How I use this Wi-Fi analyzer to strengthen my Wi-Fi connection

Buying a new Wi-Fi router alone is not enough to strengthen your network. To get the most out of your Wi-Fi, you need to ensure you get the best range, signal and frequency. Fortunately, a nifty mobile app will get you up and running in no time.

Why I use WiFi Analyzer

There are plenty of apps for scanning Wi-Fi networks on the go, but few provide data that’s easy enough for novices to read. Wi-Fi Analyzer is a free and open source Android app that can determine anything from the signal strength of a particular access point to the best channels to connect to and even estimate how far away the access point is from you.

Download: WiFi Analyzer for Android (Free)

The application is divided into four sections:

• List of access points along with signal strength
• A list of all available channels with a rating assigned to each
• Channel chart
• Time chart.

All the data is very well organized and easy to understand once you spend a few minutes reading the documentation provided on the GitHub repository page or on the WiFi Analyzer website.

It was one of the first apps I downloaded when I first started playing around with Wi-Fi, and it’s stuck with me ever since simply because of its easy-to-use interface, uncomplicated features, and the fact that since it’s free, there’s no in-app advertisements.

Ensure a good Wi-Fi signal and broadcast range

The first step to strengthening your Wi-Fi connection is to ensure a strong signal. If you’ve just set up your router, one of the first things you should do is turn on the WiFi Analyzer and walk around your home or office to ensure you have the right signal in every room.

Wi-Fi signals are measured in decibels of milliwatts (dBm) and range from -30 dBm to -90 dBm. The higher the number, the worse your signal. Ideally, you wouldn’t want more than -50 to -55 dBm.

If your signal is weak, consider using an old router that you can have lying around as a repeater. You can also invest in a mesh Wi-Fi network to ensure that different parts of your home or office are within Wi-Fi range.

Use the correct Wi-Fi channels

Wi-Fi channels are an important factor in ensuring you get the most out of your Wi-Fi network.

The Wi-Fi channel you use depends on the Wi-Fi band you use. Whether on a 2.4GHz, 5GHz or 6GHz network, the goal is to be on the least congested Wi-Fi channel. A quick look at Channel rating The WiFi Analyzer page will show you a rating of each channel available from your access point.

Generally speaking, channels 1, 6 and 11 are best if you are on a 2.4GHz network. However, this will vary depending on where you are and how much your router is struggling, so it’s important to check the correct Wi-Fi channels when setting up your network.

When using a 5GHz or 6GHz network, the number of available channels increases, meaning you get more channels with less interference and therefore faster speeds. Your Wi-Fi router will automatically try to provide the best channels to connect to, but it can often get them wrong, which means it’s best to manually select the channels you want to use.

The width of the channel is also important. If you are on a 2.4 GHz network, set the channel width to 20 MHz for better reliability, as 40 MHz tends to pick up a lot of interference. On 5GHz or better networks, you can push the channel width to 40MHz without much interference. Channel widths of 80 MHz and 160 MHz can give you better speeds, but they also pick up more interference, which affects the reliability of your network.

Wi-Fi Band matters

Last but not least, a lot depends on the frequency (band) of the Wi-Fi you use. In terms of range, 2.4 GHz is the best. However, it also receives the most interference from anything, including but not limited to other routers near you, any Wi-Fi repeaters you may have set up, microwave ovens, and even baby monitors.

The 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands work better because they use channels that are not being used by other devices and anything else that uses wireless communication. They are still susceptible to interference, just much less so than the 2.4 GHz band. So if your router doesn’t support them, you should consider buying a new router with these basic features.

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Your choice of band will also depend on the range you want. The wider channel widths offered by the 5GHz and 6GHz bands do not work well over longer distances. So if you have your main router set up far from your desk, you’ll need to use a repeater, a mesh network, or a good old Ethernet cable – which is still the best way to get the fastest and most stable internet connection.

Overall, with a little tweaking and research, you can optimize your Wi-Fi network for your particular neighborhood to get the most out of your Internet bandwidth and increase your Wi-Fi network – at no extra cost.