How to Check Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength

If your internet seems slow and unstable or web pages will not load, the problem could be your WiFi connection. Perhaps you are too far from the source, or thick walls are blocking the signal. Here is how to check your precise WiFi signal strength. Aslo you can check who is using your Wifi Network.

Why Wi-Fi Signal Strength Matters

A stronger WiFi signal means a more reliable connection. It is what enables you to require full advantage of the web speeds available to you. Wi-Fi signal strength depends on a spread of things, like how far you’re from the router, whether it’s a 2.4 or 5ghz connection, and even the materials of the walls around you. The closer you’re to the router, the higher. While 2.4ghz connections broadcast further, they could have interference issues. Thicker walls made from denser materials (like concrete) will block a Wi-Fi signal. On the opposite hand, a weaker signal results in slower speeds, dropouts, and (in some cases) total disconnection.

Not every connection problem may be a result of weak signal strength. If the web on your tablet or phone seems slow, start by rebooting your router if you’ve got access to it. If the matter persists, the subsequent step is to see if Wi-Fi is that the problem. Try using the web with a tool connected through ethernet. If you continue to have issues, the network is that the problem If the ethernet connection is excellent and a router reset didn’t help, it’s time to check its strength. You can check here how to kick off from your WiFi Network.

Checking Wi-Fi Signal Strength the Easy Way

To check the strength of your WiFi, the primary thing to do is check out the device having issues. Whether it’s using iOS, Mac, Android, or Windows, you ought to have a Wi-Fi connection indicator. Usually, four or five curved lines structure the Wi-Fi symbol, and therefore the more that are filled, the more reliable the connection.

Every phone, tablet, & laptop is different and should indicate a unique Wi-Fi strength. But it’s worth consulting a second, or maybe the third device. If you checked a mobile, consider testing a tablet, too. Compare internet performance on both devices & see what they display for WiFi strength. If you’ve got similar results with both, you’ve got a superb baseline to use.

If you have determined your Wi-Fi connection is weak during a particular spot, the subsequent thing to try to do is walk around and concentrate on the Wi-Fi bars on your smartphone or tablet. Please keep track of how far you are from the router, and how many walls there are between you.

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Pay attention to when your WiFi bars increase and decrease. It’s a rudimentary check, but in most cases, it will suffice.

The More Advanced Method to Check WiFi Strength

Looking at bars in a symbol will merely tell you so much. If you want to dig deeper into your Wi-Fi strength, you will need to use an app or program (like the AirPort Utility app or WiFi Analyzer) to measure its decibels relative to a milliwatt (dBm).

You can measure a WiFi signal in multiple ways. The first accurate measurement is milliwatts (mW), but it’s also the toughest to read thanks to the amount of decimal places (0.0001 mW). Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is a choice, but Wi-Fi vendors handle it inconsistently and with varying scales. Decibels relative to a milliwatt (dBm) avoids these problems, and lots of manufacturers convert RSSI to dBm anyway so that we will cover that measurement.

The prime thing to know is measurements of dBm will display in negative numbers. The scale runs from -30 to -90. And if you see -30, you have a “perfect connection,” and are likely standing next to the Wi-Fi router. Although, if you spot a Wi-Fi signal listed at -90, the service is so weak, you probably cannot connect to that network. A good connection is -50 dBm, while -60 dBm is likely best to stream, handle voice calls, etc.

To measure Wi-Fi signal strength on your mobile or tablet, you can use the Airport Utility App for iPhone & iPad or Wi-Fi Analyzer for Android. Both are easy-to-use and show results for any wireless networks in your area or location.

Moreover, for iPhone users, the Airport Utility App does require you to travel into your device settings and switch on the Wi-Fi scanner. Just attend your iPhone or iPad settings (not the app’s settings), tap Airport Utility within the list of settings, then toggle Wi-Fi Scanner. Now, return to the Airport Utility app and begin a scan. You will see dBm measurements expressed as RSSI.

For Android users, Wi-Fi Analyzer may be a step easier. Open the app & search for the networks found. Each entry will list strength as dBm.

Windows 10 does not have a built-in way to view precise signal strength, though the netsh wlan show interface command provides you your signal strength as a percentage.

In the past, we suggested NirSoft’s WifiInfoView examine Wi-Fi channels, and it even gets the nod for checking Wi-Fi strength. The program is free, easy-to-use, and does not require installation. Just unzip and double-tap the EXE file. Like Mac and iOS, you will find dBm measurements listed under the RSSI entry.

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On Mac, you don’t get to download any program or app if you want to live the connected network. Hold the option key & click on the Wi-Fi symbol. You will see dBm measurements within the RSSI entry.

How to Improve Wi-Fi Signal Strength

Once you know how secure your network is, you will have a better idea of what to do to improve it. For example, if you can reach the edges of your home & still see a 60 dBm signal (or most of the bars), any issues you are having are not WiFi-strength related. Check for interference, consider changing channels, or upgrade to a router that supports 5 GHz if your current one does not.

If you step an area or two faraway from the router and find you’re quickly losing the signal, it’s time to think about the age of your router and its placement. Your walls are thick and dense, or your router is old and unable to broadcast very far. If you’ve got plaster walls, consider moving the router to the middle of the house.

If your router is older, it’d be time to upgrade. When doing so, search for one that supports both 2.4 & 5 GHz Wi-Fi signals. The 5 GHz signal does not extend as far as a 2.4 GHz, but it’s more options to bypass interference issues.

If you have an outsized home, you would possibly want to think about a mesh router. They’re a simple thanks to boosting the WiFi signal throughout your home and include other best features, such as automatic firmware updates and guest networks. Most people probably do not need a mesh network, though, and you’ll find cheaper routers that also offer firmware updates and guest networks.

If you’re unsure you would like a mesh router, you would possibly want to make a Wi-Fi heatmap Heatmaps are a great way to determine where your wireless is most robust and weakest with an easy-to-understand visual. You create a sketch of your home’s layout, and then you walk around while the program measures the WiFi strength. It then colors in your map to offer you a general idea of WiFi signal strength throughout. If you are at the center of your home & the heatmap shows weak signals everywhere, it probably is time for a mesh router.

Unluckily, there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for boosting the WiFi signal in every home. Although, if you try each of these methods, you can get the most accurate information to decide what to do next.

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