WiFi signals can give you a hard time every now and then. Especially with fluctuating networks combined with the effect of external factors like the weather can get on the nerves. How often do think of a solution beyond restarting the router?

A few places may give very good wifi but others are fully dead when it comes to network.  And your aim is to always avoid the weak spots and set up things according to the availability of the wifi.

You can avoid being a slave to your network if you consider having the following solution.

What is a WiFi Analyzer and why you need them?

These are basically softwares that help you point the issues with the network by highlighting the areas of network distress and select the best channels for you to switch on to.

It also helps you find the best place to install your router when the signal strength is uneven.

Wifi analyzers scan all the available networks in your area and gives you a detailed account of each. A few analyzer programs let you create wifi strength heat maps marking the areas of weak network.

The best program comes with a simple interface, easy to use and minimal features to optimize your wifi network.

Have a look at the features of these 10 wifi analyzer app for windows and select the best one for your problem.

1. NetSpot

Availability – MacBook (macOS 10.10+)  , Windows 7/8/10

This tool can be used by both – a rookie who has hardly known much about wifi issues and experienced network administrators. The user interface is simple and easy to adapt to.

NetSpot defnitely takes pride in its lavishly designed interface. Not just that but it steals the show when it comes to the features.

It has these two incredibly rich features for wifi scanning.

Discover mode : It presents the velocity of the movement of data from user to internet.

Survey Mode:  Allows to create wifi strength heat maps wjich helps you to detect strong and weak signal areas.

It costs $ 49 for a home analyzer tool.

2. InSSIDer

Availability – Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 10

To help you explore your wifi network metageek brings to u InSSIder plus. The program has tools to help you retrieve a visual representati on of the entire wifi network. With this tool at hand it becomes easy to detect problems in the network.

The program is available in three different versions –  inSSIDer Office, inSSIDer Office + Wi-Spy Mini, and inSSIDer Office + Wi-Spy DBx.  The first edition does not support spectrum analysis of 2.4 GHz frequency. But it offers more reliability , accuracy and enables you to select the best channel for your utilities.

3. WiFi Analyzer

Availability – Windows 10, Windows 10, Mobile

The basic rendition of this app is ad free and this app is purely for home netwok.

The professional version has a beeper for strength of the signal and can connect to a wifi network from the app. It can also immobilize the screen timeout function and possesses live-tile support. This may not be a feature rich analyzer but is great for beginners.

4. Vistumber

Availability – Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista

This one is unique though. It has set goals for other wifi analyzers by adding features like GPS and live Google earth tracking.  It scans the area for a wifi network and when one pops up on the radar, provides the user with the exact location, strength, name and the details of the network.

Designed especially for the act of war driving, the tool helps a person in a moving vehicle to find available  wifi networks through a laptop or a smartphone.  The only put off is an outdated user interface which makes the use of the application tedious.

5. Wireshark

Availability – Windows, Linux, OS X, Solaris,  FreeBSD, NetBSD

If you are looking for a pro wifi analyzer for troubleshooting varied communication protocols wireshark is just for you. This is  a free open source network protocol analyzer. It’s features span a wide range.

The first choice among analyzers owing to the opn source configuration.

If you are looking to analyze your home wifi network, wireshark is definitely not meant for you. Wireshark users are trained IT experts who undergo a thorough training for using this implement. The only limitation is its restrictive user base.

6. Netcut

Availability – Windows, iOS, Android.

If you are looking for an all in one tool for your laptop and phone, this is the apt solution.

This tool has both network debugging and investigating function. The tool is meant for professionals to analyze the IP addresses on network.

The most incredible feature of this tool is that it allows you to remove users from your wifi network even when you have no physical access to your router. Thanks to the ARP protocol function, you can manage the bandwidth and prevent trespassers from exploiting your network.

Not only does it help reduction in network hooliganism but also cut down the interferences and enhances router performance.

7. WiFi Analyzer Tool

Availability – Windows 7/8

It helps you find overlapping networks with the aid of a spectrum chart. You now know which is the best channel you need to switch your router to.

This tool is not meant for professional users or commercial arenas. A simple tool to point out the glitch and help you correct the anomalies of your home network.

It shows historical data graphs to help you understand the fluctuations in the signal.

The app is available for an affordable price of $4.95 for home necessities.

8. Speed Test master

Not all of us are looking for a feature packed wifi analyzer program. Sometimes users require just the knowledge of what the issue is.

