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Improve the Internet Speed

Best Router Settings to Improve the Internet Speed — The Ultimate Guide

Improve the Internet Speed

Every router user should know which settings affect the network traffic speed. Renowned manufacturers, like Asus and Netgear, include advanced features to improve the Wi-Fi speed. Users can enable these router options from the web interface or mobile app.

Not aware of the wireless router’s default IP address? You can’t change the device’s settings to get a faster internet connection. Thus, every dual-band router user must check the default gateway IP and login details. Otherwise, configuring the Wi-Fi router settings can be challenging.

Try out these router options to get the best speed while browsing the internet:

1. 802.11n Wireless Standard

The 802.11n wireless mode on a router provides the users fastest speeds, up to 450 Mpps. However, an 802.11n connection can sometimes operate at slower speeds of 150 Mbps. 

Usually, the Wireless-N router is not connected to the network adapter. Thus, ensure to connect the router and adapter correctly to get the maximum speed. 

You can use two adjacent Wi-Fi channels (2.5Ghz and 5Ghz) simultaneously in 802.11n mode. Moreover, this router setting is less prone to network interference. Users can improve the home or office network security using the 802.11n connection. This router mode is also compatible with the latest mobile devices.

Here are the reasons why you should switch to 802.11n wireless mode:

  • It reduces the data rate when the data quality deteriorates to improve the Wi-Fi speed.
  • 802.11n provides 3x Wi-Fi coverage than a wireless G connection.
  • This router mode uses WPA2 to keep the users’ data encrypted.
  • It is suitable for every home and office, irrespective of their size.
  • The 802.11n standard allows you to connect multiple devices.
  • It improves the gaming and media streaming experience by offering high-speed internet. 

How to Enable the 802.11n mode in the Wireless Router?

You must enable the network adapter’s 802.11n mode before changing the router settings. Press the Windows and S keys together to get to the search window and write “Control Panel”. Choose “Control Panel” from the search results and navigate to “Network and Internet”.

Locate “Network and Sharing Center” and opt for “Change adapter settings”. Right-click on the Wi-Fi adapter when the next window opens and click “Properties”. Tap on “Configure” when the “Wi-Fi Properties” page appears on the screen.

Go to “Advanced”, search for “Property”, and choose “802.11m mode” from the list. Head towards “Value”, select “Enable”, and press “Enter”, or click “OK”. Restart the wireless router after a few minutes and open a web browser. Enter the router’s default IP address in the address bar and hit the “Enter” button.

Provide the login details and press “Enter” to access the router’s web GUI. Go to “Advanced”, search for “802.11n mode”, and enable it. Click “Apply” and close the wireless router’s setup wizard. You can now get high-speed internet access after enabling this wireless mode.

2. Channel Width

Most wireless routers use a default auto setting to change the channel width. Users can switch from 20 Mhz to 40 Mhz channel width as per their preferences. Though the 20 Mhz channel offers a slower connection than the 40 Mhz channel, it is compatible with older PCs. Besides, the former provides better network coverage than the latter. 

Do you use an old Windows or Mac device? Does it support the 802.11n mode? Try changing the auto mode to “40 MHz” to improve the Wi-Fi speed. However, switch to a 20 Mhz channel width if that doesn’t help you to get a faster connection. 

Here’s how you can change the channel width of different routers:

How to Change the Channel Width of TP-Link Routers?

The steps to change single-band routers’ channel width is different from dual-band routers. Open the router’s web interface and go to “Wireless” if you have a single-band router. 

Head toward “Basic Settings” and locate “Chanel Width” afterwards. Change the channel bandwidth from “Auto” to “20 Mhz” or “40 MHz”. Tap on “Save”, open a video and check if it’s taking less time to reload. 

Do you use a dual-band TP-Link router? Go to “Advanced” after getting into the setup wizard and click “Wireless”. Choose “Wireless Settings” and navigate to “Channel Width”. Switch to 40 MHz if you are using the 5 GHz Wi-Fi channel. Use “20 MHz” channel width when switching to 2.4 GHz.

How to Change the Channel Width of Asus Routers?

