Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points (2023)

FAQs

What are recommended Wi-Fi router settings? ›

20MHz for the 2.4GHz band helps to avoid performance and reliability issues, especially near other Wi-Fi networks and 2.4GHz devices, including Bluetooth devices. Auto or all channel widths for 5GHz and 6GHz bands ensures the best performance and compatibility with all devices.

Use an Ethernet cable to connect the access point to the router. The cable should be inserted into a LAN port on the router and into the main Ethernet port on the access point. This introduces the access point to the router's created local area network. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the router to the computer.

For the 5GHz network, choose channels 40, 80 or 160. You can also leave it set to automatic or default settings if it seems to be working fine.

Routers tend to spread their strongest signals downward, so it's best to mount the router as high as possible to maximize coverage. Try placing it high on a bookshelf or mounting it on the wall in an inconspicuous place.

Access Points as a pass-through

Does not provide IP addresses - DHCP should be turned off. Anyone connecting to the AP will get IP addresses from the mesh router.

It is recommended you use the DHCP. A network protocol that enables a server to automatically assign an IP address to an IP-enabled device from a defined range of numbers configured for a given network. to provide IP addresses for APs; the DHCP.

The default IP address of the Access Point or Range Extender is 192.168. 1.1 or 192.168. 1.254 or 192.168. 0.254.

Internet speed can also be slowed down if your router is placed too far away from your devices. If your router isn't capable of reaching the speeds on your plan, you should upgrade your router. Otherwise, you'll end up paying for faster speeds that you're not using.

If you want better range, use 2.4 GHz. If you need higher performance or speed, use the 5GHz band. The 5GHz band, which is the newer of the two, has the potential to cut through network clutter and interference to maximize network performance. Which means this band will be better for things like reducing game lag.

What is the best setting for Netgear router for performance? ›

We recommend avoiding channels 1 and 11 for ideal WiFi performance on your AX4's 2.4GHz band. Optimal channels include: 3, 6, 7, and 8. For information about changing wireless channels on your router, see How do I change the wireless channel on my NETGEAR router?.

5 GHz networks do not penetrate solid objects such as walls nearly as well as do 2.4 GHz signals. This can limit an access points reach inside buildings like homes and offices where many walls may come between a wireless antenna and the user.

A 2.4 GHz connection travels farther at lower speeds, while 5 GHz frequencies provide faster speeds at shorter range. Your choice of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz will depend on where and how you use your WiFi connection most.

These are Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA 2). Of these three, you should be using WPA2.

WPA vs WPA2

WPA2 is the second generation of the Wi-Fi Protected Access security standard and so is more secure than its predecessor, WPA. Your Wi-Fi router likely includes both WPA and WPA2 security protocol options. When turning on Wi-Fi encryption on your router, choose WPA2 for the most secure Wi-Fi protection.

Don't put your router on the floor. Get your router off the ground at least 5-7 feet if possible. It's kind of like a light bulb; when you turn it on you want it to shine as far as possible, not straight into the ground.

In two-story houses, the best place to put your router is often on the ceiling of the first story or the floor of the second story. [1] [2] These two places often allow for the best wireless connection, as they are a very central location for both levels of the home.

Metal and mirrors are also your enemy because those materials actually reflect radio waves, so putting the router behind a TV or in a bathroom is ill advised.

Should my router be DHCP or static? ›

Conclusion. After comparing DHCP vs static IP, it is undoubtedly that DHCP is the more popular option for most users as they are easier and cheaper to deploy. Having a static IP and guessing which IP address is available is really bothersome and time-consuming, especially for those who are not familiar with the process ...

So, do you need a static IP or a DHCP IP address? The answer is simple. If no one on your tech team specifically told you that they require a static IP address, you probably don't need one. In other words, if you just need to plug your computer, printer, smart device, etc., into the switch, you need DHCP.

After turning off your LAN DHCP server feature, computers connected to your router will no longer be able to automatically obtain IP addresses, or to access the router's web-based management page.

An access point should be set up with a static IP in the main router's subnet but outside of it's DHCP range.

Since the default DHCP address range is between 100 and 149, you'll want to avoid all of the addresses between 192.168. 1.100 and 192.168. 1.149 when you're assigning static IP addresses. That leaves the ranges from 2-99 and from 150-254 wide open, which is usually plenty for most home networks.

Your network should have only one DHCP server. If DHCP is enabled on more than one device, such as on both your cable modem and router, address conflicts might prevent some devices from connecting to the internet or using network resources.

It is ideal to use a static IP address for devices on your network that will need to be accessed very reliably by other systems or devices on the network. A device set with a static IP address makes sure that the device is easily found on the network, since the IP address will not change.

If the Wireless access points are NAT enabled, then of course, yes, two different machines can have the same IP address. For example, your Default Gateway is 192.168. 1.1, one access point WAN IP is 192.168. 1.2 and second access point WAN IP is 192.168.

As a rule of thumb, a Netgear representative told us, consumers should consider replacing their router after three years, and representatives from Google and Linksys said a three-to-five-year window was appropriate. Amazon, which owns the popular Eero brand of routers, put the range at three to four years.

Should I use 40 or 80 MHz for 5Ghz? ›

5 Ghz Wi-Fi: 20 MHz vs 40 MHz vs 80 MHz. With 5 GHZ, things get a bit less straightforward. There are valid use cases for multiple different Wi-Fi channel widths. The best bandwidth for 5 Ghz is 40 MHz.

