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FIXHOMEPLUGISSUES.
While you won’t get anywhere near the
maximum speeds advertised,
powerline/HomePlug network adapters
should be able to outperform Wi-Fi at
range. If you think you’re not getting the
speeds you should be, there are several
factors to consider. First, make sure all
the plugs are rated the same – if one is
slower than the others, they’ll all run at
the slower speed.
Second, while distance from
the router does play some part in
affecting performance, it’s the quality of
your electrical circuits that will play a
crucial role in determining maximum
transfer speeds. However, most modern
circuits should perform adequately –
just make sure your powerline adapters
are plugged directly into an electrical
socket and not via an extension cable.
A major factor in reducing speed is
electrical noise, particularly at the
‘receiving’ end of the connection.
One simple way to filter noise is to make
sure other devices are plugged in to
extension cables, which are then
plugged in to a different socket than your
powerline adapter.SLOW POWERLINE
PERFORMANCECan’tlogintoyourrouter?Lookforanoptiontophysically
resetit onthebackofyourrouter.Reconfigure DNS settings
Reset your router
Minimise Wi-Fi interference
IF YOU’RE CONVINCED that the only way to
fix your network problem is to restore your
router to its default settings, there are two
ways to do so. Before you begin, make sure
your Mac is connected to the router using
Ethernet. Go to ; > System Preferences >
Network > Ethernet; also ensure the
IPv4 connection is set to ‘Using DHCP’ so it’ll
immediately have access post-factory reset.
If you can still log in to your router via your
browser, either make a note of all the key
settings you’ll need to restore (including
Wi-Fi name and password, DHCP server
settings and so on) or look for an option to
export them to a file on your Mac. Once done,
look for a Factory Reset or Restore button and
click it.
If you can’t log in, consult the router’sTHERE ARE MANY potential sources of
wireless interference, particularly in the 2.4GHz
frequency band. Telltale signs include spots
within the router’s main range where the signal
is patchy. Scout about for nearby wireless
devices – anything from a doorbell to a baby
monitor could be interfering with the signal.
Either learn to avoid these areas, see if you can
change channels on the device in question or
look to upgrade it: for example, cordless DECT
phones and wireless door chimes operate at a
lower frequency to avoid interfering with Wi-Fi.
USB 3 devices can potentially interfere with
Wi-Fi signal – use shielded USB cables or plug
the devices into ports well away from the
computer’s Wi-Fi antenna.manual to find out how to factory reset it
physically – typically by pushing a pin into a
hole on the back of the hardware. Once reset,
log in to the router to restore its settings or set it
up manually.Poor performance from powerline adapters?
Make sure they’re plugged in to the mains.02
SET NETWORK-WIDE
Log in to your router’s configuration
utility and check its DHCP settings for
options to set primary and secondary DNS
servers. This will change the DNS for connected
devices that are using DHCP.01
CHANGE INDIVIDUAL DEVICES
On your Mac, go to ; > System Prefs >
Network > Advanced > DNS tab. On iPad
or iPhone, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the ‘i’ next
to the connected network. Scroll down and tap
Configure DNS.
SUPERGUIDEIMPROVEYOURHOMENETWORK