Wi-Fi Woes: Avoid them this holiday season!

• Performing an Internet Speed Test (and what it will tell you)
• Creating a Guest Wi-Fi Network

POV: Your friends go to use your Wi-Fi only to get the loading icon. Awkward… Let’s make sure that does not happen to you!

Read time: 1 minute 

Holidays are just around the corner! Can your Wi-Fi handle new guests in your home? Explore the tips and tricks below to ensure you and your network are ready to host that next big event.  

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This is a popular time of year for hosting friends and family. And stocking up on essentials is a must – drinks, snacks, and so on. 

But one necessity in your house might get overlooked: Wi-Fi.  Whether your guests want to show a funny YouTube video, stream the latest Taylor Swift songs or post a TikTok video, everyone will enjoy a strong and fast Internet connection. 

So, your Wi-Fi better be ready. 

Here are some tips to make sure the Wi-Fi in your home is battle-tested for the holidays, not to mention every other day of the year: 

From Wi-Fi Woes to Wi-Fi Wow 

1. Don’t put your router on the floor. Get your router off the ground at least 5-7 feet if possible. Also, make sure you don’t hide your router. Set it up out in the open, not tucked in a cabinet. Your Wi-Fi modem is like a light bulb; when you turn it on, you want it to shine as far as possible, not straight into the ground or other things. 
2. Find where you most often use wireless internet (Wi-Fi) in your house and put the router within a clean line of sight to that room. A central location is an ideal location! 
3.  Remove possible unwanted band interruption, and steer clear of basic home appliances like cordless phones and microwaves that also can affect performance. 
4.  Limit applications that hog your speed. If your kids are always playing games online or doing video chats, your wireless experience can be slower for everyone else. You can check your speeds using our My Westman Wi-Fi App! 

Download the app: My Westman Wi-Fi

Our outstanding Wi-Fi Management app 

Curious about how much data your new guests are using online? Or maybe you’re looking to see if you’re getting the speeds you’re paying for? The My Westman Wi-Fi app will help you optimize your network even more! 

Below are some tips and tricks to help you manage your Wi-Fi — all fueled by our powerful XSTREAM Internet — using the My Westman Wi-Fi app. 

• View your data usage with the app – Just click “My Network” on the home screen, and select the “usage” tab. A list of individual devices connected to your network will appear. The awesome part? You can sort by download or upload and see who’s used the most data! 

• Create profiles and downtime – Make sure unwanted devices aren’t using your data after- hours by assigning all your devices to profiles, which you can quickly turn on and off. Go to the “People” tab to get started. 

• Set active time limits – After assigning devices to a profile, click on that profile to set and view Active Time limits — whether you only want your children to be online for 60 minutes per day or set weekday limits, the options are ample. 

• Pause individual devices – Visit the “things” tab to view all the devices connected to your XSTREAM Internet plan and pause Wi-Fi to any of them. Under the device’s options, Click the “internet access” off.  

• Create other networks – Want your guests to access your network while your home network remains secure? Easily create a guest network by selecting “My Network” and clicking on the plus sign.  

Finally, ensure you have the latest equipment running the most up-to-date system software. Older wireless routers or modems may not be able to handle the speeds that you receive with your Internet service.  

Our Customer Support Team has you covered and will easily check your account and services! They can be contacted at 204-725-4300 (toll free: 1-800-665-3337) or https://support.westmancom.com/  

Follow some of these tips, and you’ll definitely have your Wi-Fi optimized for your next big event. And for more solutions for optimizing your Internet experience, visit our Westman Wi-Fi App page.

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