We are living in a world that heavily relies on Internet access. Chances are that even if it’s morning, you’ve already performed a few Google searches and updated your Facebook profile. And it’s all nice and easy because we don’t have to sit at our desks, close to our wired computers. Or is it?

The reality is that slow download/upload speeds and dead wireless zones have been plaguing the Wi-Fi world since the technology was invented. And believe it or not, some people can only get decent Wi-Fi signal when they are in the same room with their router! If this is your case, you will be pleased to discover several simple methods that will help you significantly boost Wi-Fi signal strength.

If your router is supposed to serve several rooms, its place should be in the middle of your home. Most people tuck away their routers inside cabinets, but this decreases signal strength even more. The solution is to place the router in an open space, keeping it away from walls and any other obstacles.

Often times, the problem appears because of your router’s software. As technologies advance, new router models are being built, and this brings higher upload and download speeds. But before throwing your old router away, be sure to update its firmware. You may discover that this simple process has significantly boosted its speed.

Of course, router manufacturers stop updating their devices after a few years, because they want to sell their new stuff. This means that you may be stuck with a firmware update that’s a few years old. Even so, download the latest update that’s available, install it, and then test the speed of the network using a dedicated application to see if it’s changed for the better. Well, even if the answer is negative, try one of the ideas below before throwing out your router.

If you live in an apartment complex, several of your neighbors may be using the same channel to broadcast Wi-Fi signal. If this is the case and your router supports it, change its frequency to 5 GHz, because the opportunity of getting your own 100% free Wi-Fi channel there increases exponentially. Even older routers can make a good impression if you set them to run on a custom channel that isn’t used by anyone else. Fortunately, there are several mobile apps that can show you which Wi-Fi channels are available.

An easy way of significantly boosting Wi-Fi signal is to replace your router’s antennas. High gain antennas and SMA cables are inexpensive, and often times they can double the signal power without having any negative consequences. Be sure to purchase an antenna that’s got a “high gain” label on it, though; otherwise, you may end up buying an antenna that has similar specs with the one that came with your router. If you purchase a directional antenna, you can then orient it towards the areas where the Wi-Fi signal is weak.

If everything fails, it is time to purchase and install a Wi-Fi range extender. No matter how great your existing router is, it can only broadcast Wi-Fi signal in a limited area. This means that if you have a large house, you may need a wireless range extender. These devices, also known as wireless repeaters, simply pick up, amplify and then broadcast Wi-Fi signal.

These are five easy methods that will significantly boost the quality of your Wi-Fi signal. Apply them one at a time, measure the results, and then move on to the next method. If you take the time to apply them properly, you may see Wi-Fi download/upload speed increases that range from 50% to 300%. Good luck!