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If you are having trouble at home with applications like Zoom (freezing frames, choppy audio/video), then this guide is for you.

First, gather some info (do these tests under your usual working conditions, i.e. Spotify running, roommate working, etc.):

Things to consider when thinking about your home WiFi:

• Your Internet Service Provider is probably NOT the problem.
  You can check by plugging your computer into your modem with the ethernet cable provided in the modem kit and performing the speed tests listed above. Do this with everything else that uses your internet around your home turned off, all your applications on your computer except this test should be closed, and your computer's WiFi disabled.
• WiFi is a shared resource.
  Meaning that the more devices, like your phone, TV, Nest Mini, Amazon Alexa, roommate's laptop, etc. that are on and doing something, the less bandwidth you will have in your share.
• WiFi signals are absorbed by walls, cabinets, bookshelves, floors, brick, basically EVERYTHING!
  Two walls will reduce your 5GHz signal down to an unacceptable level in just 20 to 30 feet (i.e. basement to upstairs bedroom).
• Your home wireless will be degraded for ALL DEVICES by the device with the worst signal.
  This is because your devices are sharing "airtime", which is heavily consumed by devices with poor signal. So, if your computer is in the room next to your wireless modem and has good signal, but your roommate's is in the living room, 50 feet and 3 walls from the modem, neither of you will have good bandwidth, and both of you will be having problems.
• If you live in an apartment or condo building you will probably be sharing WiFi spectrum with other residents.
  Your modem will automatically try and avoid the same WiFi frequencies as your neighbors, but this can only go so far in preventing contention.

Solutions:

• Cheapest and most effective: plug your computer into the modem with an ethernet cable.
  Alternative version of this solution: plug other devices into the router like your Apple TV, Roku, etc. The fewer devices using WiFi, the better!
• Sometimes easy, sometimes not: Move your modem to a more central location with the least amount of obstructions between it and those using it.
  Note: don't place your computer too close to your WiFi modem, distances less than 3 feet (1 meter) are too close.
• Somewhat expensive, but effective: Add a mesh network to your home.
  • The is .
    Note: there are other good mesh WiFi systems listed in the article linked above as well as a detailed discussion of this problem and mesh network systems.

Notes on bandwidth needs of various activities:

• ´Ü´Ç´Ç³¾Ìý():
  • for person to person: 600kbps (up/down) minimum, 1.8 Mbps (up/down) for best quality.
  • for group calls: 800kbps/1.0Mbps (up/down) minimum, 3.0 Mbps (up/down) for best quality.
• :
  • depends on the bitrate of the video stream, best if your download speed is 2 times faster than the video stream's bitrate.
    Thus, for instructors, when saving your Kaltura videos, consider using the minimum bitrate setting that you can and still have the resolution to allow reading text in your video.
    Kaltura's would result in a video stream of between 2Mbps and 17Mbps.
• (FYI for consideration in troubleshooting):
  • 0.5 Mbps minimum, 25 Mbps for ultra HD quality.