You are not alone if you are having problems with your wireless network. Most wireless networks at times slow down or have other performance issues. Such WiFi network issues can severely impact business productivity if not addressed properly. While there is no silver bullet solution to solving wireless network issues, the tips shared in this blog post will definitely help you get the best performance out of your wireless network.
1. Position Your Router And Access Points Strategically
It is quite well known that the position of the router impacts the performance of a WiFi network. In large networks, in addition to routers, access points (APs) also play an important role in network performance. APs aid the network by extending its physical range and enabling the connection of multiple wireless devices via a single wired connection. But they come with limitations including range and the number of devices they can handle. So their placement can either facilitate or hinder network performance.
Most users are not aware of the extent of this impact. Consequently, they do not pay much attention to it. So, let’s take a closer look at how the position of routers and APs impacts a WiFi network.
Here are the six areas where the location of routers and APs influences the wireless network:
Coverage Area
The position of the router or access point (AP) affects the WiFi coverage area, i.e. the extent of the area to which the wireless signals are transmitted. Centrally located routers and APs ensure that the signal reaches all areas of the office effectively and minimize dead zones or weak signal areas. Strategic placement of network devices, therefore, provides better coverage throughout the workplace.
Signal Strength
Wireless signal refers to the signal power level received by the client wireless device. A strong signal implies a reliable connection and higher speeds. Typically the signal strength will be the highest when the wireless device is very close to the router or AP and diminishes as you move further away from the router or AP.
In addition to the distance from the source, signal strength is also impacted by other factors. Obstacles such as concrete or brick walls, furniture, elevators, or other electronic devices also obstruct and weaken the signal.
So, to improve signal strength and reduce signal degradation, you must position the router and APs away from such obstructions. The APs must ideally be off the floor such that every wireless device in the workplace must have a clear line of sight of at least one AP.
Signal Interference
Routers and APs emit radio signals, which are affected by interference from other devices that operate in the same frequency range. Common devices found in the workplace and homes such as Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, and microwaves interfere with the wireless signal transmission. Placing the router and APs away from such devices minimizes interference and improves the performance of the Wi-Fi network.
Signal Penetration
WiFi signal penetration varies with the frequency band. The 2.4 GHz band can penetrate walls and other obstacles the 5 GHz band typically cannot. Optimizing the placement of APs and the use of frequency bands based on the location of walls and other obstructions will ensure better signal penetration and coverage in the workspace.
Roaming and Handover
In large workplaces that require multiple APs for adequate coverage, the placement of APs is even more critical. Optimally located APs facilitate seamless handover between access points.
Additionally. strategically placed APs minimize signal overlap and provide efficient roaming capabilities. This ensures that as people move around in the workplace, their devices smoothly transition between APs without losing connectivity.
Capacity and User Density
Access points can handle a limited number of connections and have a limited range. So, in areas with a large number of users such as auditoriums, open workspaces, and large conference rooms, additional APs are required to help distribute the load and maintain good network performance.
So, the position and location of routers and APs are important factors that influence a wireless network’s coverage, signal strength, and overall performance. The right number of optimally located and professionally mounted APs creates a reliable and efficient wireless environment for users, ensuring better connectivity and user experience.
2. Choose The Optimal Wi-Fi Channel
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) operate using IEEE 802.11 standard, which provides distinct radio frequency bands for use, including the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands mentioned earlier. Each band or range is divided into a multitude of channels typically at 5 MHz spacing. These radio frequency spectrums are vital for the functioning of wireless networks.
All wireless network equipment with the WiFi trademark operate in the same spectrum. As you may have guessed, while this is great for standardization, if your office is located in a densely populated space or commercial area, your network signals are transmitted over the same spectrum, meaning frequent interference that hampers your wireless network.
Thankfully, wireless routers can broadcast on several different channels. And enterprise-grade APs are capable of monitoring neighboring wireless networks and dynamically managing channels. Moving to a less crowded channel minimizes interference from neighboring WiFi networks and improves Wi-Fi performance.
3. Secure Your WiFi Network
Malware, network intrusions, and other cyberattacks such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) can hog resources and overwhelm networks, severely impacting their performance. Securing your WiFi network can prevent attackers from connecting to your network and deteriorate performance.
As a starter, you must enable WPA3, or WPA2 encryption at the very least, on your Wi-Fi router. Your network must also have other security measures such as DDoS mitigation, Intrusion Prevention Systems, Firewalls, etc. I have covered network security in detail in the following blog posts;
However, you need to strike a balance between network security and performance. As the network security measures analyze packets, inspect payloads, and encrypt and decrypt data, they introduce overheads in terms of computational resources, which increase the processing time and introduce additional latency, potentially affecting network performance.
