Are you working from home? Suffice it to say that, you’ll need to boost your Internet speeds to keep up when you do. But aside from getting the best plan with a great bandwidth offer, what else can you do? We’ve covered some of the most important ones in this article.  (Keep in mind that internet options, best alternatives and speeds will vary based on your specific location)

Upgrade to a new router

This goes without saying. While your Internet provider might include a default router alongside your plan, chances are it will not be sufficient to cover some areas in the house, especially if you have a big one. Get a new router. There are inexpensive ones you can easily find at any tech store, but when you want to invest in something that will truly better your connection, get a router like the likes of Linksys WRT54G.

Arguably the best home router for an average-sized family – that means no more than 10 people, Linksys’ WRT54G has a built-in firewall and VPN in it, so your privacy is of utmost importance. Users of the Linksys WRT54G review the router as an excellent, steady, and fuss-free device that doesn’t need to be restarted every now and then when there’s rain. There’s also an accompanying software for better router management from your main desktop computer.

Filters, although, good for your connection in general, may cause disruptions

Most people don’t know that they’ve placed filters that could potentially hamper Internet speeds. If your setup looks like your landline and internet are hooked up in the same modem, then the chances are high that it will affect your speeds. Some default filters will be able to handle that for you, and you can carry on without missing a beat. But if you’re not too certain, ask for the help of a professional.

There’s also a hot debate in some circles where some people noticed that filters might disrupt connections in certain areas. Although this is unfounded yet, there have been numerous anecdotal proof that it does. To make sure you get the most out of your internet service, get those specialized plugs you can grab on your landline, which filters out intrusion.

Ethernet is the way

While it is understandable that people now prefer Wi-Fi over cabled connections, and although the technology for Wi-Fi connections have greatly improved in the past ten years, there is still no beating gigabit ethernet. If you’re working from home on a laptop and need every bit of connection you can get, it’s best to hook up an ethernet cable.

The question now is, where to buy adaptors for ethernet for modern laptops? Most modern laptops have ditched the peripheral – Mac has turned to thunderbolt, and most Windows machines also have done the same. You’ll need to search for adopters online. Length usually determines the price. There are cheap ones you can buy for as low as $20.

Reposition your router

This is the best course of action if you’re experiencing slow connections for quite some time now. Repositioning your router, especially if you’re using a wireless one, can be the difference between blazing fast Internet speeds and average ones. You have to think the way your Internet providers would, and that means, signal strength is the most important part of having a great connection.

You will also notice that some parts of your house won’t have as much signal from your router. While this is normal, when you’re in range, it could possibly be because your walls are too thick. If you have a basement, wired connections are the best way to go, especially if you do your hardcore gaming in there.

Check for viruses and get rid of them if there’s any

Getting viruses out of your devices, as well as your router/s can’t be overstated. Internet speeds will be more stable when there are no suspicious files and apps that use it without explicit knowledge. Routers are great in detecting malware now, but it’s still best if you check on it every once in a while.

Takeaway

With the pandemic, there’s an increase in work from home workers that need a stable and fast Internet connection to do their job effectively. For the most part, Internet providers have gotten good at giving their customers adequate speeds. But you should do your due diligence as well.