Speed test master is for such users who are looking for point blank details. It scans the speed of the network and downloads and upload speeds. It also analyzes the networks in the proximity.

The analysis is swift and easy. All the tests will be saved in case you need to revisit the results in future.

9. WiFi commander

Availability – windows 10 only.

The draws the graphical representation of signal strength in real time. This lets you select the best network on the basis of fresh data.

The user interface is a high standard 3D graphics illustration. This could be fun for specially those users who have a touch-screen laptop. This brings in the engagement factor and adds a sophistication element.

There are no embedded ads and hence the program is light and simple.

10. GlassWire

For starters we are greeted with a user interface which is easy on the eyes. Basic functions include channel search and network enhancement. In addition to these, this program will acquire details of communications between your PC and other IP addresses.

All the data that is being exchanges and the apps working on it are precisely revealed. If you desire to block any of these exchange, for security reasons, you may very well do it with this tool.

The basic version is available for $39 with additional updates which can be made on premium packages.

The premium features include lockdown mode and 6 month history of data.

Final Thought

The above given wifi analyzers work just fine with their compatible devices.  Whether you are a professional or just a normal internet user looking for the right solution to his wifi problem, the tools have been listed.

Be it at the gym and local coffee shops, you can find WiFi networks everywhere today. While it is great of convenience, you’ll need to take out time to secure it by setting a network password.

If you do not have a strong password and leave your connection open, you are prone to malicious attacks and your neighbors could be leeching off the internet you get billed for.

A WiFi password can be set by anyone in a few simple steps. Having a wifi password will save you from countless headaches down the road.

Take a look at the step-by-step guide below to understand how you can set a password and make your WiFi safe and secure:

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1. Access your wireless router

This is where you need to start. If you have the setup disc for your router, use it to access your router. In case the disc is not available, you can access the router remotely over the internet.

Enter the router access URL into your web browser. The most common URLs are 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, and 192.168.2.1.

  • It is advised that you use the computer connected to the router with an Ethernet cable to access the router. If you try and do it over WiFi, you will be instantly logged out after you change the settings. You will need to reconnect and log in to the network for further use and adjustments.
  • The username and password for factory setting routers is ‘admin’. In case this is not accepted, enter admin in one of the fields and leave the other one blank.
  • If you have altered the username or password in the past and cannot remember the same, just long press the reset button on your router to reset to default settings.

If you cannot access the router using any of the guidelines mentioned above, search for your router model online and get specific steps.

2. Go to Wireless Security Settings

Once you have logged in to access your router, you need to visit the tab for “Wireless Settings” or “Security Settings”. The positioning and nomenclature of the labels will vary from one router to another.

3. Choose an encryption type

There are several security options to choose from. The typical settings that you will see for most routers include WEP, WPA2-PSK, or WPA-PSK (Personal).

The WPA2 option is most secure for wireless connections and should be your choice. You may not be able to choose this option if you are using an older router.

Furthermore, if you will be connecting multiple devices and some of them are older router versions, you will not be able to choose and connect to a network that uses WPA2.

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4. Select AES algorithms with WPA2-Personal

Once you have selected WPA2 as the Security option, you could be asked to select the type of WPA encryption. If the option exists, select AES as the encryption algorithm.

AES, also known as Advanced Encryption Standard is the most secure algorithm for wireless encryption. Certain routers may also give you the TKIP option, however, that is older and less secure.

5. Set your username and password

The screen in front of you will show fields for SSID and passphrase. SSID is the name of the network, commonly known as the username while the passphrase is the password that you will need to enter on all devices trying to connect to the network.

Remember to choose a strong password. This must be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. If the password is easy to crack, you will not be able to keep yourself safe from hackers.

Some online websites can help you choose a strong password for solid protection. Use them if you need to.

6. Save and Refresh

Click on the Apply or Save button to change your Wireless Security settings successfully. Most routers of today’s generation will refresh automatically and all devices that were earlier connected to the network will be disconnected until the new password is used to sign in.

  • For routers that do not automatically refresh to the new settings, manually turn off the router and wait for 10 seconds before you turn it on again. It will take some time to boot. You can notice the lights to see when your router has successfully refreshed to new settings.
  • Enter the new login username and password to all devices that regularly connect to your Wi-Fi network. Make sure you take a note of the password so that there are no chances of confusion in future.

