Nosotros all rely on Wi-Fi for an cyberspace connection at home only if y'all alive in a flat or have a lot of shut neighbours, all the routers will be competing for 'space'.

Wi-Fi is designed for this, and at that place are dissimilar channels - much like you lot'd find on a walkie-talkie - so that the signals don't overlap and crusade problems.

Some routers are smarter than others, and the best ones will automatically change channels when necessary to avoid conflict with neighbouring networks. Others won't, and this is when you lot could experience problems such as very slow speeds while browsing the spider web, or constant buffering while trying to watch something on Netflix.

It'due south possible at that place'due south a unlike problem and that changing Wi-Fi channels won't gear up information technology.  But if you're certain it'due south non your broadband provider or your device (ever worth restarting your router and device every bit a quick fix), then it'due south worth taking a look and finding out if multiple Wi-Fi networks are using the same channel.

If it's poor Wi-Fi coverage causing the problem, it could be fixed by buying a mesh Wi-Fi kit - such as the cracking-value TP-Link Deco E4 - simply if you tin run into your device has a strong Wi-Fi signal, slow speeds tin can be due to interference.

You lot may know that Wi-Fi tin utilise two main frequencies, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and that there's a selection of channel on each frequency. The best Wi-Fi channel is one that isn't being used by all your neighbours.

Past manually switching to a less-crowded channel, or one currently non used by any other networks, your Wi-Fi should improve a lot. We'll show you how to identify which channels are most crowded and how to change channel on your router.

How can I see which Wi-Fi channels are busy and gratis?

You need to discover which channels are being used and you can do this with a costless Android app called WiFi Analyzer. There'southward a similar 1 available for Windows x.

In that location isn't a directly equivalent for iOS, and apps in Apple's App Store aren't immune to report point strength either, so it's best to utilize Android or Windows apps.

Start by ensuring your phone or tablet is connected to your Wi-Fi network (as opposed to 3G or 4G) and so open the app. You lot can tap on 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the top to encounter how crowded each one is, and which aqueduct your own network is currently using, plus how strong the signal is where you're currently standing.

Notation: Signal force is measured in dBm, and a lower value is meliorate. -30 is the all-time you tin can become, but annihilation downwards to -60 is a good indicate. The minimum y'all desire is -67dBm.

The app shows a graph of all the Wi-Fi networks in range and uses unlike colours to represent each network. You can likewise see the channels they are currently using forth with the forcefulness of signal (a higher curve is a stronger bespeak).

This volition give you an idea of whether your network has a strong or weak signal and whether the aqueduct is currently set to is crowded or not. This will help you lot make up one's mind which aqueduct you lot need to use. It's worth noting that out of thirteen channels, all but 1, 6 and eleven overlap. And so choice a channel as far away from your neighbours' if possible.

Wifi Analyzer android

Information technology'southward the vertex (highest point) of the parabola which tells you which aqueduct it is using. In the example to a higher place you lot can run across the 2.4GHz frequency is very crowded and there is no obvious 'best' channel number. Our network is set to channel 6 and has the strongest signal, but 3 other networks still overlap it.

If your router and device (phone, laptop, tablet - any you're using) also supports 5GHz, it'due south worth seeing if that ring is less crowded. Some routers have two split network names which makes information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to place which is which, but others broadcast a unmarried proper name and your telephone decides to which network to connect. This isn't great as it ways you won't be able to control which band information technology uses.

If possible, expect for a setting in your router's Wi-Fi options to check if you can force information technology to display the two.4GHz and 5GHz networks separately so you can manually connect to the 5GHz one.

Both your router and your phone must support 5GHz Wi-Fi for this to work.

TIP: In lodge to terminate your phone and other devices reconnecting to the crowded 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and merely use 5GHz, you'll need to go into the Wi-Fi settings on each device, find the list of networks and the two.4GHz Wi-Fi network that your router is broadcasting. Select 'Forget this network' and it won't exist able to connect until y'all enter the password again.

After doing this, your device will but connect to your router's 5GHz Wi-Fi, simply bear in mind that 5GHz isn't expert for long distances and is often slower than 2.4GHz when you're far from your router.

How do I modify my router's Wi-Fi aqueduct?

Yous demand to log in to your router's spider web interface. This tin can be done by opening a web browser and typing in the router'due south IP address. This number will either be printed in your router's documentation or possibly on the bottom of the device itself.

If not, open a Control Prompt in Windows (PowerShell in later versions) and type 'ipconfig' without the quotes. At present look through the resulting text for the default gateway address. This is your router'due south IP address, and volition be similar to 192.168.1.ane. For more help see our guide on how to connect to your router.

Cmd prompt - Router IP address

Using this default gateway address, type information technology into the search bar in your browser and your router'due south admin page should be displayed.

Next you'll be asked to enter a countersign (possibly a username too) and, over again, it will either be printed on the router itself, on a sticker or carte du jour that came with information technology, or in the manual. Ideally, you should change the default password to preclude anyone else accessing the settings.

From the web page that is displayed, await for the Wi-Fi settings. The channel number should exist selectable via a drib-down menu. Note that if your router does work on 2.4GHz and 5GHz, you lot will have to cull the aqueduct separately for each.

Here, you tin come across the router is using channel 6 for 2.4GHz and 36 for 5GHz. Information technology says Smart (Channel 6) because it volition automatically switch to a different channel when there's interference. If your router can't do this, you'll be able to select the aqueduct number yourself.

How to find the best Wi-Fi channel for your router

The exact location of the option will differ depending on the router manufacturer.

Make certain you relieve the settings before leaving the page, and your router may reboot to use the changes.

Hopefully this will gear up your problem, but in places, such as a block of flats where there are lots of networks in close proximity, you might struggle to discover a meliorate channel.

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