The homeowner's wifi guide

Check Your Speed First Use the Cox internet speed test to gauge your current internet or home wifi speeds.​

• Distance: The further the device from the router, the slower the connection.​
  
• Fix: Position the router in the room you frequent most or on the same floor.​​​
  

• Straight Path: Wifi is like a dart; obstacles like windows, mirrors, or furniture can hinder its path.​
• Fix: Clear the router's surroundings. Especially avoid mirrors and metallic blinds.​
  

• 2.4GHz vs. 5GHz: Understand that devices like microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors might interfere with the 2.4GHz frequency.​
     Recommended Distances:​
      - Microwave: ~40ft​​​
      - Baby Monitor: 20-40ft​
      - Cordless Phones: 20-30ft​
      - Bluetooth Devices: ~20ft​
  
  
• Fix: Consider a dual-band wifi modem. It can auto-switch frequencies when needed.​
  

• Bandwidth: Wifi is like home plumbing. More devices? Lower "pressure".​ 
   - High Usage Activities: Streaming, gaming (5+ Mbps)​
   - Low Usage Activities: Emailing, browsing (1 Mbps)​
  
  
• Fix: Turn off idle devices. Limit simultaneous high-bandwidth activities.​
  

• Tech: Older routers or those using 802.11g/b protocols can bottleneck your speed.​
• Fix: Upgrade to at least an 802.11n device. Do you have Cox Internet and need to upgrade your equipment? Shop our certified cable modems here.​
  

• Busy Times: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm usually sees heavy traffic, slowing speeds.​
• Fix: Download outside these hours or consider using an Ethernet cable.
  

Think of whole home wifi, or mesh network, as a tool to supercharge and extend your wifi.​

• Central Hub: Connects directly to your router, like traditional wifi.​
  
• Satellite Stations: Called nodes, these are strategically placed throughout your home. Cox refers to these as Panoramic Wifi Pods.​
  
• How it Works: Data moves seamlessly from your device to the nearest node, then to the central hub.​
• Advantage: These nodes can offer top-tier connectivity in spots that traditionally experience weak signals.​

Why should you consider this setup? Here are some benefits to whole home wifi:​

• Tailored Coverage: Your connectivity follows you. Whether you’re downstairs browsing or upstairs streaming, your signal is considerably stronger and more reliable
• Simplified Management: Tools like the Cox Panoramic Wifi app allow easy network control, from checking signal strength to tweaking security settings.​
• Minimal Interferences: Minimal disturbances from radios, microwaves, or structural barriers. Station placement eliminates many of these common issues​
• Dynamic Connections: Your connectivity switches to the strongest node as you move, ensuring consistent, optimal speeds.​
• Dependability: A single node failing? No problem. As long as the central hub is online, your network remains intact.

• Centralize: For ideal coverage, place your router centrally.​​
   - Three-story home? Plant it on the second floor.​​
   - Two-story home? Highest point on the first floor works best.​
  
  
• Why? Router radio waves primarily journey downward, so elevation matters.​​
  
• Avoid Barriers: Keep it away from furniture or electronic items like TVs.
  

• Internal vs External: While internal antennas offer protection, external ones can cover more ground.​
• Orientation Matters: Always keep the external antenna vertical for optimal spread.
  

• What’s It? A software upgrade enhancing router functionalities.​
• Capabilities: Fine-tune router settings, alter frequencies, and harness more power.​
• Power Tip: Maxing out might cause overheating of your device. Always refer to the router's manual.​

• What Are They? Think of them as bridges (or nodes in mesh networks) connecting your device to the main router.​
• Requirement: Needs a hardwired connection (Ethernet) to the network.​
• Placement: Ideal in weak signal zones but remember, you need an Ethernet port in the room.​

• Placement: Ideally between the router and the farthest connection point. Ensure they're within wireless range of the router.​
• Security Note: Some extenders might not be fully secure, so ensure your data remains protected and inaccessible to unwanted users.​​
  

• Gaming: Multiplayer games require constant high-bandwidth exchanges.​
  
• Streaming: Different video qualities demand varied speeds:​
   - 4K HDR video: 18 Mbps​
   - HD (1080p) High Quality video: 8 Mbps​
   - SD (360p) High Quality video: 1 Mbps​
  
  
• Email: Texts are light, but attachments and spam can strain your bandwidth.​
  
• Automatic Activities: Background backups, downloads, and software updates can be silent speed killers. Adjust device settings to control them.​
  
  

• Whitelisting: Only allow registered devices to ensure security.​
• Security Settings: Keep your network private and password-protected.​
  
• Update Network Credentials: Renew passwords to kick off unknown devices. Craft strong passwords: 12 characters, varied cases, numbers, symbols, and no personal info.​

Recommendation: With everything from phones to fridges online, it's easy to over-connect. Periodically review and manage devices on your network and disconnect any that aren't essential.