To sum it up

To keep your WiFi network secure for long, it is advised that you change your password every 6 months. Here’s a quick summary of the steps you need to follow:

  1. Log in to your wireless router
  2. Select the Wireless Security settings tab
  3. Open the section for Passwords
  4. Choose WPA2 and AES for encryption settings
  5. Enter a new password and click on Save or Apply

Also Read : How Do I Secure WiFi Network

WiFi is a technology that utilizes radio waves to establish network connectivity.

Wireless adapters help to build a WiFi connection by creating hotspots.

Hotspot refers to areas surrounding a wireless router that are connected to a particular network and enable access to internet services.

Once the process of configuration is complete, WiFi offers wireless connectivity to devices like laptops, smartphones, smart TV, and other smart devices by releasing frequencies in the range of 2.4GHz and 5GHz, depending on the amount of data on the network.

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Let’s explore the basics of WiFi to get a clearer picture of the technology being used across the globe to connect to the internet and communicate seamlessly.

What does WiFi stand for?

Most people are unaware of the fact that WiFi is an abbreviated term. And those who know are unaware of what it actually stands for.

The most widely accepted full form of WiFi used in the tech community is Wireless Fidelity. Wireless Fidelity is the same thing as WLAN, which expands to Wireless Local Area Network.

An Introduction

Wireless technology has significantly evolved lately and has spread like fire across the globe. It helps you to get connected from anywhere – schools, offices, homes, airports, libraries, hotels, and even some cafes, gyms, and restaurants.

This wireless technology is often referred to as WiFi or 802.11 networking in the tech community because it covers the IEEE 802.11 technologies. One of the most notable advantages of WiFi technology is that it can be used with any operating system, printer, device, or gaming console.

How does WiFi Work?

Just like mobile phones, a WiFi network works with radio waves to send information and data across a network. The device that you are trying to connect with the network must include a wireless adapter that will translate the information sent into a radio signal.

An antenna is then used to transmit this radio signal to the router for decoding. Once the data has been decoded, it will be released to the Internet via a wired Ethernet connection.

Wireless network technology manages two-way traffic. So, when data is received from the Internet, it is transmitted to the router for conversion into a radio signal. This signal is then received by the wireless adapter of the computer/device you are using.

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WiFi Frequencies and Radio Waves

WiFi uses radio frequencies to transmit signals from one device to another. These frequencies are absolutely different from the frequencies being emitted by walkie-talkies, mobile phones, car radios, and other devices.

For instance, a car stereo receives frequencies in Kilohertz and Megahertz whereas WiFi frequencies are transmitted in the range of Gigahertz.

In order to receive the information being transmitted in these waves, it is important to set the receiving device at a particular frequency.

This frequency range for a WiFi network is 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Your microwave receives waves at a similar frequency.

It uses 2.450GHz to heat food while the router sets itself at 2.412GHz to 2.472GHz. If you’re using old or faulty microwaves, you could have conflicting signals causing a WiFi connectivity problem when you try to make popcorn.

WiFi Frequency and Router Channels

WiFi uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. Your router communicates on a set of channels in this range. These channels are at differing frequencies making it possible for several routers to communicate in the same area without causing congestion or traffic.

This is similar to the distribution of traffic on a multiple lane freeway. Setting channels on the router is something you do not have to worry about. It is set up automatically as you connect your router with the computer.

Radio waves travel in air and cross through a lot of things on their way. Owing to the high frequency of these waves, they are capable of carrying a lot more data as compared to other radio frequencies.

You can stream Netflix and other live videos on your smartphone or laptop only because of the high speed and high capacity of these radio waves.

The Magic of WiFi

The real essence of how WiFi works lies in the processing that takes place on your WiFi chip. Every device has a WiFi chip that converts the 0s and 1s into radio waves transmitted to their destination.

At the same time, the device also converts these 0s and 1s into data that can be read by your device in the form of emails, web pages or any other activity you perform on your browser.

 To sum it up

The internet traffic is converted into 1s and 0s on your laptop, following which is it transferred to the wireless chip on your device.

The wireless chip converts these 0s and 1s into a radio signal for further transmission to the router.

The router decodes these signals to again create 0s and 1s and then converts it into the traffic from your device.

All of these steps happen at an incredibly fast speed giving you the results you see when using a WiFi connection.

 

It is hard to think back to a time when internet was accessed through PCs wired into bulky modems and telephones. Today internet is accessed wirelessly everywhere from our homes to offices.

