Does Your Router Affect Internet Speed? Here’s What You Need to Know
Slow Wi-Fi? Your Router Might Be the Real Culprit.
How a Router Impacts Internet Speed
Even with a high-speed internet plan, your router determines how well that speed actually reaches your devices. Here’s what can go wrong:
1. Old or Outdated Routers
Routers from 5+ years ago often can’t keep up with modern internet speeds or support today’s devices. Many aren’t even compatible with fiber or gigabit plans.
2. Poor Placement
If your router is tucked away in a corner, behind furniture, or buried in a basement, your signal is going to struggle to reach the rest of your home.
3. Wrong Router for the Job
Some routers aren’t built to handle large homes, multiple floors, or lots of connected devices. Others lack dual-band or mesh capabilities to balance network traffic.
4. Limited Security & Features
Older routers may lack modern encryption (like WPA3) or the ability to set up guest networks—features that can help keep your home secure and stable.
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How to Tell If Your Router Is the Problem
Try these quick tests:
- Run an internet speed test while plugged directly into your modem. Then compare it to your Wi-Fi speed.
- Walk around your house and note where the signal drops.
- Check your router model—if it’s more than 5 years old or doesn’t support Wi-Fi 5 (AC) or Wi-Fi 6 (AX), it’s probably time to upgrade.
How Little Dog Tech Can Help
Whether you’re streaming, gaming, working from home, or managing a smart home system, your router needs to keep up.
Here’s what we offer:
- Home Network Assessments – We’ll check your signal strength, router settings, and device layout to pinpoint problems.
- Router Upgrades – We’ll recommend and install the best router for your space, devices, and budget.
- Whole-Home Wi-Fi Solutions – For larger or tricky layouts, we can set up mesh Wi-Fi systems or strategically placed access points.
- Security Setup – From secure logins to firewalls and guest networks, we’ll lock your system down without locking you out.
- Ongoing Support – If your internet goes down or devices won’t connect, we’re just a phone call away.
Don’t Let a Bad Router Ruin a Good Connection
If your internet feels slower than it should be, don’t automatically blame your provider. Let Little Dog Tech take a look at your setup first—we’ll sniff out the problem and get your network back on track.
Contact us today for a home internet tune-up!