Get stronger WiFi using our handy guide

I often get asked how to get a stronger wifi signal with less interference and better range without buying new equipment.

In truth you probably already have the ability to do so with your current kit, it just needs a tweak, before you start with this guide I would highly recommend moving any 2.4Ghz handsets / cordless phones away from the router or wifi AP that you are using; Panasonic are the worst offenders for interfering with signal in the wifi spectrum but we will work round that, but best to move it if possible.

If you can use the 5Ghz band as well then do so, that's normally much much quieter although the range isn't as good so lets put that to one side and stick with good ole fashioned 2.4Ghz for now.

Its important to know the non overlapping channels of which there is an info graphic just here, more on channels later.

Here is a little cheat if you live in the US, some routers will ask you for your geographic location, if you say "US" you will loose the ability to use Channels 12,13 and 14. Those channels are not licensed in the US, if you use those channels (at your own risk) by fibbing to your router you will have 3 glorious quiet wifi band(s) to run around in which means better range and a stronger signal. In fact only Japan is licensed to use Channel 14 for now.

So how to scan for local wifi, using this process may disconnect you wifi to the local network so grab a small wifi card if you can otherwise its not essential and stick to using your handset as we have here.

Grab a copy of inSIDDer here http://www.inssider.com/ or use the Office product which is free to download here or from the Google Play store here and install it (we suggest using your handset if you don't want to pay for usage, and for testing this out without using your PC / Mac / Laptop whatever.)

Fig 1

Fire up the app and press the Networks item, you will be presented with a list of Wifi Channels locally (fig 1), the one you are connected to will have the green icon next to it. 

To optimize this network long press to tag with a blue star, this makes it easier to find in step two if the local area is "busy" with wifi.

Swipe left (fig 2) and you will see where the least number of APs are operating in, in this case using Channels 1 or 11 may improve my network as only 3 APs are using these channels. I can use channel 4 too (as you can see in fig 3)

Press the 2.4Ghz item on the right of the menu bar at the top (swipe left first) and you will now be given a list of all the wifi locally and their Channel footprint. As you can see in fig 3 there is allot of wifi on the same band as BT / Sky love to clog up the same channels without much of a care for others. Which is fine, let them have that, makes it easy for us to work around.

As you can see I have the only two wifi networks on their own channels without any interference from others. But I could improve things further, using channels 1/11 or 6

Fig 2

That is what you are looking to achieve. Log onto your router and change your channel to a channel which is clearer and less interference - in this case channel 4 (11 and 1 would also have been a good option as I said), and thus giving you a stronger, more reliable local Wifi. - all for free too. Remember to reconnect any 2.4Ghz devices post channel change as they will loose connectivity, such as printers or laptops, game consoles etc.

Once done remember to close the app down or it will be analyzing your wifi all day long, which zapps your battery down quickly. 

Anyway thats it, I hope you find this useful - if so leave a comment and let me know how you got on. 

Fig 3