Free: Change the Channel
Not the TV’s; your router’s. Wi-Fi routers operate on specific channels. When you set up a typical router, it usually chooses a certain channel by default. Some routers choose the least-crowded channel, but yours may not have. Check for yourself which Wi-Fi channel is the least crowded to boost the router’s performance, perhaps boosting signal range. A good, free tool to use is inSSIDer. Don’t be put off by the graphs and excess information. What you want to focus on is the column “Channel.” See how many routers in this area are on channel 6 in the slide below? If your router is on the same channel, you want to switch it to a less-crowded one . You can change the channel of your router by going into its interface. All routers have different ways to access the interface, so check with your manufacturer.
Free: Update Router Firmware
Updating router firmware is often overlooked by home users. Business networking devices usually display some sort of notification when newer software for the device is available for download. Consumer wireless routers, especially older routers, don’t always offer this notification. Check often for firmware updates for your router. There is typically a section in the router’s interface for upgrading the firmware. However, you often have to go the router manufacturer’s website and search for the firmware (most vendors make searching for firmware pretty easy) and then upload it through the router’s interface. There are often accompanying release notes that tell you what the firmware helps to fix. These fixes often help solve connectivity problems.
Free: Update Adapter Firmware
Just like routers, network adapters on PCs and laptops are subject to firmware updates. Remember, good wireless range and performance is dictated not just by the router but also by the network adapter on clients. (Other factors, can have an impact, too, but these are the biggies.) Most laptops have on-board adapters. Go into your Network settings to find the name of the adapter (via the Control Panel in Windows OS) and then to that corresponding manufacturer’s website to make sure you have the latest firmware.
Free: Change the Router’s Position
Do you have your wireless router nestled up against the broadband modem, tucked away in the entertainment center in a basement that’s been converted into the family den? Move it, if you have range issues. You don’t have to have the router in close proximity to your modem. Ideally, a Wi-Fi router should be in a central location. If you need more flexibility in centrally positioning the router, you can purchase custom-length Ethernet Cat 5 cable from Best Buy or any place that services computers. If you do that, however, this is technically no longer a free option, of course.
Free: DD-WRT
The adventurous might try DD-WRT, open-source software for routers. It’s known to ramp up router performance and extend the feature set beyond what’s typically offered by most routers. Not every router supports it, but the number of supported routers are keeps growing. Warning: Installing DD-WRT may invalidate your router’s warranty. Many manufacturers will not help you troubleshoot router issues once you have DD-WRT installed. Therefore, this is not a recommended option for routers under warranty or in a business network. There are also no guarantees that DD-WRT upgrades won’t negatively affect a router. However, many users use it as a free way to trick-out their routers. If you have an older spare router laying around, or if you want to take the plunge to see if DD-WRT firmware helps your range issues on a newer router, check if it’s supported on the DD-WRT site. Also note that it’s not easy to remove DD-WRT from some routers, so rolling back may require quite a bit of work and research.
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