Selecting a WI-FI network amongst a lot of WI-FI service providers can be tough, particularly for beginners. This is because selecting a WI-FI connection that endows a reliable and quick internet speed accompanied by good coverage requires more than paying the bill. You need to conduct thorough market research, check the available options in your area, understand your needs and then find the one that best meets your requirements.
Here are some of the most common mistakes that people make while selecting a Wi-Fi connection. Getting the wrong connection can be frustrating and it can impact your work negatively. Whether to opt for broadband or Wi-fi, which one will serve you best, how to check your service provider, you need to check a lot of things. But before that, you have to understand what is Wi-Fi and what is broadband.
What is WI-FI?
WI-FI is a name given by the WI-FI Alliance, previously called Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. This is a generic term that means communication standard for a wireless network, which best works as a LAN (local area network) to function without using cable or any kind of wiring. This is called WLAN. The communication standard is known as IEEE 802.11. Note that WI-FI functions by using the physical data link.
Here are a few of the mistakes you must be well-versed with before opting for a WI-FI connection for your home.
Avoiding the necessary features and benefits of a router –
Router is the medium between the internet and the area where a network is established. You must not avoid crucial features and benefits of a router like –
The router’s life span –
The router is networking hardware, which is bound to have some or other performance problems if stretched across different devices like personal computers, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles and other devices. The term span and load managing potential require being checked for improved WI-FI connection.
Multi-featured router –
Standards of WI-FI connection have changed a lot considerably over a few decades. Now, you can use WI-FI for file downloads, video streaming, online gaming, data backups, and various other crucial activities which require a lot of transfer of data and information to and from the internet network. Owing to this reason, wireless routers require having a multi-core processor and a RAM of at least 128 MB.
Troubleshooting –
People often tend to directly contact their customer service when there is a drop in the speed. Many times, users can solve the issues on their own instantly. The router has a feature of “hard reset” to seamlessly run troubleshoot for hitting back with high speeds.
Incorrect choice of router –
There are numerous choices you can make while choosing a router. It is vital that the correct standard of a router be selected depending on the WI-FI plan. There are four standards of routers available in the market –
· 11 b
· 11 g
· 11 ac
· 11 n
Now, the 11 ac and 11 n routers have the potential of providing a bandwidth of as high as 1 Gbps, which is the best choice you may go for. In case you already hold an old WI-FI router that falls in the category of 11 g and 11 b categories, you must consider upgrading to get access to better bandwidth and super quick WI-FI plans. Having a router that faces difficulty in accommodating the WI-FI speed is one of the major issues many of you may witness.
Selecting the WI-FI plan without knowing the exact need for the speed and data –
Picking the WI-FI connection without being aware of the WI-FI speed and data requirement is another common mistake that many people make. Many who have the need to use WI-FI for streaming or surfing generally go for the gigabit plans, which is not a prudent option. Likewise, offices with mass internet usage must go for plans having a high bandwidth that can accommodate WI-FI sharing and many have choose Spectrum as Spectrum internet cost is not that much as compared to others. You must know your requirements and accordingly choose your internet connection.
Selecting the correct frequency –
There are various kinds of frequencies that a router offers. The most common frequencies are 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. 2.4 GHz has a higher potential for penetration as compared to 5GHz frequency. Thus, if you reside in a big home and want the WI-FI connection to penetrate through walls for excellent coverage, opt for the router offering a frequency of 2.4 GHz. A router with a 5 GHz frequency is more efficient in endowing quicker speed and can provide a bandwidth of as high as 1.3 Gbps than 600 Mbps provided by the 2.4 GHz routers. Also, this is a very common error that consumers make while selecting a WI-FI connection.
Price and speed of WI-FI connection –
When you read the WI-FI connection specifications, you are unaware of the real-life speed you would get on using it. you are given a theoretical number measured in special labs with networking equipment. Thus, it is crucial to authenticate the real-life speed by comparing speed prices between distinct WI-FI providers. Also, you, as a user, can compare the cost of distinct WI-FI connections.
Not making any changes to the default network setups –
The router you buy from a vendor usually comes with specific default factory settings. So, it is very important for you to know that all routers produced by vendors have similar settings, which would make your WI-FI a simple target for hackers. Thus, not changing such settings is a simple error to make. Make sure that you change the settings of your router, like the IP address and login passcode, instantly after setting the same up.
Not encrypting WI-FI network –
One of the common errors made by many users is leaving their WI-FI ‘open’. If you don’t encrypt your network, then your personal info, involving important details like bank passcodes, credit card pins, etc., may be available to anyone. To prevent this, you must encrypt your WI-FI network. For this, you might use WPA (wireless protected access) as this has higher compatibility for business or home networks than other available security options. Once the WI-FI is encrypted, you must set up a strong passcode with numbers, alphabets, and special characters.
Conclusion
So, whether you are looking for a WI-FI connection in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, or any other city, you must be well-versed in the above-mentioned WI-FI mistakes so that you can avoid making them. Choosing the right Wi-Fi connection is very important for a smooth internet connection.