If you shift house or need to reset your home WiFi network for any reason you will have to set up the network yourself. This post is a simple step by step guide to setup WiFi at home.

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1. Get Subscription from ISP

The first step is to get internet package subscription from your local Internet Service Provider or ISP. This will vary from country to country and you will have to check the available ISP in your area. For example AT&T and Comcast are ISPs popular in USA.

2. Get a Router and note the SSID and Password

Next you will need a router that will convert internet data received into radio waves. A router is nothing but a device that converts digital signal into radio waves and broadcasts in your home.

Dlink  or TP-Link are some of the companies that sell routers. Each router will also have a SSID number and a password mentioned at on sticker on the back.

Note this as you will need it in later stage. If the SSID is not given on the device it will be mentioned in the used manual that comes with router.

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3. Connect to Modem

Today routers perform the function of modem too and work as a WiFi gateway.

For your practical purpose you have to now connect your router to the dial-up connection/ DSL/ cable modem provided by your ISP.

An Ethernet port cable provided by your ISP (or connected to Ethernet port in your apartment rooms) needs to be plugged into the router.

Look for a Ethernet port behind your router with a WiFi icon mentioned next to it and plug in the cable. Connect your router to a power point and switch it on.

4. Set Up the Home Wifi Network

Next you need to set up your WiFi in your internet browser.  Remember you have to connect to your WIFi which will show with the name of SSID mentioned behind the router.

Open the browser and type in the IP address depending on your router. For example Belkin users must type in http://192.168.0.1. and Linksys users have to type in http://192.168.1.1. in their browser. You can find this IP address in the router manual or on Google too.

This will open the settings for your WiFi network. Enter the SSID and password noted in step 2 and select manual setup. You can now rename your WiFi and reset the password. Select WPA or WPA2 as your security option.

Your WiFi is now ready to connect

5. Connect and Enjoy!

To connect your devices, switch on WiFI in network and connections and connect to the WIFi you have just setup. It will show up with the SSID name you have given while setting up. Enter the WiFi password in the prompt and you are good to go!

Since your router sends out signal in vicinity, it is possible for hackers to intercept your data or use your WiFi signals without permission. To avoid this make sure your password is unique and WiFi security is set to WPA or WPA2.

 

Also Read : How to Fix the Most Common WiFi Issues?

A public WiFi hotspot is a network that everyone from the general public has access to. Users can use it to connect to other networks or the Internet.

A public network does not necessarily have restrictions and therefore one of the significant factors opposing its use is the security risks involved with it.

Public WiFi is extremely vulnerable to intercepts by hackers. Only if it is used with a virtual private network is its security guaranteed.

WiFi hotspots are also secure if they have been upgraded to the WiFi Protected Access (WPA3) standard. This upgrade requires the buying and installation of new routers.

While these concerns are of immense importance, they cannot contradict the truth that public WiFi hotspots help to speed up the cause of creating a digitally advanced country – Digital India. There are several benefits that people can reap from the rise in public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Reduced Network Congestion

To begin with, people struggle with the challenges of call drops. They experience 2G internet speeds even after having 3G and 4G connections.

Public WiFi hotspots are capable of addressing this issue. When WiFi infrastructure is shared, it offloads the traffic otherwise loaded on WiFi networks.

This reduces network congestion on mobile networks, especially in areas of high footfall. As the spectrum is freed from other loads of WiFi connectivity, the quality of calls starts to improve and congestion issues reduce.

In developed countries like the UK, France, and the US, approximately 30% of data usage is passed on to public Wi-Fi networks, as compared to a mere 16% in India.

Reduces Digital Divide

According to the Analysis Mason report, commissioned by Google, a rise in public WiFi hotspots in India will help 600 million people to get access to WiFi networks.

For successful WiFi infrastructure, more than 3 million access points need to be set up in the entire country across tier-3 cities and villages.

With faster internet speeds, passengers will be able to utilize their time better, which in turn is beneficial for the venue owners (particularly railway stations and airports).

More Economical

The deployment and utilization of public Wi-Fi hotspots can be cheaper in comparison to 3G and 4G networks. This is true in areas where fiber access to backhaul already exists.

Empowerment

Public Wi-Fi hotspots are a great opportunity for government institutions. This is because they can transform the area into a smart city.

