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Telework: Internet Connection Basics

Telework: Internet Connection Basics

Owned by Margaret Winward
Last updated: May 16, 2022
2 min read

Internet connections at home may be great for the weekend movie stream or browsing the web. The challenge comes when we are working remotely and requiring more from our home network setup. These resources will give you some ideas of what you can check to troubleshoot your internet issues.

Internet Tips

Router/Modem Location

Router or modem location can make a big difference to a strong connection to the internet. These YouTube videos will help you understand where you may want to place your router/modem.

Wi-Fi Repeater vs Wi-Fi Extender vs Cell PhoneSignal Booster

Wi-Fi Extender: Β This device is usually meant to create a new Wi-Fi network from a hard wired connection coming directly from your router or a wall network jack. Β If you already have a wireless network in your home this second wireless network will require its own password for access. Β Since they are hard wired to your router the Wi-Fi speeds are faster and more reliable because they have a strong stable connection to the source of the internet in a home. Β These devices generally are more expensive than a Wi-Fi repeater and require a little more complex setup procedure.

Wi-Fi Repeater: Β This device is meant to connect to your already created Wi-Fi network and rebroadcast that to a location where it is weaker. Β These need to be placed in a location where they already receive a strong wireless network connection. Β The further this device is from your wireless router the weaker the signal and thus slower your speeds. Β Also this device is sharing your wireless network with all your other wireless devices and so right out of the box, depending on number of devices connected to your wireless router, you can see your wireless speeds coming from this new device to drop by as much as a half. Β This isn't a huge problem if you already have really fast internet and Wi-Fi but if you are on a slow network you will see the difference. Β Generally a Wi-Fi repeater is cheaper to buy and easier to set up.

Note: The wireless networks coming from each of these devices will be affected by walls, floors, microwaves, cell phone connections, radio waves and any other possible electronic device between you and your router or repeater.

Cellphone Signal Booster: Β This device is works similar to a Wi-Fi Repeater in that it takes the cell phone signal that surrounds it, weak or strong, and attempts to amplify and rebroadcast it. Β Generally it is better to have an exterior antenna in a location with a strong signal that collects the signal then sends it through a hard wired connection to a repeater inside of a house that will then rebroadcast it. Β Like the Wi-Fi repeater if the signal is already weak there is only so much it can do. Β This device can help improve your cell phone connection to make more reliable phone calls or data connections if you have a cell phone data plan. Β These are also much more expensive and complex to set up.Β 

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