Question:

Why is my PC’s wifi speed much lower than my phone or tablet’s?

I have a 500mbps internet plan and I use Ookla to test my wifi speed on different devices. My phone and tablet show that I am getting close to 500mbps, but my PC, which is only a few feet away from the router, shows a much lower speed, ranging from 20 to 200mbps. What could be the reason for this discrepancy and how can I fix it? I would appreciate any expert advice or suggestions.

Answer:

Wifi speed can vary depending on many factors, such as the distance from the router, the number of devices connected, the interference from other wireless signals, and the quality of the wifi adapter. In this article, we will explore some of the possible reasons why your PC’s wifi speed is much lower than your phone or tablet’s, and how you can improve it.

Distance from the router

One of the most obvious factors that affect wifi speed is the distance from the router. The farther you are from the router, the weaker the wifi signal becomes, and the slower the speed. However, this does not seem to be the case for you, as you mentioned that your PC is only a few feet away from the router. Therefore, we can rule out this factor as the main cause of your problem.

Number of devices connected

Another factor that can affect wifi speed is the number of devices connected to the same network. The more devices that are using the wifi, the more bandwidth is consumed, and the slower the speed. This can be especially true if some of the devices are downloading or streaming large files, such as videos or games. To check if this is the case for you, you can try disconnecting some of the devices from the wifi and see if your PC’s speed improves. You can also use a tool like [NetSpot](https://www.netspotapp.com/) to scan your network and see how much bandwidth each device is using.

Interference from other wireless signals

Another factor that can affect wifi speed is the interference from other wireless signals, such as Bluetooth, microwave ovens, cordless phones, or neighboring wifi networks. These signals can create noise and reduce the quality of the wifi signal, resulting in slower speed. To check if this is the case for you, you can try changing the wifi channel on your router to a less crowded one. You can use a tool like [Wifi Analyzer](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en_US&gl=US) to see which channels are available and which ones are the most congested. You can also try moving your router away from sources of interference, such as metal objects, walls, or appliances.

Quality of the wifi adapter

Another factor that can affect wifi speed is the quality of the wifi adapter on your PC. The wifi adapter is the hardware component that allows your PC to connect to the wifi network. If the wifi adapter is old, damaged, or incompatible with your router, it can limit the speed that your PC can achieve. To check if this is the case for you, you can try updating the driver of your wifi adapter to the latest version. You can also try replacing your wifi adapter with a newer or better one, such as a USB wifi dongle or a PCIe wifi card.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many factors that can affect wifi speed, and some of them may be the reason why your PC’s wifi speed is much lower than your phone or tablet’s. To improve your wifi speed, you can try some of the following solutions:

• Disconnect some of the devices from the wifi network
• Change the wifi channel on your router
• Move your router away from sources of interference
• Update or replace your wifi adapter on your PC

We

hope that this article has helped you understand and solve your wifi speed problem. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!