Governments can improve their efficiency and empower the citizens with better services. Access to e-governance and electronic delivery of services such as Aadhar also gets boosted with the deployment of public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Tourism is also greatly impacted as a result of public WiFi access. When traveling, tourists like to stay in touch with their family and friends.

They like to access the internet for suggestions on sight-seeing, maps, and also sharing holiday pictures on their social networks. Tourists are more attracted to visit a destination that offers free internet services on-the-go.

Is the rise in public WiFi hotspots a boon for the country?

These advantages as solutions to congestion issues do not nullify the security concerns surrounding public WiFi. A report published by Symantec last year (2017) states that 96 percent of Indians are prone to the risks of data theft and other cyber crimes as they use public WiFi for accessing bank accounts and sending important media.

Cybercriminals aggressively target unsecured WiFi networks. The study also concluded that around one-third of the users in India accessed public WiFi for the purpose of watching explicit content.

Another interesting finding of the study stated that half of the Indian users connected to WiFi networks without the consent of the network’s owner.

These factors pose a huge risk to users. Nevertheless, many countries across the globe are installing public WiFi networks with the focus on securing them even more.

The number of WiFi users across the globe has crossed 9 billion and their protection over WiFi has become extremely crucial. This can only happen when the wireless security protocol is upgraded even further.

But keeping users away from the benefits of public WiFi hotspots in the name of poor security is not a good idea.

 

Concentration of population in cities has been increasing since industrialisation. Millions of people immigrate to IT and Manufacturing hubs of the world today.

According to McKinsey, urban population is set to grow by 65 million per year by 2025. Technological advancements like internet of things, artificial intelligence and data analytics show promising potential to solve problems plaguing cities.

What is a Smart City?

A smart city is an urban area which uses data, technology and intelligent machines to manage the public assets and resources efficiently.

The vision of smart city is one where communities and environment coexist sustainably. These cities will be connected by high speed internet and will be free of pollution and traffic.

The concept of smart cities has been gaining momentum throughout the world and some countries have even built smart cities.

For example, South Korea has built the world’s first smart city Songdo near its capital Seoul. Everything from waste management to commute is planned intelligently to make a city that is free of cars and trash cans.

 WiFi as the Backbone of Smart City

An essential capability of future smart cities the integration of all systems for efficient usage and sustainable development.

This will allow intelligent decisions like diversion of traffic to other routes, detection of security threats or footfall analytics for upcoming projects.

This requires various systems, public authorities, citizens and businesses to be connected to each other in a single frame work.

All this is only possible with an uninterrupted and real-time connection to internet. This is why WiFi forms the backbone of a smart city.

Being the most convenient and secure way to transfer data today, WiFi shows promising application for smart cities.

Internet of Things (IoT) technology is evolving to work with WiFi and hence this wireless technology is best suited for smart cities. A public WiFi with high bandwidth will help smart cities to:

1. Connect the City 

It is estimated that 34 billion devices will be connected through internet in the next three years. In a smart city, devices like surveillance camera, building power grids, traffic lights, water supply checks will all be WiFi enabled for communication.

WiFi will enable all IoT based city services to manage resources more efficiently.

For example, traffic flow and parking systems can be controlled remotely by authorities with real time data. Power consumption and water wastage can also be minimised using connections with smart homes of residents.

IP video backhaul can be used for crime detection and a cloud healthcare repository will enable timely healthcare services in emergency.

2. Bridge the Gap

A free WiFi will bridge the digital divide among residents of smart city. Since information is the most important resource in the knowledge economy of today, this will also bridge the social and economic gaps in population.

Smart cities can aim for equality of income, knowledge and opportunities thanks to public WiFi

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3. Provide Amenity

WiFi is a valuable commodity for residents, visitors and businesses. Good connectivity will attract residents as well as companies to set up shop in smart cities. Tourists also benefit with good connectivity, easily available information and digital kiosks.

Student community can thrive easily in such an environment and hence universities will look forward to setting up campus in smart cities. In short, WiFi is an essential fuel  for the economic engine of smart cities.

Costs of Implementing WiFi

Budgeting of project and costs to end customer have a real impact on the project and they must be taken care of. In the city of Songdo we mentioned above, high living cost is driving away residents.

The smart city that was built for 300,000  has only 100,000 residents and is reeling under project completion delays.

For most smart city projects, governments are doing majority of the project funding. Others projects like the  New York’s LinkNYC are working in public-private partnerships.

