How can I improve my ATT router?
AT&T offers routers that are low-grade and often can hardly handle what is involved in 4K streaming, gaming, or multiple devices. It may be useful to buy your own better routers such as Nighthawk RAX50 or Netgear Nighthawk XR1000 to improve the speed and stability of the WiFi connection all over the house. The trade-offs are faster speed, better range, enhanced features, and broader compatibility with more connected devices.
Update the Firmware
It is essential to maintain the firmware of the router to correct the bugs, and security issues, enhance the performance, or introduce new features. Access the AT&T Internet or personal router panel to look for and install new firmware updates occasionally. This helps to make sure that you have all the latest optimization and security patches. Some more advanced routers even can update themselves automatically.
Optimize the Location
Knowing the location of your router is another important factor that determines the strength and range of your WiFi signal. It is recommended that you place it centrally in your home and in an open area (Do not hide it in a closet or put it in a cabinet for maximum wireless reach). It should not be put on the floor but on a higher place, for instance on a shelf. Do not place anything near other electrical appliances or walls that are very thick as they tend to distort and reduce the strength of the WiFi signals. After moving the signal, check its strength from different points.
Change the WiFi Bands and Channels
External WiFi networks and devices can cause disruptions to your connection and hence, slow down your internet connection speeds. To do this, you need to log into your router, navigate to the wireless settings, and set the wireless channel for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to be different so that they don’t interfere with each other. You can start with a WiFi analyzer app to check which channels have the least amount of traffic in your region. It typically means that Channels 1, 6, or 11 are most suitable for 2.4 GHz WiFi networks.
The second option would be to create a new 5 GHz network and then connect your devices to this new network.
If your router is dual band and transmits both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, it is wise to give them different names and use them that way rather than one network. Plug in your computers and other high-priority wired devices that require the highest bandwidths to the 5 GHz band as this band is newer with higher data rates and limited interferences from other home appliances and neighbors' WiFi networks. Reserve the 5 GHz band for your wireless smart home devices, security cameras, or any device that is located further away from your router.
Improve Your Router's Antennas
In case your router has external detachable antennas, increasing the gain of the antennas will help to direct your router’s WiFi signals further afield. Some of the high-end gaming routers might come with 8 or more antennas. Just be certain that replacement antennas utilize the same connectors. If the router has internal antennas, then a range extender or mesh Wi-Fi can assist in making the WiFi coverage more widespread especially in large homes.
Enable Quality of Service
In higher-end routers, there are Quality of Service (QoS) settings that allow you to prioritize types of traffic such as gaming, video streaming, or video calls to ensure that they get the best throughput possible. This means that activities that would otherwise consume lots of bandwidth such as downloading a file do not affect your gaming ping rates. That said, not all cheaper router models come with comprehensive QoS settings, though.
Allowing the creation of a separate and isolated network for guests and visitors
Setting up an open guest network with a different name and password that only grants Internet access is also recommended to avoid providing the main network credentials to visitors. You can also disable features like ‘file/printer sharing’ or ‘broadcasting device list’ and enable further restrictions for firewalls/parental control only for the guest network to ensure increased security measures for the devices and files.
Use WPA3 Encryption
Always ensure that your WiFi networks are protected using the WPA2 or the WPA3 encryption, and use a random password of at least 12 characters. Deactivate WEP and WPA security that is less secure and simpler to hack. WPA3 is the most recent and provides the highest level of security features such as enhanced password authentication. However, not all devices may support connecting to WPA3 networks yet though.
Adjust Router Admin Settings
Log into your router interface and update settings like allowing firewall protection, restricting admin and WiFi passwords, disabling remote admin access, disabling other unused network services including UPnP, enabling automatic firmware update, turning on threat detection alert, checking device lists of connected devices, controlling the WiFi power output, using band steering technologies, checking logs for problems or unwanted traffic and many more. Safeguard those areas for more secure browsing.
Thus, here are some things you can do to get the best out of your AT&T or personal router for a fast, reliable, and secure Wi-Fi connection in your household. Some important best practices that can be followed with a better wireless networking experience include taking full control with a higher-end router, ensuring the firmware is updated, choosing the right location with the right WiFi bands, replacing or upgrading the antennas, and employing the latest encryption protocols. Also, monitor your router’s interface now and then to tweak advanced settings and fine-tune the network as you incorporate more smart appliances and gadgets at home.
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