When the office Wi-Fi feels slow, the first instinct is to call the internet provider and pay for a faster plan. Sometimes that’s the answer. Often it isn’t.
In my work overseeing managed IT at DirecTech Connect, these are the five things I’d check first. Most of them cost nothing.
1. Is it the internet or the Wi-Fi? Plug a laptop directly into the router with a cable and run a speed test. If the wired speed is fine and the Wi-Fi is slow, a faster plan won’t help. The problem is inside the building.
2. Where is the router? A router in a closet, behind a filing cabinet or at one end of the building can’t reach the far offices well. Walls, metal and distance all weaken the signal. Moving it, or adding a second access point, often fixes more than an upgrade would.
3. How old is the equipment? An older router may not keep up with the number of phones, laptops, cameras and printers on it today. Equipment that has been in place for many years is worth a look.
4. Who else is on the network? Guests, personal phones, smart TVs and security cameras all share the same connection. Put guests on a separate guest network, and make sure the work devices aren’t competing with streaming video.
5. Are your phones on the same network? If your phone system runs over the internet, choppy calls are often the first sign the network is overloaded. Business phones should get priority over everything else.
Check these five before you sign up for a bigger plan. You may find the fix is already in the building.
Danielle Lemons is Vice President of Operations at DirecTech Connect, a Nashville provider of business phone systems, managed IT services, websites and digital marketing. More about Danielle.
