5 Router Adjustments That Boosted My Wi-Fi Speed Enough to Lower My Internet Plan
Are you aware of how much you’re paying your internet service provider (ISP) each month? Personally, I find my monthly charges to be excessive, especially after a previous provider tried to charge me $1,000 just to disconnect my service.
Even if you believe your bills are justified or your internet speed cannot get any worse, a few modifications to your router settings might surprise you. I experimented with some adjustments and now enjoy more savings each month. Here’s what worked for me.
Relocate Your Router
It may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it requires some ventilation
Placing your router in a visible space often causes a dilemma between aesthetics and performance. I have always leaned towards functionality for work-related reasons, so I kept mine out in the open. However, many people place their routers in cabinets or under desks, leading to poor Wi-Fi coverage.
Radio signals can be significantly weakened by nearby metal, mirrors, aquariums, and foil insulation. Ideally, your router should be positioned centrally, elevated, and unobstructed to enhance your internet connection.
Avoid Operating Two Wi-Fi Networks
Your ISP and router might be conflicting
If you purchased your own router and connected it to the modem-router combo supplied by your ISP, there’s a possibility the ISP’s router is still emitting its own Wi-Fi signal. In this scenario, you could be running two separate networks, both vying for limited wireless bandwidth, which can lead to perceived sluggishness.
This dual arrangement might also create issues with double NAT, hindering functions like port forwarding and VPN connections. To resolve this, access the admin settings of your ISP’s device and switch it to bridge or modem mode, or at the very least, disable its Wi-Fi capabilities.
Enable Smart Queue Management Instead of QoS Presets
This adjustment brought speed back to my old plan
One significant improvement lies in the switch from generic Quality of Service (QoS) settings to Smart Queue Management (SQM). Traditional QoS often merely sorts data packets without effectively managing congestion, allowing delays to creep in during busy times, which can impact activities like video calls or online gaming.
Run a bufferbloat test to identify traffic congestion, and if your results score below a B, it suggests room for enhancement. If your router supports SQM, which many do, enable it and input roughly 90% of the tested speed for optimization.
Switch Your DNS Resolver
Speed tests don’t account for the slowest aspect of webpage loading
Configuring DNS settings might seem complicated, but it can be worthwhile. When you visit a website, your device first performs a DNS lookup, converting the friendly URL into an IP address that can be accessed. By default, your ISP manages DNS requests, which may not be optimal if you experience slow page loads.
To improve this, check your router’s DNS settings and consider using Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 or Google’s 8.8.8.8 as alternatives.
Avoid Excessive Channel Width
A wider channel is only advantageous up to a point
While a broader Wi-Fi channel may appear to be a superior choice, it can actually backfire. The 5GHz band, which utilizes a 160MHz channel, often conflicts with radar signals, causing interruptions that may not be your router’s fault. If you experience frequent disconnections, try setting your 5GHz band to 80MHz and keep the 2.4GHz band at 20MHz.
Implementing these changes could lead to significant savings
Even if you don’t choose to downgrade your internet plan, these adjustments can prevent the need for a new router. Although troubleshooting can feel frustrating, allocating some time to fine-tune your router settings can pay off. Don’t hesitate to experiment—if you know a modification is safe, try it out and see what difference it makes.
