Whether for leisure time or business travel, have you ever wondered why hotel Wi Fi can be so incredibly slow and unreliable, even if you have paid for the “premium” version of the hotel guest WiFi? It is somewhat surprising, given that the year 2022 has almost passed, how frequently visitors encounter hotel Wi Fi with slow connection.
In an approach that is not exceedingly technological, we will explicate why something like this takes place. In addition to that, we take a look at a few of the potential solutions that are currently on the market to assist you with issues, such as why is hotel wifi so bad and how you can boost it.
WiFi Bandwidth Limit
The performance of WiFi networks and the Internet are frequently discussed in terms of speed or bandwidth. The problem is that it simply refers to the speed limit. This presents a hurdle. It doesn’t really address the factors that have anything to do with how quickly you’ll actually move.
It is possible that you are already aware that simply because you have a large amount of available speed limit or bandwidth does not mean that you are permitted to use that speed.
WiFi Congestion = Slow Wi Fi
When there is a significant amount of traffic on a restricted number of lanes, having the potential to travel at a quicker speed is of no use. It’s the equivalent of getting trapped behind a line of automobiles traveling at a snail’s pace and blocking all of the lanes.
It makes no difference how high the speed restriction is if you are unable to go any faster than the permitted limit. The majority of hotel Wi Fi networks experience congestion, which is not always caused by speed limits.
This hassle has something to do with other businesses in addition to the hotel industry. Different peoples who have ever tried to have reliable WiFi in an apartment or condominium know that groups of Internet users or netizens and other WiFi networks have a significant influence on network reliability.
Congestion is a particular problem for hotel WiFi networks. Regular congestion is a problem that hotels frequently face, and there are a few specific reasons why this happens. It is typical for them to be constructed in such a manner.
Crowded Roads And WiFi Access Points Are Similar
There are only a limited number of technological devices that can broadcast as well as manage WiFi connections in different hotels. Access points is the common name for them. They are constructed and positioned according to the number of rooms, and historically, the assumption has been that there is one device in each room.
When you consider that most individuals bring between one and two electronic devices with them when they travel, it is easy to do the arithmetic and calculate how soon these WiFi access points could become overcrowded, resulting in poor hotel WiFi.
In most cases, your laptop or phone will select the access point that is the closest to it since it has the strongest signal. The problem is that hotels frequently book up rooms in close proximity to each other first. Therefore, even if the hotel isn’t full, the entry points can get congested with traffic, which, to continue with our analogy, is comparable to having automobiles in the lanes.
It Can Be Slow Even When There Is A Lot Of Bandwidth
It is common for there to be a greater availability of bandwidth outside of the hotel. The difficulty is that you are stuck behind a bottleneck of traffic while you strive to move ahead of it. It is the equivalent of getting trapped behind construction or having to merge lanes when driving on the highway.
The accessibility of greater bandwidth connections has been taken advantage of by a lot of hotels. However, this has not remedied the majority of the problems associated with poor hotel network.
It is significantly more challenging and not economical for hotels to replace as well as re-engineer their Internet access points. In order for them to accomplish it correctly, they will need to revamp it to account for the number of devices that people really bring with them when they travel.
It Becomes Worse During High Traffic Times
You could have also noted that the WiFi was fantastic when you initially checked in, but that it gradually became slower and slower as the evening progressed. The quality of the WiFi in hotels nearly invariably declines during peak hours, which in the case of hotels are in the evening – 8 to 11pm. This is typically the time of day when a significant number of peoples are working while simultaneously streaming TV.
Finding Solutions To Hotel WiFi Problems
Hotel That Has Reliable WiFi
The most popular response is for a hotel guest to look for hotels that are relatively new or that are known for having particularly good WiFi. Although it’s wonderful when you have the opportunity to do so, unfortunately it’s not always possible.
Also, due to the nature of congestion that we described before, the fact that someone else had a positive experience at a hotel does not guarantee that you would have a positive experience there as well.
The good news is that the quality of the network performance in hotels is, on the whole, improving over time.
Software And Devices
You may boost your Internet access with the help of a variety of software packages as well as hardware gadgets. They are able to assist you in optimizing your connections as well as giving priority to the traffic that is essential.
For instance, if you are streaming a program and sending email at the same time, they can optimize the traffic so that the email does not interfere with the video even if the connection is rather weak.
Devices
Investing in a travel router can assist in making your WiFi network more secure, and the best of these devices can also assist in making the connection more stable. Top notch Wi Fi routers also come equipped with a Virtual Private Network client.
In the event that you are unfamiliar, a virtual private network or VPN, can assist in adding an extra layer of security. But then again, even while the WiFi security in hotels is far better than it used to be, you should still be aware of the potential dangers associated with WiFi.
Software WiFi Solutions
One of the most well-liked choices you may make is to go with Speedify. It’s a piece of software that can be installed on your desktop computer or mobile device and executed to assist boost your WiFi connection. What could be of more interest to netizens is that it features an integrated VPN for that extra layer of protection.
What’s the catch? You have to execute it on every single one of your technological devices. When you have a number of different electronic gadgets, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. If you travel with your children or other family members who are not as technically savvy, it can become a significant hassle as well.
In addition to that, it needs action on your part on each individual device. If you frequently travel with more than one device, such as a laptop and a phone, for example, or with many people, a travel router is going to be the superior option.
