We all despise that buffering icon. And it always seems to happen at the most exciting moments of a show or movie; right when it starts to get good. Let’s not even get into the rage it can induce in gamers for causing lag.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to improve your internet connection and make sure that you get the best out of the internet service providers in your area. Let’s start basic with;

Getting A Wi-Fi Extender

It isn’t always possible to set up your office space or devices within a decent range to your Wi-Fi set up. You can’t control where the cables come into your home from the street, but you can control how to extend the connection from your router.

A Wi-Fi extender does what it says on the tin, it extends the signal range of your Wi-Fi signal. This is particularly useful for homes with solid stone walls, or two floors that are separated by quite some distance.

And they aren’t too pricey either depending on what you need.

Using Ethernet Cables

If you are relying on Wi-Fi all the time, that may be part of the problem. The more devices you connect to a router’s Wi-Fi, the more your allocated bandwidth will be split between those devices.

While this logic does extend to ethernet cables too, the issue may lie on the amount of devices on the Wi-Fi band, rather than the router.

With most modern homes attaching every phone, tablet, and computer within range to their Wi-Fi, it is no surprise that your Wi-Fi may be struggling. If the device that you want a better internet connection on is a PC or laptop, then plugging in an ethernet cable may be an option.

This will give your device a direct wired connection to your router and improve the speed of your connection on your device. The only downside is getting a cable long enough and cable management after you do.

Upgrade Your Network Adapter

This is a more tech-savvy option and will only really work on PCs and laptops for the most part. No matter if you are using an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi plug and play system, if you have an older network adapter, no amount of changes will make a difference.

Getting a new network adapter will improve your device’s capability to use the bandwidth it is assigned. So, if the issue isn’t in the bandwidth but in the tech you are using, getting a more up to date network adapter can solve your problem.

And it doesn’t need to be too expensive either. You can pick up refurbished network adapters from ETB Tech who supply a comprehensive range of models. You don’t need a brand new chip most of the time!

Updating Your Router

Sometimes the issue may lie with the router you are using. Just like any other bit of tech, for example a computer or a phone, routers run on a particular type of software called firmware.

Firmware, in simple terms, is a specific class of software that can help control hardware that is part of a device, or even the whole device itself.

If a router’s firmware is out of date it may not have the tools necessary to do its job to the fullest extent. There are numerous guides out there to help you update your specific router model’s firmware. If stuck, you can always consult a local tech expert.

To Conclude

There are many, many things to try to improve your internet connection and this is by no means an exhaustive list. With so many things that could be slowing your connection, it is vital to try an array of different things before bringing in an expert to get the problem fixed.

Persistence is key when it comes to problem solving with tech!