Tips for Boosting Your WiFi Connection

If you are learning at home, you may have times when you realize that your Wi-Fi just isn’t cutting it anymore. It might be a frozen video, a webpage that won't load or delay in video conferencing. Use the tips listed on this guide to get the most out of your bandwidth.

Check Your Network

Make sure your devices are connected to the network that you think they are. Sometimes devices will connect onto your internet service provider’s lower-speed wireless hotspot rather than your home’s high-speed network, for example.

If you are experiencing issues with your network:

Temporarily stop high network-utilization activities, such as video streaming or large file downloads
Remove any old, slow, insecure, or unauthorized devices from your wireless network

Test Your Connection

Test the speed of your internet connection using one of the tools listed below... To check if you are receiving the internet speeds you are paying for To ensure adequate throughput, latency, or loss thresholds for your online activities

Speedof.Me

Check your Internet speed regularly with this online tool. It works on all devices include mobile without having to install an app.

Fast.com

Fast.com is an internet speed-testing service hosted by Netflix. The speed results you get are comparable to the speeds you can expect while streaming content from Netflix.

Increase Your Speed

There are several actions you can take to increase your internet connection speed:

Contact your internet service provider to upgrade your package, or to get in-depth troubleshooting support
Consider using a wired connection, if it is possible on your device. Connecting via a wired Ethernet cable is much faster than Wi-Fi

If you cannot use a wired connection, you can still minimize the amount of interference and maximize your available wireless bandwidth on your wireless connection:

If you are far away, move closer to your wireless router to increase your signal strength
Move obstacles away from your device and the wireless router to decrease absorption, reflection, and scattering
Move away from interferent devices, such as microwaves, Bluetooth speakers, or cordless phones
Temporarily turn off Wi-Fi on devices that are not actively being used

Check Your Wireless Router

Your wireless router is usually the device that physically broadcasts Wi-fi radio signals throughout your home. If you are too far away from it, your connection speed to the internet will suffer when signals are lost. Actions you can take to improve the speed from your device to your wireless router include:

Move your device to a more centrally located spot in your home, if possible, so that it is closer on average to mobile devices in its range
Enable both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz operation, if supported on your device

Many wireless routers and access points support enabling both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz operation simultaneously. The two frequency bands do not interfere with each other, and by using both, they benefit by covering each others' weaknesses.

Mohawk College WiFi Networks

When you are on campus, choose the network called Mohawk-WiFi. For connection instructions, choose your operating system (Windows or macOS) or mobile device (iOS and Android) from the tabs included in this guide.

Windows 10

Step 1: Click the Network Icon

Step 2: Select Mohawk-WiFi

Step 3: Log in With Your MohawkID and Password

MacOS

Step 1: Open Airport and Select Mohawk-WiFi

Step 2: Enter Your MohawkID and Password

Step 3: Click Continue to Verify

iOS Devices

Step 1: Tap Settings

Step 2: Tap Wi-Fi

Step 3: Ensure Wi-Fi is on and Select Mohawk-WiFi

Step 4: Enter Your MohawkID and Password

Step 5: Tap Accept to Verify

Android Devices

Step 1: Tap Settings

Step 2: Tap Connections

Step 3: Tap Wi-Fi

Step 4: Select Mohawk-WiFi

Step 5: Use the Following Settings to Set Up the Wi-Fi

EAP method : PEAP
Phase 2 authentication : None or MS-CHAP v2
CA certificate (if prompted): Don't validate
Domain (if prompted): mohawkwifi.mohawkcollege.ca
Identity : Your 9-digit Mohawk ID
Anonymous identity : Leave blank
Password : Your MyMohawk Password

ChromeOS

Step 1: Click on the Desktop Control Area Where the Battery Indicator is

Step 2: Click on the Wi-Fi Icon

Step 3: Select Mohawk-WiFi

Step 4: Use the Following Settings for the Network

EAP method: PEAP
EAP Phase 2 Authentication: Automatic or MSCHAPv2
Server CA certificate: Do not check
Identity: Your MohawkID (student number)
Password: Your MohawkID Password
Anonymous Identity : (Leave Blank)

Students and staff may also access WiFi on campus using the Eduroam network. Information regarding connecting to Eduroam can be found here: Eduroam Networks

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