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Stable Signal: Fixing Your Wi-Fi Without a New Router

Tired of dropped connections? Before buying an expensive mesh system, try these simple configuration tweaks to stabilize your home network.

Wi-Fi issues are rarely about the power of your router and almost always about interference and configuration. In a crowded apartment block or a house full of electronics, the default settings on your router are often fighting for airtime on the same channels as your neighbors. This results in packet loss and frustrating lag spikes during video calls.

The first step is to analyze your environment. Use a free Wi-Fi analyzer app to see which channels are most congested. Switching your 2.4GHz band to channel 1, 6, or 11 can make a world of difference. For the 5GHz band, ensure you aren't using DFS channels if you live near an airport, as these can frequently disconnect to avoid interfering with radar systems.

Lastly, consider the placement of your router. It should be elevated and away from metal objects or appliances like microwaves. By optimizing the settings and positioning of the hardware you already own, you can achieve a professional-grade connection. Minimalism in networking means maximizing the efficiency of your current setup rather than adding more nodes and complexity.