The cost of WiFi and smart city amenities can be passed on to residents by charging for premium access or maintenance taxes.

Private players can also monetize through ads, promotions and other business services. Since WiFi is a cheap technology that only uses radio waves for transmission of data, it is a low-cost option that will keep the cost of operation minimal.

Security and Privacy

It is clear that a lot many things will be monitored and recorded in a smart city. This gives rise to concern about privacy and security of  data.

Private WiFi technology is safe with the implementation of WPA2 protocol but it is not infallible. The security of public WiFi is somewhat weaker and there are cases of hacking in public networks.

Since all critical city systems will be accessible through public WiFi, security of WiFi cannot be compromised in a smart cities.

Questions regarding privacy of data will also have to be addressed. Who owns the data of a smart home and how much of control do the public authorities have in remote controlling of a building or a home? These are some challenges that remain to be solved.

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Conclusion

The smart city industry is expected to be worth $400 billion by 2020. Nations will have to either build these cities from ground up or convert big cities using the existing infrastructure.

Whatever the strategy, WiFi will play a central role in functioning of smart city. It will be the enabler of intelligent systems that talk to each other and build a sustainable environment.

Wifi issues can be quiet disruptive if internet lies at the heart of your routine. You cannot access your email and browsers; movie streaming becomes a challenge; updates on social media take too long making you miss out on a lot, and your phones start to depend on data plans.

The reasons for an interruption in your Wi-Fi connection are plenty – the location of the router, firmware limitations, hardware issues, signal congestion, or just the size and vastness of your house.

Whatever it may be, slower internet speeds are not easy to handle and can really bother you at times, especially if you are trying to complete an important task at hand.

Here is a list of some of the most common Wifi issues along with suggested solutions to fix the same:

wifi attendance

1. Router Location & Distance

Internet speeds have drastically increased over the last few years. Despite such a tremendous improvement, some wireless and wired networks tend to get bogged down.

Slowing down the speed of data transfer due to the distance of the router is the most common wifi issue. If the router is too far, the connection will get unreliable.

Suggested Solution – Bring your device close to the router. If the router is lying in another room, go into the room where the router is lying and see if that helps to fix the problem.

In case the problem persists, place your router at a height away from other obstructions and interfering devices. You can also try placing it in a central location of your home.

2. Router Firmware

If your router’s firmware is not updated, you could be missing out on the advantages of certain features. Security issues might also be hampering the performance.

Suggested Solution – Visit the administration page of your router and check for any recommended updates. Review, download and install the same to enjoy additional features and improvements.

The step-by-step guide to upgrading your router’s firmware will be dependent on the make and model of the router. Take a look at the manufacturer’s website for more information and detailed directions.

3. Bandwidth

Another common reason for Internet speed slowdowns is lack of bandwidth. When several members in the house are using the internet on different devices to access data-hungry applications, your otherwise fast internet connection spreads out thinly and is distributed across multiple devices.

Suggested Solution – Try and reduce the load by disconnecting devices that don’t require an internet connection. If the use of YouTube and Netflix is high, connect one of the devices directly to the router with the help of a Cat-5 ethernet cable.

This allows for some of the wireless bandwidth to be free. You must also check the data plan you have because if your internet speed from the backend is not enough to support such high use, you will always experience slowdowns.

Another important thing to check is the security of your internet connection. If you have an open network, chances that someone nearby is leeching off your bandwidth are high. Setup the security for your network and share your password only with a few.

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4. Outdated Router

Wireless technology has significantly evolved in the last one decade. Wireless standards have updated, internet speeds are faster, fiber is introduced in most areas, and the number of devices requiring an internet connection is higher.

Now, even your television, printer, smartphone, speakers, refrigerator, security systems, lights, and more are dependent on the internet. An outdated router cannot support all devices simultaneously.

Suggested Solution – If the internet speed is affected due to modem limitations, it is time for you to upgrade. It is recommended that you purchase a new router every two years as advancement in technology requires you to upgrade with the latest technology.

5. No Internet

In certain situations, the router just stops communicating because of technical glitches. There isn’t a specific and distinct reason for the same.

Suggested Solution – Start by unplugging both the router and modem. Disconnect power and wait for around 30 seconds before you power it again.

6. Internet Service Outage

Sometimes the internet connection drops completely, not because of a hardware trouble but because of backend service interferences. There isn’t much to explain and do in such a scenario because it just happens.

