Wi-Fi Focus: Maximizing your Wi-Fi for a faster, more reliable connection

Yes, Google Fiber offers fast and reliable internet. But, to truly get "fast" internet and efficiently stream your favorite shows, work from home and enjoy gaming online, getting the most out of your Wi-Fi network is important. Here are some key steps and strategies to ensure you get a seamless optimized Wi-Fi experience. 

Basics

Google Fiber internet comes to your home through light over fiber optic cables (this differentiates fiber internet from your typical DSL or cable internet); Google Fiber Webpass customers get their internet through mmWave wireless technology combined with fiber optics. These deliver data to the Fiber Jack in your home, and your Wi-Fi router connects to the Fiber Jack and transmits data into Wi-Fi waves out to your devices (phones, computers, TVs, smart appliances, etc.). The speed of your Wi-Fi connections depend on a number of factors: internet plan, router’s capabilities and placement are the most relevant. But other factors such as signal strength, interference from neighboring devices, layout and size of your home and Wi-Fi congestion can also affect the speed and reliability.

Optimizing your Wi-FI:

Routers

An up-to-date router that supports the latest Wi-Fi standards will deliver the most stable connection. That’s why GFiber regularly updates the routers that are included with your internet service plan to support the latest, like Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. (In fact, if you are a GFiber 1 Gig customer who is still using the original Google Fiber network box you may be eligible for a complimentary upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 device.) 

No matter who your internet provider is, using an updated Wi-Fi device will likely mean a better internet experience. Even with an updated router, you also need to regularly check for firmware updates and install them promptly. Performance enhancements, security fixes and improved features are all included in these updates, which can help ensure optimal performance and security for your Wi-Fi network.

Signal strength and interference

Where your router is in your home can affect your Wi-Fi signal strength and cause interference if not optimally placed. Ideally, the router should be centrally located and placed high, away from obstructions like thick walls or metal appliances to provide even coverage and distribution of the Wi-Fi signal throughout your space. 

If you have a large space or areas with poor coverage, a mesh Wi-Fi system can help extend your Wi-Fi coverage and create a more seamless internet experience across the entire home. Pro Tip: Place the mesh extender halfway between the router and the area with poor coverage. 

Hardwiring

Additionally, you may want to consider connecting stationary computers, streaming TVs and devices, and gaming consoles to a router via an ethernet cable for a dependable connection. When you hardwire bandwidth hungry devices such as 4K TVs, WFH computers and gaming consoles to name a few, you establish a reliable dedicated link to the network which typically results in faster, more stable internet speeds with less Wi-Fi interference. Wi-Fi connected devices also benefit when you hardwire data hungry devices, since it reduces network congestion and opens up the airwaves for Wi-Fi only devices. If you need a consistent and strong internet connection, hardwiring remains the preferred choice for now.

Frequency and network congestion

There are three different frequency bands available for Wi-Fi:

• 2.4 GHz: Most common on all Wi-Fi devices and routers. 2.4 GHz spectrum usually reaches more areas and offers wider coverage. However, it has considerably less bandwidth than other frequencies, meaning you may experience buffering and inconsistent speeds.  

• 5 GHz: Most modern smartphones, laptops and Wi-Fi routers support this. The 5.0 GHz spectrum has a shorter range but can power many devices at once, so smartphone and laptop users won’t have to worry about interruptions on this frequency. 

• 6 GHZ: Recently launched for public use and available only in high-end Wi-Fi 6 compatible devices, also known as Wi-Fi 6E. It provides even faster speeds, increased bandwidth and less congestion than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. For the first time, Wi-Fi 6E offers faster speeds than some ethernet cables out there. Due to operating in a higher frequency band, 6 GHz has a slightly less coverage area than 5 Ghz. If you want to be an early adopter and help us test these latest technologies, sign-up here.

Users typically don’t have to decide which frequency to use. Routers can automatically select the best frequency for your device, as long as your Wi-Fi name and password are common across all three frequency bands. Don’t worry though, most routers default to this setting so there’s nothing for you to figure out. In some cases, it may make sense to separate the 2.4 GHz from other Wi-Fi bands. This will create a dedicated network for your 2.4 GHz devices but your smartphones and other mobile devices will have a hard time seamlessly connecting to your 5 and 6 GHz Wi-Fi as you move around the house. Therefore, we recommend keeping the default setting on your router. Pro tip: In rare instances if your Wi-Fi network is not performing as expected, restarting your router can typically solve most common problems. 

While there are many things that affect your Wi-Fi experience, implementing these strategies can help ensure a faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connection. For most people, Wi-Fi is the primary way of getting online, so getting the most out of your Wi-Fi will help you get the most out of the internet. 

Posted By Ishan Patel, Product manager