If you use 2.4 Ghz broadcasting radio, you should use 20 Mhz for the channel width. The simple reason is that 20 Mhz is really a supportive measure for your older devices. Using 20 Mhz on a 5 Ghz radio setting defeats the purpose of actually using 5 Ghz radio setting.

While higher frequency can mean a faster system, a truer measurement of communication speed is bit rate. Most data communications systems operate at millions of cycles per second, or megahertz. In high frequencies, such as values in the MHz range, the time the cycle requires is measured in minute fractions of a second.

Radio mode

It's usually best to enable every mode offered by your router, rather then a subset of those modes. All devices, including older devices, can then connect using the fastest radio mode they support. This also helps reduce interference from nearby legacy networks and devices.

For the 5GHz network, choose channels 40, 80 or 160. You can also leave it set to automatic or default settings if it seems to be working fine.

Using a 5Ghz frequency, you will get about 50 feet or about 15 meters of reach. The reach of your signal will be impacted by the manufacturer of the equipment that you are using, the location your router is installed, and the obstructions that might block the signal in your home or business.

Always use a 5 GHz band connection if you're looking to get the most speed out of your internet. A 2.4 GHz band connection will provide a slower but more reliable connection. While this isn't in the spirit of being wireless, you could hardwire one (or more) your device to the router using an ethernet cable.

If you're still getting consistent speed test results when connected to your router via Ethernet, your speed issue is most likely caused by something in your Wi-Fi network. Slow Wi-Fi can come from all sorts of things, including physical obstructions like walls, signal interference, or even outdated devices.

What MHz is best for 5ghz Wi-Fi? ›

On the 5 GHz band, set the channel width to 40 MHz and see if that improves reliability. Keep in mind that 80 MHz and 160 MHz channel widths may carry the promise of extra speed, but will also interfere with, and receive interference from, many more sources than 40 MHz.

Range or Speed

In general, the difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz boils down to wireless range vs. speed. If you want better range, use 2.4 GHz. If you need higher performance or speed, use the 5GHz band.

Best scenario is to have both in your house wi-fi. Lower frequency (2.4GHz) covers longer range but transmit data slowly. Higher frequency (5GHz) covers shorter range but transmit data faster. Knowing your house layout and download speed requirements, you can figure out what option is best for you.

What frequency band are you using? All too often, the culprit of slow Wi-Fi is use of the 2.4 GHz band, which offers slower data rates and is often oversaturated with Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi devices, like microwave or baby monitors.

If you want better range, use 2.4 GHz. If you need higher performance or speed, use the 5GHz band. The 5GHz band, which is the newer of the two, has the potential to cut through network clutter and interference to maximize network performance. Which means this band will be better for things like reducing game lag.

What is a good internet speed for Wi-FI? An internet speed of at least 25 Mbps is good for Wi-Fi. That will make sure that multiple people get adequate bandwidth on your Wi-Fi network while multiple devices are being used at the same time. For larger households, a speed of 100 Mbps is even better.

A 5GHz connection will provide better performance at short ranges than 2.4GHz. This is because 5GHz, while somewhat faster, can't travel as far or transmit through some objects due to that band's shorter wavelengths.

While a good download can vary based on your use, these speeds will be enough to support average use for these households: Single or Small Household: 100-200 Mbps. Small to Medium Household: 200-400 Mbps. Large Household: 400 Mbps to 1 Gig.

5 GHz networks do not penetrate solid objects such as walls nearly as well as do 2.4 GHz signals. This can limit an access points reach inside buildings like homes and offices where many walls may come between a wireless antenna and the user.

Simultaneous dual-band routers are capable of receiving and transmitting on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies at the same time. This provides two independent and dedicated networks which allows more flexibility and bandwidth.

Does changing WiFi to 2.4 GHz make it slower? ›

What frequency band are you using? All too often, the culprit of slow Wi-Fi is use of the 2.4 GHz band, which offers slower data rates and is often oversaturated with Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi devices, like microwave or baby monitors.

Do routers affect internet speed? Routers can affect internet speed and are responsible for processing and managing every device on your home network. A quality, new router can help maximize your internet speed, while an older one can slow down your connection.

Router age

If you can't remember the last time you got a new router, it's probably well out of date. Many experts suggest that if you don't use that many smart devices around your home, you can probably get away with replacing your router every five years.

Modem and router speed is typically described in terms of the amount of data the device can transfer each second, typically in megabits. The more megabits of data a modem or router can handle in a given second, the faster that modem or router is. Look for those top transfer rates listed in Mbps, or megabits-per-second.

It might be because of an outdated router or a less-than-ideal router location. You might be able to solve slow speeds with an easy fix, like upgrading to a mesh network (which also has to be set up in the right spot) or simply restarting your modem and router.

Typically, an internet speed of 100 to 200 Mbps and above is really good, especially if you're working from home and spending a few hours in Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings, fast internet is a huge plus. You're less likely to run into quality issues.

With internet speed, 1,000 megabits equal a single gigabit. Saying and writing 10 Gbps, for example, is just more efficient than 10,000 Mbps. A gigabit connection is twice as fast as a 500 Mbps connection.