JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you have Wi-Fi in your home, it's possible you may deal with something a lot of us do: slow speeds -- particularly if you are streaming something.
Slow Wi-Fi can be frustrating when you pay for what you expect is a lightning-fast Internet connection, but it's slow or just buffering when you need it most.
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An expert on Wi-Fi connections tells Channel 4's Scott Johnson this issue is more of a problem for people who live in the middle of the city or in an apartment complex.
"Especially in a larger city where the Wi-Fi density is greater, you’re going to have difficulty getting your Wi-Fi to reach that maximum speed or work at all," explained Jim Scalise from StarTech Group -- a small tech consulting business.
There is a website that can help you find your dead zones: Speedtest.net. Consumer Reports says with sites like this, you can get a quick read of your speed at various times. It's a free service and is also available on the iPhone and Android mobile platforms.
How to use Speedtest.net:
If you have additional questions about Speedtest.net or for a step-by-step tutorial, visit speedtest.net.
Consumer Reports says, the problem might be with the modem -- which brings the signal into your home. If you have an older one, replacing it with a newer model can help improve speeds. If you rent your modem, you can ask your Internet provider to replace it with a newer model.
As for newer routers and devices, Scalise says you can switch your router from 2.4 gigahertz to 5 gigahertz.. You will also have to switch that on all your devices in the settings. This frequency can be a lot better when everything from simple navigation online to streaming leaves you wanting more speed.