Internet Connectivity and You

Internet Connectivity and You

“Routers and Repeaters and Access Points, oh, my!”

So, you’re experiencing slow data transfers, lagging multimedia downloads, or spikes in latency.

There are many contributing factors that go into any one of these problems.

Here are some things to consider when experiencing any wireless issue:

  • How much traffic is your wireless internet receiving?
  • Where is the router in relation to you? What is the building made of, and does anything stand between you and it (certain building materials hinder connectivity as the signal cannot move through them as well)?
  • Do you have a repeater set up to adjust for any distance-related connectivity problems?

While most wireless routers these days provide more bandwidth than a computer hooked up to a tower attached with an ethernet cord, the amount of people feeding off of one router could have something to do with a slow response or download time on your computer.

When it comes to distance, the type of signal your router is emitting is important. There are two main types of signals your router will have. One is a 2.4GHz frequency and the other is a 5GHz frequency. From the sound of it, clearly the 5Ghz frequency is better, but only if your wireless computer is stationed rather close to the router itself. This type of signal has a hard time moving through certain materials and expanding far distances. It might be considered a better frequency for a home or small office.

The 2.4GHz frequency, however, is better for larger distances. The only downfall is that it will perform at a slower speed. Slower does sound worse, but again, wireless connectivity these days provides more bandwidth and connection at a more efficient and stronger rate than before.

What is a repeater?

A wireless repeater – also known as a wireless extender – is used when the signal on a router begins to weaken in a certain part of a building. Repeaters take the weak signal, amplify it, and then split it, sending it and strengthening it back to the router and out around it. Splitting doesn’t sound like it would help internet speed at which you can transfer data or download multimedia, but it also depends on the amount of traffic the repeater/router is handling.

Thinking about adding a repeater to your home or small business and not sure where the right place to put it would be? The best way to figure out where in your small business the signal begins to fade is to take a laptop around the space and find where the level of connectivity drops from three bars to two. If this area is one you work in frequently, it might be a good idea to place a repeater in the general area to strengthen the connection. Think of it almost as a ven diagram creating two overlapping circles. The foci – router and repeater – need to be within reach of each other for them to work but not too close.

As for Access Points –

Simply put, access points are devices that connect to routers via ethernet cords that provide the router with internet. The router itself is responsible for emitting the wireless connection while the access point creates the wireless local area network (WLAN).

Of course, for any advice on wireless connection, IT services, or other technology-related questions, give us a call about how we can help you or answer any questions you might have!