You're watching the latest season of Orange is the New Black on Netflix when, all of a sudden, the video jerks to a stop—and the endless buffering begins. It's frustrating when your network slows down, but there are a few tricks you can use boost your Wi-Fi signal.
你在看Netflix最新一季的《女子监狱》，突然视频戛然而止，无休无止的缓冲开始了。网络速度变慢着实恼人，但有些小秘笈可以提升Wi-Fi信号。

1.DON'T HIDE YOUR ROUTER.
1.不要把路由器藏起来

Most people hide their routers because they're unsightly or in the way, but placing a router in a closet is a one-way ticket to slow Wi-Fi: Walls and doors can degrade and absorb signal strength. Find a central location in your home and put your router on a table or bookshelf. Because some routers are designed to project a Wi-Fi signal slightly downward, keeping it higher off the ground will evenly distribute a Wi-Fi signal throughout your home.
多数人会嫌路由器有碍观瞻，或因挡道占地方而把路由器藏起来，但把路由器放橱柜里只会减弱Wi-Fi信号：墙壁和门会吸收信号、降低信号强度。在你家找个中心位置，把路由器放桌上或者放书架上。因为有些路由器的设计是把无线信号稍稍向下发送，把路由器高置可以让信号在你家均匀分布。

2.STAY AWAY FROM APPLIANCES AND METAL OBJECTS.
2.远离电器和金属物件
Microwaves, cordless telephones, flourescent lights, and even other routers may interfere with your Wi-Fi signal.Place your router away from household appliances and set it to a different wireless channel and frequency. You should also avoid placing your router near metal objects, which can absorb signal strength.
微波炉、无线电话和日光灯乃至其它路由器都会影响你的无线信号。让路由器远离家用电器，设置不同的无线频道和频率。同样也要避免把路由器放在金属物件周围，因为金属物件会吸收信号强度。

3.RESET ON A SCHEDULE
3.定期重置路由
A majority of tech support problems can be cleared up by simply resetting or rebooting your router or modem on a regular basis. And if you buy an outlet timer, set the timer to reset your router once a day at an off-peak time.
多数技术支持问题只要定期重置路由器或者重启调制解调器就可以解决。你要是买定时插座，就设置好每天避开高峰时段重置路由器。

4.UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE
4.升级固件
Running firmware updates is annoying and time consuming. But if you have an older router, those updates ensure your router's software is running at its best and most efficient. It's best to buy a new router every seven or eight years.
升级固件糟心且耗时。可要是你的路由器较旧，升级可以确保其软件高效有效地运行。每七八年就买个新路由器最好不过了。

5.ADJUST YOUR ROUTER'S ANTENNAS.
5.调节路由器的天线
Most routers have two adjustable antennas on top. If yours are parallel, it's time to switch things up and go perpendicular. Wi-Fi works best when signals are parallel to a device's internal antenna, which are horizontal in laptops and vertical in desktop computers. Internal antennas vary in mobile devices, depending on how you're holding them (in portrait or landscape mode). Keeping a router's antennas perpendicular to each other will ensure a solid connection between your home network and your smartphones and laptops.
多数路由器顶上有两根可调节天线。如果你的路由器天线是平行的，就该转动下，让天线相互垂直。无线信号和设备内置天线平行时运行最佳，而手提电脑内置天线呈水平状态，台式电脑是竖直的。手机内置天线方向不一，取决于你怎么拿手机（竖直还是横向）。路由器的两根天线保持垂直可以确保家庭网络和手机、手提都连得上且信号佳。

6.USE BEER CANS
6.用啤酒罐
The aluminum in beer reflects and extend the signal farther than the router itself.
比起路由器本身，啤酒的铝罐能把信号反射延伸得更远。
Remove the pop top and cut around the bottom of the can to remove it. Repeat the process for the top of the can, just below the mouth, but don't cut all the way around—make sure the mouth of the can is still attached. Then, from the bottom, cut down the middle of the can. Fan out the flaps to create a curve or parabola and turn the can upside down to stand it up. Stick one of the router's antennas through the mouth of the beer can and use a small piece of duct tape or blu-tack to keep it in place, then repeat the process for the other antenna. Although your router might look messy, your signal strength should greatly improve.
把拉环去掉，把罐底去掉。易拉罐顶部紧贴罐口的地方同样方式操作，但不要切断，确保罐口还连着。然后，从底部把易拉罐从中间破开，展开铝皮呈一定抛物线弧度，把易拉罐倒置支起来。把路由器一根天线从罐口穿出来，再用一小块强力胶布或者蓝丁胶固定住，另一根天线同样方法处理。尽管这样你的路由器看上去乱作一团，但信号强度会大幅提升。

7.PASSWORD-PROTECT YOUR NETWORK
7.给网络设置密码
Because home Wi-Fi speeds are dependent on how many people are using it at one time, a strong password is key: It will ensure that only authorized people are using your network. Select a password that is a hard-to-figure-out combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
因为家用无线网络速度取决于同一时间有多少人在用，强密码是关键：这样可以确保只有得到许可的人在使用你的网络。选难以破解的字母、数字和符号的组合作为密码。

8.AND STAGGER HEAVY BANDWIDTH USEAGE
8.阻止重度使用宽带者
If too many people on your home network are using heavy bandwidth at the same time, like playing online video games, watching Netflix, and downloading movies and music from iTunes, then your entire network will slow down for everyone.
要是同时间有很多人在使用你的家庭网络宽带，如在线打游戏、看Netflix、从iTunes下载电影和音乐，那么你整个网络都会速度减缓。

9.BUY A REPEATER
9.买台无线中继器
Most routers have a range of about 150 feet. The easiest fix to boost the signal in those rooms is to buy a Wi-Fi repeater, which can plug into any wall outlet and will increases a signal's range and strength.
多数路由器的射程在150英尺。增加信号强度最简单的方法就是买个无线中继器，可以插入任何一个壁式终端，能扩大信号范围、增加信号强度。