Open a web browser and enter the Asus router’s default IP address. Press “Enter” to access the device’s login page and enter the login details when prompted. Click Login” and go to “Advanced Settings” when the web GUI opens. 

Change the “Wireless Channel” from 5 GHz to 2Ghz to get better speed. Go to “Channel bandwidth” and choose “40 MHz”. Afterwards, click “Apply” to save this Asus router channel width option. Open a browser and access the websites without internet-dropping issues.

3. Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) Settings

Wi-Fi multimedia prioritises network traffic to boost the router’s speed and performance. All routers that support Wi-Fi 2 or later have this advanced feature. WMM is enabled by default in the latest routers. Disabling this router setting can affect the router’s performance and network security.

Do you want to enable the Wi-Fi multimedia settings? Open a web browser, go to the URL bar and enter the router’s IP address. Press “Enter” to open the wireless router’s login page and enter the default username and password. 

Click “Login” to access the router’s settings page and go to “Wireless”. Locate “WMM” and toggle on this option if it’s not already enabled. Click “Apply” and notice a significant difference in Wi-Fi speed. 

4. Quality of Service (QoS)

Quality of Service (QoS) can be found in the latest wireless dual-band routers. It increases the internet speed by controlling the network traffic. This feature helps you to prioritise the bandwidth for specific apps or devices. You must enable the QoS feature on the office network to get a better connection. 

When and How to Enable Quality of Service (QoS) of a Wireless Router?

Every smart Wi-Fi router user must know when to turn on the QoS feature. You should enable this router setting while streaming HD content. Opt for using QoS on a video conference call to avoid network issues. 

However, you can disable this feature while sending or receiving emails. When updating the software, there is no need to turn on Quality of Service (QoS). 

Follow these steps to enable or disable this advanced router feature:

  • Log in to the router and go to “Wireless” to configure the router settings
  • Navigate to “QoS Settings” and click “Turn Internet Access QoS on”
  • Go to the “QoS Priority” list and specify which types of traffic should get priority

You can ensure that online video or voice calls get priority when QoS is enabled. Didn’t find the Quality of Service (QoS) feature in the “Wireless” tab? Go to “Advanced” to enable this feature from the admin panel. 

5. Preamble Type

The preamble is the signal in the wireless router that is transmitted to the receiver. This feature boosts internet speed by reducing data transmission errors. Moreover, you will find two types of preamble in the latest routers – short preamble and long preamble. 

A long preamble offers a faster connection than a short preamble. Besides, it is compatible with smart Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Users can avoid high ping issues while streaming games when this feature is on. You can improve the wireless signal strength by using a long preamble.

How to Enable Long Preamble in a Wireless Router?

Open a reliable web browser like Safari or Google Chrome. Go to the address bar, write the wireless router’s default gateway IP, and press “Enter”. Provide the login information when the new web page opens. 

Click “Login” to access the router’s admin dashboard and go to “Wireless Settings”. Move towards “Advanced” and locate “Preamble Type” afterwards. Set the preamble type from “Short” to “Long” to access high-speed internet. 

6. Airtime Fairness 

A wireless router’s “Airtime fairness” feature increases network performance. It uses TDMA technology to fix a slow internet connection. This router feature redistributes the bandwidth evenly. Airtime fairness allows you to connect multiple devices simultaneously on the same network. 

Airtime fairness is not enabled by default in advanced routers. Thus, you must turn on this feature to improve the internet speed. Open a web browser, enter the wireless router’s default IP address, and hit the “Enter” key. 

Enter the router’s default username and password to open the admin interface. Go to “Wireless” and locate “Airtime Fairness” from the drop-down list. Choose “Enable” and close the admin dashboard after changing the router settings.

Try these Router Features to Get the Best Wi-Fi Speed!

Use the wireless router’s “Beamforming” feature to boost the internet speed. You can enable this feature from the device’s web interface. Additionally, users should change the encryption type to “WPA2” to get the best speed. 

Do you stream online multiplayer games on the PC? Consider using the “Optimised AMPDU aggregation” feature to avoid slow connections. Besides, NAT Acceleration can also help you to boost the Wi-Fi speed up to 200 Mbps. So, use these features to overcome the internet-dropping issues on the router.