How To Fix Wi Fi Lag With Streaming Twitch

Does your wireless network seem slow? A recent study by Epitiro, a UK-based broadband-analysis house, shows that consumers lose an average of 30 pct of the data speed their broadband connexion supplies when they use Wi-Fi connections in the home.

Why the slowdown? You lot've probably heard that some household electronic devices, including microwave ovens, baby monitors, and cordless phones, hamper Wi-Fi operation. To separate fact from fiction, nosotros did some inquiry and consulted an expert on the topic: Nandan Kalle, networking business concern unit of measurement manager for router manufacturer Belkin.

one. Public Enemy Number One: Your Neighbors' Wi-Fi Networks

"I'd say the biggest source of interference today for most people is their neighbors' Wi-Fi networks," says Kalle. The problem is that nigh existing Wi-Fi equipment operates on the crowded 2.4GHz ring. "At that place are basically iii nonoverlapping channels. I always describe it as a 3-lane route that's really, actually busy," Kalle adds.

If y'all use a 2.4GHz router and live in a densely populated area, your neighbors' Wi-Fi networks could interfere with yours, hindering the operation and range of your wireless network.

Linksys by Cisco Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router

The solution: Buy a dual-band router that operates simultaneously at two.4GHz and 5GHz. While the ii.4GHz ring is necessary for supporting older Wi-Fi devices, 5GHz "is almost similar an xi-lane highway that nobody'southward heard about withal," Kalle says. "At that place's much less congestion."

Newer Wi-Fi devices, including tablets such as the Apple iPad and Motorola Xoom, Net-ready TVs with built-in Wi-Fi, gaming consoles, and business laptops, are all dual-band. "They all play in the 5GHz band. They can take advantage of that empty highway, and that's really going to aid," Kalle says.

It'south of import to get a router that supports simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz, such every bit the $100 Cisco Linksys E2500. Some older dual-band routers let only one band at a time; that's a problem if you have older Wi-Fi devices (as most people exercise), because you lot'll have to get out your router at 2.4GHz. "You won't get any benefit from the 5GHz style," says Kalle.

When you're shopping for a new router, look for a dual-band, 802.11n MIMO device, which typically has an "N600" label. The "N" refers to 802.11n, an international Wi-Fi standard canonical in 2009. MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) technology provides greater range past using multiple antennas to transmit and receive data. And "600" refers to two bands, each transmitting at 300 megabits per second.

2. Household Electronics

Is your microwave oven, cordless phone, or baby monitor sabotaging your Netflix stream? Mayhap.

Almost problems with cordless phones and microwaves involve products that use the 2.4GHz band. Many babe monitors operate at 900MHz and won't interfere with Wi-Fi. However, some wireless monitors are ii.4GHz, which can interfere with 802.11g or single-band 802.11n routers.

The solution: When choosing a wireless baby monitor, look for a 900MHz model such as the Sony 900MHz BabyCall Nursery Monitor ($45). Alternatively, become a Wi-Fi-friendly organisation such as the WiFi Baby 3G ($279), which connects to your existing wireless network.

Newer cordless phone systems like the Panasonic KX-TG6545B ($140) use DECT 6.0 engineering and the one.9GHz band, non the 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz bands.

Adjacent: How to adjust your security settings and fix Bluetooth interference.

iii. Bluetooth Devices

Older Bluetooth devices did interfere with Wi-Fi networks–but those days have passed.

"Over the past several years, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi manufacturers have implemented specific techniques to minimize interference," says Kalle.

The solution: "Almost people replace their phones every couple of years, and then unless you have a really old phone or Bluetooth device, information technology's unlikely that [Bluetooth] will interfere with Wi-Fi," says Kalle.

4. Humans

You might recall from science class that the man body is mostly h2o, anywhere from 45 percent to 75 pct depending on your age and fitness level. Water can hamper Wi-Fi speeds, too.

"For example, say your room is very crowded and you're having a party. That can really dampen your Wi-Fi signal–but that'southward an extreme case," says Kalle.

"When we're doing Wi-Fi testing in the lab and trying to get very accurate results, we have to make certain that we're non standing in front end of the antenna, because we'll measurably impact the functioning," he adds.

Humidity can touch on Wi-Fi speeds likewise, but not enough for the boilerplate user to notice.

The solution: Relax. Don't worry nigh humidity, or those numberless of water called people. After all, you tin't command the weather, and it'south unwise to be antisocial just to get better Wi-Fi performance.

5. Security Settings

In some low-cease routers, a stronger security setting tin moderately touch on performance. All the same, that doesn't mean you should turn off security completely, or downgrade to weaker protection.

In contempo years, the WPA (Wireless Protected Access) and WPA2 protocols have displaced the older and less-secure WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol). On cheap routers that utilise WEP, upgrading to WPA may impede performance a bit. In contrast, more-robust devices mostly have hardware specifically designed for WPA and WPA2 encryption; every bit a result, the stronger security protocols shouldn't slow Wi-Fi speeds on college-end routers.

The solution: Kalle stresses the importance of router encryption. "You always hear nigh data theft, and it's then piece of cake to enable security these days," he says. Since today's routers accept security enabled out of the box, users don't have to worry virtually configuring information technology. But don't disable encryption, even if doing and then may speed up your Wi-Fi a little.

6. Old Firmware

Why upgrade your router's firmware? Well, for performance improvements and occasionally a new feature or two.

"Whenever yous accept a trouble, check to see if you have good firmware. Sometimes there are petty bugs out there, and the router manufacturer may already take a gear up," says Kalle.

When you buy a new router, it's e'er a practiced idea to check for the latest firmware as well.

The solution: Keep your firmware up-to-date. With older devices, you'll have to access the router's administrative interface–typically through a Spider web browser–to check for updates. The process is getting easier, though. "Our routers have an application–it'due south almost like iTunes–that tells y'all whenever there'due south new firmware available," says Kalle. "The user can update by but pushing a button."

Although the workings of your router may seem mysterious, post-obit these simple tips can become a long way toward keeping your dwelling wireless network in working order.