WiFi Not Working Properly? Here’s What to Actually Fix
KifTechShare
Most home WiFi problems come down to one of three things: the router is too old, it's in the wrong place, or people are using 2.4GHz for things that should be on 5GHz. Fixing any one of these usually makes a bigger difference than buying a more expensive router.
Before you buy anything, try this
Move your router to a more central location. Routers broadcast in all directions, but most people put them in a corner near the ISP connection point. If your coverage problem is dead zones at the far end of the house, position matters more than speed spec.
Connect your laptop or TV directly via Ethernet to the router. If speeds are fine there but terrible over WiFi, the router's signal is weak or there's interference. If speeds are bad on Ethernet too, the problem is your ISP, not your router.
2.4GHz vs. 5GHz — use both, not just one
Most dual-band routers broadcast two networks. 2.4GHz travels further through walls but maxes out around 100–150Mbps in real conditions. 5GHz is faster (300–900Mbps in good conditions) but loses signal through walls quickly.
The practical setup: connect stationary devices that need speed — smart TVs, gaming consoles, desktop PCs — to 5GHz if they're in range, or better yet, Ethernet. Connect everything else, especially smart home devices, to 2.4GHz. A lot of smart plugs and bulbs don't even support 5GHz, so they can only connect to 2.4GHz anyway.
Do you need WiFi 5 or WiFi 6?
WiFi 5 (802.11ac) is the current mainstream standard and handles most households without any issue. A quality WiFi 5 router with a good antenna setup will outperform a mediocre WiFi 6 router in most home environments.
WiFi 6 makes sense if you have 15+ connected devices simultaneously (common with a full smart home setup) or if you're in a flat building where there's congestion from neighbours' networks. For everyone else, spend the WiFi 6 premium budget on a better-positioned mesh node instead.
Adding WiFi to a desktop PC
USB WiFi adapters are the easiest solution. Get one that supports dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and plugs into USB 3.0. Models with an external antenna have noticeably better range than the flat dongle types. Check the listing for Windows 10/11 driver support before buying — most recent chipsets are plug-and-play, but it's worth confirming.
When WiFi isn't enough: powerline adapters
If you need a stable wired connection in a room that's impractical to run a cable to, powerline adapters transmit Ethernet through your home's electrical wiring. Plug one into a socket near the router with an Ethernet cable, plug another in the target room. Performance varies with the age and quality of your electrical wiring, but in most modern homes they work well. Better than a dodgy WiFi extender.
South African ISP compatibility
Most South African Fibre installations deliver internet via an ONT with an RJ45 Ethernet port. Any router with a WAN Ethernet port connects straight to it. If your ISP supplied a router-modem combo, you can usually put it in bridge mode and connect your own router behind it. Check with your ISP first.
What router works with South African Fibre?
Any router with a WAN Ethernet (RJ45) port. Fibre ONTs in South Africa output a standard Ethernet connection. Connect the router's WAN port to the ONT's LAN port and configure from there.
Do USB WiFi adapters from KifTech work on Windows 11?
Most do. Check the product listing for confirmed Windows 11 support. Most modern adapters use chipsets with built-in Windows driver support requiring no manual driver installation.