Your Router Is in the Wrong Spot. Here’s Where to Move It to Speed Up Your Wi-Fi

A slow home internet connection can make even the simplest Google search super frustrating. If you find that your Wi-Fi is always unstable, no matter what internet service provider you have or how many devices are connected, what do you do? Sometimes having your flagship router professionally installed might not even solve the immense problem of a slow, weak internet connection. That’s a massive headache if you work from home, if you’re trying to install smart home gadgets, or if you just want to unwind with some Netflix at the end of the day.

The good news is there’s an easy way to optimize your Wi-Fi network and address these issues — and it’ll only take you a few minutes. 

Shopping for a faster internet speed?

We’ll send you the fastest internet options, so you don’t have to find them.

There are a lot of factors that determine internet speeds and while there are a few tricks or guidelines you can follow to improve the overall wireless speeds and coverage in your home, one of the most crucial factors is the location of your router. And the best place is not always where the technician set it up. So keep reading to learn about the best place in your home for your router and other tricks for faster Wi-Fi. You can also check out our picks for the best Wi-Fi 6 routers, the best mesh routers and the best Wi-Fi extenders. (And if you have a mesh router, make sure you check out our guide for where and how to set that up the right way, too.)

See also: T-Mobile Home Internet Review

Choose the right router for your space

CNET Home Tips logo

First things first: It all starts with choosing the right router or other equipment. Not all routers are the same and the size and layout of your home will determine what type of wireless network you need.

For most apartments and smaller homes (under 1,500 square feet), a single wireless access point should suffice. That said, if your router is several years old, you may want to

Read More... Read More

Your Mesh Router Is in the Wrong Location, and It truly is Slowing Down Your Wi-Fi

This tale is aspect of 12 Times of Recommendations, encouraging you make the most of your tech, dwelling and wellbeing in the course of the vacation season.

I’ve used the previous couple of yrs at CNET tests and reviewing Wi-Fi routers, and if you will find 1 detail I have realized, it truly is this: In most houses, the most significant way to make improvements to the Wi-Fi connection is to upgrade to a mesh router.

The reasoning in this article is very simple. Common routers set out a Wi-Fi signal from a solitary issue in your residence, but mesh routers use numerous products to put out a usable signal from several details in your property. That will make them extra like a group of routers that work alongside one another to relay your site visitors again to the modem. It is a considerably better tactic to residence networking, specifically in large, multistory homes, in which a traditional, solitary-stage router will probable leave you with useless zones in the rooms that are farthest absent. They can even make a important big difference in more compact houses, particularly if you have any lifeless zone rooms where by speeds are not as speedy as you would like.

Searching for a faster world wide web velocity?

We’ll send you the quickest world-wide-web options, so you really do not have to obtain them.

Most mesh routers are rather easy to get begun with: Just hook up one particular product to your modem with an Ethernet cable, plug it in and then observe the guidance in the system’s app. From there, you can need to have to choose spots for the remaining satellite extenders, which are also from time to time known as nodes (or “Points” if you might be a Nest Wifi user). Continue to, you are going to want to place some considered into where you place the things, as their certain area will make a substantial influence on the system’s effectiveness. Listed here are some guidelines to keep in head as you go. (You can also test out our

Read More... Read More

Your Router Is in the Wrong Spot. Here’s Where To Move It for Faster Wi-Fi

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

A reliable internet connection at home is pivotal — but Wi-Fi can be frustratingly finicky. Despite paying monthly fees to an internet service provider, and even if you’ve had a router professionally installed, you may still find yourself spending too much time watching your phone, laptop or streaming device grind away as it tries to stay connected. 

That’s a massive headache if you work from home, if you’re trying to install smart home gadgets, or if you just want to unwind with some Netflix at the end of the day.

Shopping for a faster internet speed?

We’ll send you the fastest internet options, so you don’t have to find them.

The good news is there’s an easy way to optimize your Wi-Fi network and address these issues, and it’ll only take you a few minutes. 

There are a lot of factors that determine internet speeds and while there are a few tricks or guidelines you can follow to improve the overall wireless speeds and coverage in your home, one of the most crucial factors is the location of your router. And note, the best place is not always where the technician set it up. So keep reading to learn about the best place in your home for your router and other tricks for faster Wi-Fi. You can also check out our picks for the best Wi-Fi routers, the best mesh routers and the best Wi-Fi extenders.

Find the right router for your space

CNET Home Tips logo

First things first: It all starts with choosing the right router or other equipment. Not all routers are the same and the size and layout of your home will determine what type of wireless network you need.

For most apartments and smaller homes (under 1,500 square feet), a single wireless access point should suffice. That said, if your router is several years old, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer model with support for 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi

Read More... Read More

You may be using the wrong computer mouse for your grip type: Claw, palm or fingertip?


Sarah Tew/CNET

There are a lot of gaming mice out there — a lot — and they vary by the type of games you play and your playing style. It can be very complicated to decide which size and style of gaming mouse will work best for your needs, especially if you’re on a budget. One way to narrow the field is to determine your ideal mouse grip type. Whether you’re picking out your first gaming mouse, upgrading your current daily driver or just looking for something new, looking at the way you tend to grip your mouse is a good place to start your search.

I’m not a serious gamer and I don’t stick to one type of game, though I do prefer first-person shooters. I had never really given much thought to the mouse I used beyond switching from a wireless one to wired. But getting a mouse to match your grip and playing style can actually make a difference in your performance. 

Read more: Best wireless mouse for 2021

In my initial searches for a new mouse for myself, the usual names like Razer, Corsair, HyperX and Logitech G made up most of the go-to picks I saw. However, I also noticed the name Zowie popping up. If you’ve never heard of them, there’s a better chance you know the company behind the brand, BenQ, which makes monitors, projectors and other computer peripherals.

zowie-mice.png

Size matters with Zowie mice.


Screenshot by Josh Goldman/CNET

What are the mouse grip styles?

Knowing how you like to grip your mouse is important for getting one that meets your performance and comfort needs and Zowie’s lineup is focused on just that. Comfort, speed and control are the priorities and not how many buttons and lights you’re getting. It currently has four styles — three of which are symmetrical — and, unlike almost every other mouse, there’s no software or drivers to install.

Aside from shape, a key to their comfort is that each model comes in two or three sizes, so you can find the mouse that’s right for your hand

Read More... Read More