How to boost your WiFi signal and extend your WiFi range

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One of the greatest pains in your home is likely to be your WiFi connection. It could be spotty, it could stop working in some rooms, or the range could drop off abruptly. In these circumstances, you might be forced to hotspot from your phone to keep your devices connected – but the option to improve and extend your WiFi range is always there. Read on for some useful tips and tricks to boost your WiFi signal.

Check your internet speed first

Slow performance could be down to your internet plan, rather than your WiFi setup or router. If you know the expected download and upload speeds available on your plan, run a speed test to see how fast your service is actually performing; if it’s clearly slower than what you’re paying for, you may want to switch to a different internet speed or provider.

Nine ways to extend your WiFi range and boost your WiFi signal

There are several quick DIY ways you can boost your WiFi signal and range, including changing your WiFi settings, adding extenders or Mesh Wifi, or by simply getting a more powerful modem-router.

1. Move your router

If you can, consider moving your router so that it your WiFi signal can reach more of the house. To get the best placement, you’ll need to put the modem somewhere close to your home’s ethernet access port, or near its coaxial port. Ideally, it should be in a central position with no obstructions to best reach all areas of your home.

Connecting a longer ethernet cable and a power extension cord can offer added range and flexibility, so you can move your router around and experiment with its position and location.

2. Use a powerline adapter

Using wiring in the walls of your home, powerline adapters run an internet connection through the power of your home, sending it to a receiver, which is plugged in elsewhere in the house. From here the signal is retransmitted, and can usually be used through a wired or wireless connection.

Powerline adapters usually cost between $50 and $200, depending on the brand and technology, and can be a potential fix for your slow WiFi speeds.

3. Use a WiFi range extender

A common solution to boosting your WiFi range is by using a WiFi range extender. A WiFi range extender boosts the WiFi signal of the router around it, meaning more of the house can be covered by the signal range (albeit with a slight drop-off in speed in extended areas). Simply configure the WiFi range extender to be within range of your modem-router, and set it to repeat the modem-router signal (the extender will have a guide on doing this).

WiFi range extenders can cost anywhere from $50 to around $150, and potentially more, depending on the brand you shop for. Some NBN providers (such as Telstra and Optus) will allow you to bundle in a WiFi extender at the checkout as a part of your plan.

Telstra Smart WiFi Booster

If you’re a Telstra NBN customer, one of the things you can use to extend your Wi-Fi range throughout your home is the Telstra Smart WiFi Booster. The WiFi booster functions differently to WiFi extenders and is instead a WiFi mesh system. This means that it doesn’t create another point for your wireless devices to connect to, and instead simply extends your WiFi throughout the home.

The following table shows a selection of published Telstra NBN plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our NBN comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Optus Ultra WiFi Booster

Optus NBN customers can pick up the Ultra WiFi Booster on an Optus Family Internet Plan, which extends WiFi throughout your home. As this extends the WiFi range of your Optus modem, there’s no need for a separate login.

You can pick up the Booster for $216, or get it at no additional cost if you stay connected on a Family Internet Ultimate plan for 36 months. You can also sign up for a payment plan. Make sure you’re either using the Sagecom 5366TN or the Optus Ultra WiFi Modem if you’re purchasing this Booster, as it will only work with these devices.

The following table shows a selection of published Optus NBN plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our NBN comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

4. Use Mesh WiFi

Mesh WiFi can be an effective solution for larger homes, and is arguably a more reliable solution than using a WiFi range extender. A Mesh Wifi network replaces your modem-router with a network of devices that you place around your home, creating a ‘spider web’ style of WiFi where signal strength is equally distributed throughout the home.

Simply configure the mesh WiFi network like you would for any modem router, and then place the mesh WiFi system equally throughout the home. Keep in mind that these systems can be costly, with modem-router sets starting around $200 and easily going up to around $500 or more.

Some NBN providers, such as Aussie Broadband, offer mesh WiFi add-ons, but you can also buy one outright.

5. Password protect your WiFi network

Most of us will have our WiFi network password protected – but if not, you may have freeloaders logging on to your network and hogging your bandwidth. The more users or devices on your WiFi, the slower your speeds will be, so make sure you have a strong password in place to prevent intruders.

6. Update your router’s firmware

Your router’s firmware (the software that  is embedded into your device’s hardware to help it operate) could be impacting your WiFi signal. You can check if an update is available by accessing your WiFi settings using your web browser and your router’s IP address. This is the same place you initially set up your modem/router and login credentials, and specific instructions for your router’s brand and model should be included in the product box.

How to log into your router’s settings page

You can find your router’s IP address on Windows by opening Command Prompt (simply type ‘cmd’ or ‘command prompt’ in your search bar), typing ipconfig and hitting Enter. Your IP address will be displayed next to Default Gateway as a series of numbers  (e.g 192.168.0.1).

Copy and paste those numbers into your web browser’s URL bar, and log in to your router’s configuration page using the username and password for your router/modem. This is usually found on the back of your router or in your instruction manual.

7. Change your WiFi frequency

Switching your WiFi frequency to the 5Ghz band instead of the 2.4Ghz band can be an effective way of boosting the WiFi speed. Simply navigate to your modem-router’s set up page using the steps above, and find where wireless settings are located. Look for the option to change your frequency band – it may be under Advanced Settings if it’s not immediately visible.

Most of the time, your router will be on the 2.4Ghz band as default. Select the 5Ghz band, save and exit, and see if this makes a difference. 5Ghz generally offers faster speeds, but the downside is that it’s not as far-reaching or as capable of penetrating obstructions as 2.4Ghz. So you may find that speeds and performance improve in some areas of your home, but not others.

8. Change your WiFi channel

Switching your WiFi channel can also lead to faster speeds and improved range. Often, especially in apartment buildings, modem-router WiFi signals can overlap and interfere with each other, causing slower speeds and dropouts. You can avoid this by changing the channel to one that’s less congested.

Many newer routers will automatically look for the best channel available, but older ones may require you to make the switch manually. To do this, go to your router’s settings, find the option for Channels, and switch to another available channel. You may need to cycle through several choices to find the fastest one.

9. Upgrade your modem-router

It’s possibly the most expensive solution, but getting a more powerful modem-router can easily extend your WiFi range and boost your home’s WiFi signal. Older or cheaper routers may have shorter ranges, less output, and generally be in need of an upgrade after a few years of use.

Some things to consider when shopping for a new router include:

• Price: Modems can cost anything between $150 and $1,000+.
• Router speed: If you’re paying for high-speed NBN or fibre, you’ll need a router that is capable of supporting those speeds, especially if you’re on an ultra-fast 1000Mbps plan.
• WiFi standard: If your current router uses the WiFi 5 standard, you may want to look for a device compatible with the newer WiFi 6 technology. Some routers are also available with faster WiFi 6E, but the number of devices (e.g. computers, smartphones and tablets) that support this are still limited.

There’s many models and options available, so you may want to discuss your specific needs in person at your nearest tech, computing or electronics store to find the right product.

Read more: The best-rated wireless modems and routers