How to enable airtime fairness to improve Wi-Fi

This guide will explain how to improve your Wi-Fi performance by enabling a hidden setting called airtime fairness. This feature is particularly useful for those with a home network with many devices, some old and others new, and solves the problem of perceived slowness despite an optimal router position.

Airtime fairness is a technical solution that allows faster devices to transmit data more quickly, reducing latency and improving the browsing experience on smartphones, laptops, and other modern devices.

• Who it's useful for: Users with multiple connected devices, especially if some are old and others are new.
• Why it's useful: It allows optimizing the use of Wi-Fi bandwidth, reducing waiting times for faster devices.

By following this guide, you will learn how to configure airtime fairness on your router and evaluate whether this setting is suitable for your specific needs.

Prerequisites

• Router with access to the administration panel and the ability to modify wireless settings.
• Connected devices to a Wi-Fi network, including old and new devices.
• Internet access for any firmware updates or consultation of specific guides.

PROCEDURE: Enabling airtime fairness on the router

By following this guide, you can improve Wi-Fi performance on the fastest devices in your home network.

• Step 1: Access the router's administration panel. This is usually done by entering the router's IP address in the web browser. The common IP address is often something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
• Step 2: Log in with administrative credentials. If you haven't changed them, you should find this information on the back of the router or in the user manual.
• Step 3: Navigate to the router's wireless settings. The menus may vary depending on the router model, but look for sections like Wireless, Wi-Fi, or Advanced Settings.
• Step 4: Look for the airtime fairness option or a similar term. It might be hidden under submenus like QoS (Quality of Service) or Advanced Wireless Settings.
• Step 5: Enable airtime fairness. This can be done with a simple toggle or by selecting an option from a dropdown menu.
• Step 6: Save the changes and restart the router if necessary. Some routers require a restart to apply the new settings.
• Step 7: Verify Wi-Fi performance on the fastest devices in your network. You should notice a reduction in latency and an overall improvement in performance.

Verification and Troubleshooting: How to test if it works and what to do if it fails

After enabling airtime fairness on your router, follow these steps to verify its functionality and resolve any issues.

Functionality Test

• Speed test: Use online tools like Speedtest to measure connection speed on fast devices (e.g., laptops, smartphones) and compare the results with those before enabling airtime fairness.
• Latency test: Perform latency (ping) tests on fast devices to check for any improvements in network response.
• Usage test: Monitor network usage during intensive activities (e.g., streaming, video calls) to notice any improvements in stability and signal quality.

Troubleshooting

• Slow devices: If slow devices (e.g., old smart plugs) show connectivity issues, consider updating or replacing them with newer models.
• Operator-provided router: If you cannot access the airtime fairness setting, contact your operator's technical support to check if it can be enabled via a firmware update or router change.
• Too many devices: If you have more than 40-50 connected devices, consider purchasing a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 router or using alternative protocols like Zigbee for smart home devices.
• Separate VLAN: Isolate smart devices on a separate VLAN to reduce the load on the main Wi-Fi.

If problems persist, consider using advanced network monitoring tools or consult a specialized technician for a more in-depth analysis.

Educational Summary and Call to Action

At the end of this guide, you will have understood the importance of the airtime fairness setting in improving your Wi-Fi performance, especially in environments with both old and new devices. This setting, often overlooked, can make a bigger difference than optimal router placement.

• How Wi-Fi works: Only one device at a time can transmit data. Without airtime fairness, slow devices take the same amount of time as fast ones, causing latency on faster devices.
• Solution: Airtime fairness assigns each device the same amount of time to transmit, prioritizing faster devices without excessively penalizing slower ones.
• Considerations: Evaluate your specific needs. If you have many low-priority smart home devices, airtime fairness might not be the optimal solution.
• Advanced solutions: For networks with many devices, consider using Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 routers, isolating smart devices on a separate VLAN, or using protocols like Zigbee.

Try configuring airtime fairness on your router and observe the improvements in your network's performance. If necessary, explore more advanced solutions to further optimize your Wi-Fi connection.