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Connecting Sense: How can I improve my signal strength?

Good Wi-Fi doesn’t just happen, it needs to be well designed. Any time and effort you put into optimizing your Wi-Fi setup will improve more than how well your Sense system operates. Optimized Wi-Fi will improve the performance of other devices you use to stream or download data, for gaming, or otherwise to exchange information across the internet.

If you discover an issue with signal strength, there are 4 options to consider:

  1. Relocate your router

The simplest thing to try first is simply to relocate your router closer to the Sense system (whether Sense is on a device in your electrical panel or embedded in your Sense-enabled smart meter). 

NOTE: If your Sense system is installed in your electrical panel, one extra option is to make sure your antenna is outside of the electrical panel box, then move the antenna around a bit and see if that helps it pick up Wi-Fi more effectively (as people used to do with TV antennas).

If this advice doesn’t seem to help, you have three more options, which you can pursue on your own or in consultation with your internet service provider. These three options are (1) update your router; (2) purchase a Wi-Fi range extender, also called Wi-Fi booster; and (3) add or modify existing Wi-Fi access points (APs). This article discusses each option.

  1. Update your router

Technology moves fast, and your router may be out of date. If your router is more than five years old, you should update the router. If your home uses a lot of smart devices, you should likely upgrade every 2-3 years. That alone may improve signal strength. If your router comes from your internet service provider, you can work with them directly to determine your next steps. 

According to this article, these are five signs you need a new router:

  • Slow speeds
  • Weak connection
  • Malfunctioning equipment
  • Incompatibility with new equipment
  • Overheating

  1. Purchase a Wi-Fi extender/booster device

What it is

A Wi-Fi extender is a device that you simply plug into an outlet halfway between your router and your Sense system, then press the WPS button on both your router and on the extender. There are many brands, but they look something like this:

What you should know

An extender delivers 50% of the bandwidth that your base router delivers. You’ll want to do your online research to ensure you get a highly rated model and, especially, to ensure that the device you purchase is compatible with your router’s capabilities (another good reason to consult your internet service provider as you explore this option).

  1. Install Wireless Access Point(s)

What it is

Some homes are simply too large for adequate Wi-Fi coverage from a single source, or the source is positioned too far from some of the devices that need strong Wi-Fi access. Extenders, which simply extend Wi-FI access, may not be enough. If your home has this issue, you can add additional access points (known as WAPs, Access Points, APs). 

Each added access point basically creates a subnetwork that points to your router and helps ensure that the devices you point to this AP don’t compete for Wi-Fi with all the other devices in your home. Your router’s Wi-Fi network name (called SSID) and password are programmed into each AP, but you can give the AP a unique name to distinguish it from other APs, including the router. 

There are many brands, but they look something like this:

 

What to know

When you have multiple Access Points, make sure each access point uses a different Wi-Fi channel, so they don't interfere with each other. Sense and other IoT devices must point to channel 1, 6, or 11.

Also, connect Sense to the closest AP closest so the Sense system does not roam to different APs.

You’ll want to do your online research to ensure you get a highly rated model and, especially, to ensure that the device you purchase is compatible with your router’s capabilities (another good reason to consult your internet service provider as you explore this option). You'll also want to verify how much bandwidth you can expect with this option at the distance from router  you intend to install.

What's next?

Signal strength between Sense and your Wi-Fi router is essential for optimal performance. You may discover a signal strength issue in different ways, and here are more articles that can help with specific situations:

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