How to get the best Wi-Fi connection

[happydaddyof3]

How do we maximize our Wi-Fi experience? Are there any tips to be able to have an excellent connection? Positioning wise, etc. Thanks!

[Jesse Hollington]

Be as close to the Wi-Fi access point as possible

Seriously, positioning shouldn't normally be an issue beyond proximity, but keep in mind that the two main frequencies used by Wi-Fi networks -- 2.4GHz and 5GHz -- differ in their range and ability to penetrate solid objects. In essence, 5GHz provides more bandwidth and less interference from other devices (such as microwaves and cordless phones), but has about half the range of a 2.4GHz signal of the same power through most typical household construction materials.

Note that among Apple's mobile devices, only the iPad supports the 5GHz frequency anyway, so this may be a non-issue if you're only concerned with the iPhone and iPod touch.

Other than this, if you find yourself getting poor Wi-Fi performance, you can try tweaking your router settings to do things like change the channel -- this often helps in a more populated area as you ideally want to find a channel that doesn't conflict with other people's nearby Wi-Fi networks.