Suggested Solution – Visit a coffee shop to use their internet services or use your phone’s hotspot connection. Meanwhile, connect with the team at your Internet Service Provider’s end and inform them about the outage so that they can fix it.

Unfortunately, calling the ISP won’t give you instant internet speed and recovery but they will at least be informed of the affected areas and take relevant actions.

Most professionals today are extremely dependent on WiFi services and internet speeds must be fast. If the fixes mentioned above do not help, contact a technician and take their guidance to fix slow internet connections.

Wifi technology is extremely convenient because it allows us to access the internet wirelessly. Connecting your laptop to Wifi is really simple. Let’s look at the components of a Wifi Setup to understand how to connect to a WiFi in three easy steps.

Modem : A modem is device the converts the analog signal into digital signal. It is short from for modulator-demodulator and is required to convert the data from internet that travels through optical fibers.

Quick Fact – Do you know how internet connections are made possible between your Internet Service Provides (ISP) and servers across the globe? This is not done wireless or through the satellite.

Data is transmitted through optical fibers laid in the oceans. These cables are called Submarine Cables and physically connect all the continents and countries of the world.

Router : A router is a device that is connected to Modem and converts the digital data into radio waves. Radio waves are what makes WiFi possible.

Instead of transmitting data from internet via a cable connected to modem (like in the old days), the data in a WiFi network is carried by radio waves.

Nowadays some ISP provide the modem and router in a single device to make things easier. The router is just connected to the cable that comes from the local Internet Service Provider (ISP) of through the ethernet ports given in the apartments (which are again connected to cables by ISP)

Laptop: Your router is connected to your computing device like laptop, mobile and PC through the radio waves. All modern devices have an in-built  WiFi adapter that can send and receive data wirelessly (through radio waves) from your router.

This is the setup of a WiFi network, now lets look at how to connect your Laptop to WiFi in 3 simple steps:

Step 1

Make sure your WiFi network is active, router is on and modem is connected. Also keep WiFi password handy as you will be prompted to enter it in next step.

If it’s your first time starting a WiFi in your home/ office you will have to setup the WiFi network with the secure password.

To setup a WiFi, just switch on and connect your router and modem to the cable / Ethernet port provided by your local ISP.

After that you need to go to your browser in your laptop and type in your IP address. This IP address will depend on the router service you use.

For example Belkin users must type in http://192.168.0.1. and Linksys users have to type in http://192.168.1.1. in their browser. You can find this IP address in the router manual or on Google.

You can then set your routers username and password. Set the SSID (wireless capability) as active and type in the username and password provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Choose WPA as your security. You can take help from your ISP to set this up or if you run into problems.

Step 2

Now that the your WiFi is setup and working switch on your laptop. There will be an internet access icon at the bottom right of your screen. Simple click on it and select the name of WiFi you want to connect to ( or the one you set up in previous step).

attendance app

If you don’t see the icon, go to settings in your laptop. Select Network & Internet in it and select WiFi. Switch on WiFi and you will see all the WiFi networks available in your vicinity. Select the WiFi you want to connect to.

Step 3

Most WiFi networks will have a password to secure data. You will get a prompt to enter in password once you click on the WiFi you want to connect. Just enter the password given by the WiFi owner (of the one you setup in step 1)

Your laptop is not connected to Internet via router and Ethernet/ Dial – In connection provided by your ISP. Remember that the data is being carried form the router to your laptop by the radio waves with frequencies between 2.4 GHz and 5Ghz.

You are now free to move about anywhere within the WiFi  range. Usually the range of WiFi router is 50 – 70 meters.

 A Word about Public WiFi

Free WiFi are available in every cafe, restaurant and airport today. These are public WiFi available to everyone in the premise.

You can connect to these in the same three steps mentioned above. Just ask the café owners/ customer service authorities to give you the password for the WiFi.

wifi attendance

Remember that any public WiFi with no password protection is not safe. Hackers can easily intercept the data sent from your laptop/ mobile and hack your accounts or infect your device with malware.

Another strategy used by hackers is to setup a free WiFi with a rogue name that is misleading. So do not connect to any WiFi whose source is not known to you or is not trusted.

Introduction

Being an HR MANAGER means a craft of cleverly managing people as resources for a steep rise in business efficiency. It involves duties like recruitment, management and reinforcement of policies for the welfare of the employees.

