Home networking has become accessible to all, but many people encounter common problems. Sometimes these are caused by the router and a service provider, but there are plenty of issues that are self-inflicted. Here are a few home networking mistakes that many people make, and how you can fix them.

No Passwords

Most routers come with passwords or network keys that block initial access straight away, so it is strange that so many people fail to keep their wireless signal secure. Furthermore, many people just use the default password that comes with the device. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there that can get backdoor entry from this and piggyback your Internet. Or, even worse, they can access your not-so-secure-now data. Make sure you reset your password, as well as changing the name of your router from the one it came with. Write everything down, so you have a note and be careful who you share it with. Security is everything with home networks.

Bad Placement

If you are having trouble getting a wireless signal around the house, don’t immediately ring up your service provider. The chances are one of the first things they will ask is where your hub is kept. The reason? Most people place their wireless hubs in places that aren’t suitable. On the floor, behind a sideboard, stuck on a bookshelf, hidden behind the toaster on the far side of the kitchen, and so on. Place it as near to the center of your home as possible. It also helps to have an open space surrounding it, and the higher up it is, the better. Try hallways, landings or corridors – it might look unsightly at first, but you’ll soon get used to it, and you will get Wi-Fi to rooms you didn’t think was possible.

Slow Network

The main reason for a slow network is that your router will just choose a channel for broadcasting its signals. Often, it can clash with your neighbors channels, leading to far slower broadband speeds. You have two options here. First of all, find affordable high-speed Internet plans with a different provider. There are plenty of choices out there if you look hard enough. If that doesn’t work, there are some great tools out there that can help – and they are easy to use. NetSpot is a great solution for home or business and has awards to prove its worth. Follow the instructions, and you could see a huge leap in quality for your home network’s performance.

Old Wi-Fi Devices

We all are aware that technology is advancing pretty quickly, and it’s no different with your Wi-Fi and home networking devices. Because of this, if you are using older equipment that utilizes out of date technology, it can cause a severe drain on your network’s performance. For example, new Wi-Fi standards are currently 802.11n or 802.11ac. But if you have a printer setup on your system that uses older technology (such as 802.11b), it will reduce the router’s performance significantly. You have two choices: either update the equipment or remove it completely from the network. Once you have done this and reconfigured your network, you will find that everything is much more speedy.

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