· 3 min read
How to fix Wi-Fi dead spots at home or in a small office
Slow or missing Wi-Fi in part of the building is usually a placement problem, not an internet problem. Work through these steps before you buy anything.
Home and small office Wi-Fi and networking
Reliable, secure internet in every room of the house or corner of the office: dead spots fixed, mesh Wi-Fi installed, and networks set up properly.
Wi-Fi problems are rarely about the internet connection, and nearly always about how the signal travels through the building. Thick walls, a router in the basement corner, an old router serving forty devices: each of these has a straightforward fix, once somebody has worked out which one it is.
Finding the actual problem
We measure before we recommend anything. Speed next to the router, speed in the rooms with the problem, how many devices are connected, and how old the equipment is. That tells us whether the answer is to move the router, replace it, add to it, or telephone the internet provider.
At home
- Dead spots fixed, often by moving or replacing one piece of equipment
- Mesh Wi-Fi systems chosen, placed and set up, with a single network name throughout the house
- Wired connections for the devices that benefit from one: desktop computers, televisions, game consoles and home office equipment
- A separate network for guests, and one for smart home gadgets, so that a cheap camera cannot see your laptop
- Parental controls and schedules, where they are wanted
- Working-from-home setups that survive a video call while somebody else is streaming
In a small office
- Wi-Fi that covers the whole premises, including the meeting room and the back office
- Business-grade access points, where the number of people calls for them
- A guest network for visitors, kept apart from the office computers, printers and files
- Network printers and scanners that everyone can actually reach
- Secure access to office files and systems for people working from home
- Office moves and new premises: the network planned before the furniture arrives
Security while we are there
Every job includes the basics: current security settings on the Wi-Fi, the default administrator password changed, the router updated, and remote management turned off if you do not use it.
What you are left with
A network with one name, and a password that you have a record of. A note of what equipment you have and where it is. The administrator sign-in, in your hands. If something changes later, anybody competent can pick it up from there.
What this covers
- Wi-Fi dead spots and slow connections fixed
- Routers, mesh Wi-Fi and wired connections installed
- A separate, safe network for guests and smart devices
Common questions
Will a faster internet plan fix my Wi-Fi?
Usually not. If the speed is good next to the router and poor elsewhere, the problem is coverage inside the building, and a faster plan changes nothing. Our guide to fixing Wi-Fi dead spots explains how to tell the difference.
Should I buy a range extender or a mesh system?
For one nearby room with light use, an extender can be enough. For several rooms, more than one floor, or a small office, a mesh system is the right answer. We compare the two in mesh Wi-Fi or a range extender.
Can I keep the router my internet provider gave me?
Often, yes, as the connection to the internet, with better Wi-Fi equipment attached to it. The provider's box then needs to be set to bridge mode, or have its own Wi-Fi turned off, so that the two do not interfere.
Is my Wi-Fi secure?
It is if it uses WPA2 or WPA3 security with a strong password, the router's own administrator password has been changed from the default, and the router still receives updates. Routers that are many years old often no longer do, and that is a good reason to replace one.
Related advice
· 4 min read
Mesh Wi-Fi or a range extender: which one do you need?
Both promise to fix weak Wi-Fi. They work in very different ways, and choosing the wrong one wastes money. Here is how to tell which suits your building.
Ready to talk?
Tell us what is going on, or what you would like to set up, and we will get back to you, usually within one business day.