Rebooting your router

To reboot any router just turn off its power for 60 seconds. After this period of time you can connect the device to the network. Then try to connect to the Internet again.

Mobile device reboot

If the phone began to have a poor Wi-Fi signal, you should reboot it. In addition to the usual restart, you can use more radical methods, the essence of which is:

• Entering the combination *2767*3855#;
• Using Recovery Mod (you will need to simultaneously press the Power, Volume Down and Home buttons, after a couple of seconds you will need to click on Wipe data);
• Going to the Recovery and Reset section.

Using the Recovery Mod method allows you to reset the mobile device to the factory settings. It is important to transfer the files to another storage beforehand.

Use applications

If the wi-fi on your phone is bad, you can use special applications that will help to quickly resolve the issue with low Internet speeds. To download apps, you will need to install them on your device from the Play Store.

On Samsung, Xiaomi Redmi Note Pro 3, Xiaomi Redmi 5 plus and other smartphones most often download the free program Wi-Fi Booster. It does not require the user to have additional root rights. The AirScout Live program has also proven to be excellent.

Why wi-fi can not work on one phone, but work on others

If the Wi-Fi on one smartphone works but not on the other, you should not panic. It is necessary to go to the settings and reconnect. As a rule, the reason for this situation lies in the issuance of a crooked IP address by the router.

The cause of this problem can also be incorrectly set time and date on your smartphone. To solve the problem it will be enough to go to the Settings folder, select the Time and date category and enter the correct values. It is very important to take into account the time zone.

The third possible cause of problems with the wireless LAN signal is entering the wrong password. This happens in cases where the device is set to enter login information automatically. The user can change the combination of digits in the password, and the gadget will log in under the old data. In this situation, you will need to recreate the connection and enter the correct login data.

Regardless of which phone is used (iPhone, Redmi or other mobile model), the user may have problems with low wireless LAN signal. Using the tips suggested in the article, you can cope with such a problem on your own. If all else fails, you may want to call the service center for assistance.

Reset the router

Yes, yes, that is the first thing they advise to do when contacting the support service. And rightly so.

A modern router is a complex device, in the work of the software which over time can appear errors. The easiest and fastest way to get rid of them is to reboot the equipment. Some routers allow you to do this automatically by schedule, you just need to look in the settings for the appropriate option.

Install alternative firmware

Alternative firmware is written by enthusiasts to address the shortcomings of proprietary software. The most famous project of such kind is DD-WRT. This firmware supports a wide range of hardware and is distributed free of charge.

The installation of third-party firmware allows not only to improve network operation, but also in some cases to activate previously inaccessible functions of the device. However, it is worth noting that the process of reflashing and the subsequent configuration of the equipment will require you to have time and special knowledge.

How to improve wireless networking performance

There are two ways to improve the quality of a wireless network – you can put a router working in the ac (802.11a) and 5 GHz bands, and use Wi-Fi repeaters in remote areas. As standard routers have the following characteristics:

• frequency range – 5 GHz;
• maximum bandwidth of waves – 160 MHz;
• bandwidth per antenna – 433 Mbit/s, maximum number of antennas – 8, in the aggregate wired capacity is 3500 Mbit/s;
• The maximum number of data streams – 8+.

Repeaters should be installed close to the main router so that they receive a powerful stream of waves, transmitting it further.

Recommendations and tips

If gadgets began to periodically lose connection with the Wi-Fi router, it is first recommended to perform simple actions:

• restart the router and the gadget;
• connect the smartphone, on which the network is lost, to another Wi-Fi to check;
• reset the router to factory settings;
• update the firmware on the router;
• If the router's MAC-address binding and other similar protocols are enabled, disable them.

It is necessary to check that the MAC addresses on all the gadgets that have a connection to Wi-Fi are different. On smartphones you can check this in the general information about the connected wireless network, on a desktop computer the physical address of the router is checked by typing ipconfig/all at the command line.

The problem of Wi-Fi connection loss is common, and there are many factors provoking it, from interference from other devices to improperly set settings. To avoid encountering a situation where the wireless connection on your gadget is lost at the most inopportune moment, you need to take care to purchase a high-quality router. Not the least of the factors is its proper installation. If nothing helps, it is better to use repeaters.

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