People are just realizing ‘hidden letter’ in Wi-Fi settings can reveal speed issue problem – check your router now
A HIDDEN letter in your Wi-Fi settings or on the side of your router can reveal whether it's time for a hub replacement.
Microsoft explains that if you're not getting the speeds you need, you should try a wireless-N router instead of the common wireless-G.
In a Microsoft , the tech giant explained the difference between the two.
"In general, when buying new equipment, purchase wireless-N technology," the webpage said.
"Although wireless-G may be the most common wireless network, wireless-N is at least two times as fast.
"It also has better range and stability. Wireless-N is backward compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g, meaning you can still use any wireless equipment that you already own.
"However, you won't see much improvement in performance until you upgrade your device or network adapter to wireless-N," the tech giant explains.
If your router is old, it's likely a wireless-G router and could be slowing down your browsing.
It's easy to double-check this by going to your Wi-Fi settings page or looking at the router itself.
A wireless-G router would only allow a 2.4GHz frequency option but wireless-N will also give you the option of 5GHz.
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This means you can look for these figures on the device or online.
The 2.4GHz band tends to be better for reach, giving you a better connection the further away you are from your router.
And the 5GHz band offers much higher speeds at a lower range or distance.
Often, the bottom of the device should say whether a 5GHz signal is possible.
Sometimes, switching bands involves accessing an admin page for your router online.
If you have an app that connects to your Wi-Fi router, it may mention wireless-G or wireless-N and the GHz available.
Generally, you need to find out your router’s IP address and type that into a web browser to access an admin page.
Use your router's username and password to log in and access the security settings.
Here you should see frequency options and more information about your device.