A large part of the valuable time is invested in managing employee attendance and payroll processing. WiFi attendance system is the solution put forth for eliminating the loss of these precious hours.

All it needs to work is the office WiFi network hardware.

The system makes the process of marking and managing attendance effortless. The records can be easily processed to calculate the amount of man hours invested on premises.

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Many companies are switching from biometric attendance systems to mobile enabled attendance apps.

There are many technologies that can be used to track employee attendance and WiFi technology is the latest of them.

The technology of WiFi is not new in itself but its application in attendance tracking is innovative.

WiFi Attendance apps uses your office WiFi network to mark employee attendance. It is simple and uses the infrastructure that you already have.

This revolutionary application is different from biometric systems in many ways.

Here are 7 Differences between biometric and WiFi attendance tracking.

1. Live Tracking

Live tracking of employees on premise is possible with WiFi technology. The system works by detecting the registered mobile devices as soon as they are in office WiFi range.

This is useful to track employees in the big campus with multiple building. HR can log-in and check the whereabouts of any employee at a given point in time.

2. Accuracy of records

WiFi attendance tracking is more accurate that biometric.

Although biometric requires the employee to be physically present for punching in, there is no record of whereabouts of the employee in between. Because of this there is a possibility to manipulate attendance in the biometric system.

Attendance records of WiFi attendance system are far more accurate. WiFi can track not only the in and out time of the employee but also record the number of hours in office.

With the help of complete records HR can also run reports like average hour spent in office, absenteeism, break hours, etc,. This can be run for a team of per employee.

3. Infrastructure

The biggest cost saver in WiFi Systems is the zero infrastructure required. Because all offices already have a WiFi and each employee has a smartphone, there is no need for additional equipments.

WiFi systems can be plugged into your current WiFi network and all the employees registered by the admin account. Once the employees download app to their smartphone you are good to go.

In contrast biometric systems need fingerprint scanning machines at multiple access point. Depending on the accuracy required, these can cost anywhere from $50 to $500 per machine.

Maintaininace and repair of these equipments is another burden that falls on your admin department.

4. Down-Time

Another difference between biometric system and WiFi attendance system is the absence of down-time in the later one.

Since there are no extra machines required in WiFi system there is no question of downtime. You are good to go as long as your WiFi is working.

Faulty equipment and downtime in biometric systems can be an interruption in your day to day HR activities. If a biometric machine is out of service, then employees miss on attendance marking.

This adds on to everyone’s work including employees, managers and HR. Besides, they also cause mistakes in payroll calculations and leave management systems.

attendance app

5. Self-Service

WiFi system is pretty much self servicing once its set-up. There are minimum possibilities breakdown and the attendance data is recorded in cloud regularly. All the features can be accessed by HR and admin account through the web-portal.

There is no need to call an engineer because everything from customization of reports to historical data is available from the admin dashboard.

Also in case of any support required it can easily be provided remotely as the system is on the cloud.

In contrast making changes to biometric will require raising a request and mostly a visit by an engineer. Since the data importing and record is not on cloud, remote support is not possible.

6. Flexibility to Scale

Biometric systems cannot scale quickly to your requirement whereas WiFi attendance systems can easily do so.

No matter the number of employees in your company, the cost of installation is high because of the biometric equipments and software.

For this reason biometric is not a good option for startups and small companies. Also, the cost remains fixed even if you scale down your workforce.

On the other hand WiFi systems have a flexible monthly payment option that can easily be scaled down or up depending on the workforce size.

It also has a per employee payment so that you only pay for what you use. And in phases of growth you can simply add users in the next month without the hassle of equipment installations and new fingerprint records.

7. Integration with HR Functions

As WiFi app clocks in employee working hours accurately it is a useful application for other HR functions as well. For example, this attendance record can be used to automatically calculate paid off time, overtime and vacation time.

It can also be integrated with scheduling apps to maintain an hourly record of each employees work.

Some WiFi attendance apps have an inbuilt leave management and scheduling system that can be accessed through dashboard on login.

This kind of integration is not possible in a biometric system which remains just a means to record attendance.

wifi attendance

Summary

There are many differences between biometric and WiFi attendance systems. From accuracy to cost savings, WiFi systems are definitely a better choice for small as well as big companies.

Rather that capturing data at two points, a WiFi system records data throughout the working hours in a day.

Data is power today. And you can only imagine how a detailed and accurate employee data can help companies take empowered HR decisions.