Tip of the Week: Setting Up a New Router

Back in the early days of wireless Internet connectivity, setting up your router was a challenge. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, and it’s a pretty simple process. However, that is not to say that there aren’t better ways of doing things as compared to others. Let’s go over a few things that you’ll want to address as you’re setting up your wireless router.

Keep It Centralized, High Up, and Unobstructed

It really matters where you put your router in your office, largely because of how Wi-Fi signals work. These signals act like a ripple: they begin at one point and radiate outwards in all directions. Therefore, in order to get these signals to as many workstations as possible, it is best to keep your router somewhere central in the workplace.

However, as Wi-Fi signals are also fairly weak and easy to block, you’ll want to keep a clear line of sight between your router and the devices attempting to connect to the network the router supports. This means keeping it elevated and out in the open—no hiding it in a closet or cabinet. Is it going to look good? Probably not—but it will work well, and that’s the important part.

Keep Your Router Up-to-Date

While it may not look like it, it is important to remember that your router is, itself, a computer. This means that it relies on software to function, and like any other piece of software, this software will need to be maintained.

This is important not just for security reasons (but make no mistake, this importance can’t be understated), but also for operational ones. Outdated firmware (the software that works behind the scenes to tell hardware how to function) can lead to slowed processes and connectivity issues. Ensuring that this firmware is maintained will help your business’ continued productivity.

Keep Business Separate from Pleasure

In other words, as you set up your network, you want to make sure that your business’ wireless needs have a dedicated network, and that there’s also a dedicated network for visitors and guests. This will ensure that the bandwidth needed for professional needs isn’t going to be eaten up, enabling as much potential productivity as possible. This can also help protect your business’ operational network from a number of threats.

We can assist you in setting up your Wi-Fi network to ensure that it serves your business optimally. Give us a call at (703) 743-3056 to learn more.