On the other hand, if you only use a laptop or a phone when you are traveling, software, such as Speedify, is most certainly an excellent solution for your Wi Fi connection needs.
Cellular Hotspot
It doesn’t matter if it’s a stand-alone device or if you’re just using the personal hotspot on your phone – this is rapidly becoming the best option to fix the problem. If you travel only sometimes and have low to moderate data needs, this unlimited plan could be a decent option for you.
However, cellular hotspots provide a dilemma for frequent travelers because the unlimited plans offered by most providers are not truly limitless. When you connect to a Wi Fi hotspot, the majority of the world’s largest carriers provide you with even less bandwidth than is actually accessible.
In addition to that, hotspots typically have difficulty managing more than a few connected devices at once. Therefore, in addition to using a significant amount of bandwidth, they typically start to experience their very own form of congestion. If you travel with more than two devices or use a significant amount of data, it is strongly recommended that you make advantage of any accessible WiFi.
Finally, building environments aren’t ideal for the operation of certain technologies, including 5G and even 4G. Expecting continuously fantastic speeds from your own hotspot is unrealistic, so even though the hotel’s WiFi might not work, it’s still a good idea to use it.
A travel router that already has a built-in cellular connection, or one that allows you to use the hotspot on your phone as a backup connection, is a fantastic alternative for being able to make use of the greatest connection that is currently available. In addition to that, it will assist you in avoiding the need to reconfigure all of your devices each time, which is a huge time saver.
Hotel Hardwired Connection
These are becoming less ubiquitous, but you can still connect if you do have a laptop or a portable router that has an Ethernet connector. Ones that are hardwired typically do not experience the same levels of congestion as wireless connections. Although it is likely that the hotel does not have a lot of bandwidth, this is not often the primary issue that arises.
The fact that less and fewer people use this approach presents the greatest obstacle to relying on it as your solution. To be more specific, the majority of hotel chains do not believe there is benefit in continuing to add Ethernet ports in newly constructed hotels that are focused on value. It is,without a doubt, a much uncomplicated and more cost-effective strategy to install WiFi in a hotel.
Boosting The Quality Of Hotel Wifi Signal
There is a good chance that the signal in your hotel room is not strong enough to provide you with a consistent and rapid WiFi connectivity and stable connection. It’s possible that your room is located too far from the router, or that the thick walls in your home are causing your connection speed to be excruciatingly slow.
You won’t be able to improve a weak hotel Wi-Fi connection by yourself, but you can improve your signal reception by upgrading the antenna on your device. Your cell phone or laptop does not have a receiving antenna that is designed to work with long-range WiFi since it is not compatible with it. The antenna on a mobile phone or laptop computer should be as small as possible while still being aesthetically pleasing.
Consequently, making use of a large and unsightly USB antenna is one technique to improve the speed of a slow Wi-Fi signal in a hotel room. Even if the Wi-Fi signal in your hotel room is weak, you will be able to benefit from a more reliable connection by purchasing an inexpensive antenna.
Obviously, if you are already at the hotel, this won’t be of much use to you right now. However, you may want to place an order for one of these USB antennas when you do need one, and you’ll have it ready to use on your next trip. It’s also possible that you just so happened to be staying in a hotel that was conveniently located next to a store that sold pc accessories.
In most cases, you will be able to inquire about having mail sent to your hotel room by speaking with a member of the front desk staff. If you choose to send your package overnight, you will get it the following day at the latest. In this scenario, you should also get for yourself a USB extension cable.
If you use a USB extension cable in conjunction with the USB antenna, you’ll be able to relocate the antenna wherever you choose within the space. When conducting Internet connection speed tests, it is possible that repositioning the antenna even a little distance can have a significant impact on the outcomes.
When the poor connection in your room is caused by a weak wireless network signal, these antennas are fantastic for enhancing Internet speed because they boost the signal strength. However, you will only be able to increase the speed of your laptop by using them because your mobile phone will not have a USB connector.
When you have more than one mobile device, you might find that having something like this WiFi range extender is helpful. This Netgear device, likewise, has huge antennas that are somewhat unsightly, but they will function more effectively to pick up that poor WiFi signal.
The small box will generate its own WiFi network once it has successfully connected to the hotel’s network. After that, you can connect your mobile devices, such as your laptop, cell phone, as well as other portable electronics, to the range extender. These two options are only going to be helpful in the event that the slow Internet connection at the hotel is brought on by a poor signal.
They do, however, require a good signal in order to work with. If the WiFi connection in your hotel room is very poor, your best strategy is to ask to be transferred to a new room. This will make available for you the most chance of success.
Final Words
What is slowing down hotel Wi Fi network determines how to speed it up. If the WiFi connection is weak, attempt to find some equipment with a large, unsightly antenna. As an alternative, check to see whether your room has an Ethernet port. Is there an Ethernet port on your laptop as well? Is there an Ethernet cable available at the hotel counter?
Most of the time, hotel Internet is slow for the simple reason that the hotel is either cheap, or they do not want to invest in fast Internet for their valued guests. There’s nothing you can do about it. Next time, look for folks who highlight Internet speed in their guest experience reviews. You might be able to connect to the Internet by tethering your phone or by utilizing a mobile WiFi hotspot with a local data sim card.