Therefore, it is advisable to deploy only those security measures that are relevant to your business environment and IT infrastructure. The implemented solutions must also be continuously monitored and regularly adjusted to mitigate their impact on network performance while ensuring the network remains secure.
4. Update Router Firmware
Firmware is a type of code embedded in hardware devices that help them operate effectively. It provides instructions for hardware start-up, communication with other devices, and performing basic input/output tasks.
Hardware manufacturers regularly release firmware updates for their devices to add features or enhance performance, but more importantly to address known security vulnerabilities. Therefore, you must keep your router's firmware up to date to ensure security, stability, and performance.
5. Reduce Interference From Other Devices
As we mentioned earlier, devices that operate in the same frequency range as WiFi interfere with your wireless network performance. To minimize this interference, you should position your routers and APs away from devices such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, and Bluetooth devices.
Additionally, you can also switch to a different WiFi frequency band. For example, you can use the 2.4 GHz band for IoT devices and the 5 GHz band for laptops. Doing so helps decongest the 5 GHz band. Moreover, since the 5 GHz band has a shorter range, you can deploy additional APs without the risk of interference in areas with high network congestion.
6. Limit The Number Of Connected WiFi Devices
A WiFi network that is overloaded with connected devices will perform poorly. To get the best performance out of a wireless network, it is necessary to limit the number of connected devices to an optimal level.
You can achieve this by connecting fixed devices such as printers, video conferencing equipment, and IoT devices to an ethernet network. This will free up your wireless network for mobile devices such as laptops and tablets that are dependent on WiFi. You can also implement network access controls to manage the number of devices connected simultaneously.
Additionally, you can segregate your wireless network into separate SSIDs to ensure that bandwidth is distributed according to their requirements. For example, you can have a separate WiFi network for guests with lower bandwidth and less strict security rules.
7. Ensure Underlying Cables Deliver Sufficient Bandwidth
A solid underlying wired network is the bedrock upon which high-performance wireless networks are built. You need to ensure that the network cables deliver sufficient bandwidth to the routers and APs, without which the WiFi network will become sluggish. Consider the features, bandwidth, and data rates offered by different categories of ethernet cables before choosing one for your network.
If you are not familiar with or need more information about ethernet cables, refer to our comprehensive guide, which can be accessed here: Everything You Need To Know About Ethernet Cables.
8. Regularly Monitor And Optimize Your Network
Continuous network monitoring is necessary for ensuring network service quality as well as preventing business interruptions and inefficiencies. Analysis of network performance data helps you locate issues before they grow into major disruptions such as network slowdowns or outages. Network monitoring also helps you keep tabs on network infrastructure health and determine the right time for a network upgrade, helping you get the most out of your investment in network infrastructure, without risks of network outages or failure.
If you’d like to learn more about network performance measurements and metrics, refer to our earlier blog post: How To Measure Network Performance For Office Networks.
9. Upgrade Your WiFi Equipment
The average useful lifespan of routers and access points is three to five years. This is mostly due to technological advances in networking. To help you appreciate the impact of WiFi technologies on network speed, here’s a quick comparison- wireless devices using the 802.11g standard released in 2003 are capable of delivering a data rate of up to 54 Mbps while devices using the 802.11ac standard released in 2013 is capable of delivering a data rate of up to 1.3 Gbps.
If you’d like to learn more about WiFi standards and their evolution, check out our earlier blog post: WiFi Standards And Encryption Types.
Additionally, the advancements in wireless-dependent devices such as laptops, smartphones, etc. also necessitate network upgrades. Every year, our devices are getting faster and files are getting bigger. We are creating more data, photos, and videos that are uploaded and downloaded more frequently. There is an ever-growing demand that our devices are putting on the network and the only way it can efficiently meet those demands is by keeping up with the latest technologies.
Conclusion
We all want our network to work efficiently without any problems. Unfortunately, due to the nature of electronic devices and the complex interactions of the multitudes of hardware and software technologies that enable our wireless network to work, wireless networks can’t run infinitely without errors.
However, by following the tips shared in the blog post, including constant monitoring, quick rectification of small issues, and timely upgrades you can ensure that your wireless network continues to function efficiently without any unplanned downtime and service interruptions.
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About The Author
Hari SubediMarketing Manager at Jones IT
Hari is an online marketing professional with a focus on content marketing. He writes on topics related to IT, Security, Small Business, and Mindfulness. He is also the founder and managing director of Girivar Kft., a business services company located in Budapest, Hungary.