Getting Wi-Fi throughout your house

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- We're dependent on Wi-Fi to access the Internet in different parts of our homes. But too often service is sluggish or there are dead zones. Consumer Reports has advice to help improve Wi-Fi in your house.

Many people get Internet service through their cable provider. The signal comes in through a modem that connects to a router. Then the signal is sent wirelessly through the house. So what can go wrong? Plenty, but Consumer Reports says start with where your router is placed.

Router signals do not go through walls that easily, so the fewer walls, fewer closed doors, fewer floors the signal has to travel, the better your chances are of getting the signal covering your entire house. So if you're having trouble, try moving your router and modem to the middle of your home. Your service provider may be willing to re-run the cable where you need it.

Also check your service plan to make sure you're getting enough Internet speed. For U.S. homes, 10 megabits per second is the average, but you'll need 20 or more if you're playing demanding games online or streaming a lot of high-def movies at once.

If you're paying for enough speed from your service provider and you're still not getting good speed in your house or you have some dead spots, then there is a good chance it could be your router, and a newer, faster router could actually help.

One to look for is the Netgear AC1900 Nighthawk for $185. Consumer Reports says it's good for larger houses and will handle several devices that are using Wi-Fi simultaneously. For far less, Consumer Reports also recommends the Netgear N750. It costs $90 but doesn't use the latest 802.11ac technology for the absolute fastest speed.