How to compare Wi-Fi near your access point

Is your connection slow or uneven in one part of the building? First, check how it behaves close to the Wi-Fi access point, where distance and walls should have less effect. That gives you a useful reference for comparison, not a guarantee that every part of the internet is working well.

Use the Wi-Fi Signal tool to watch response time, jitter, and lost requests. Compare readings close to the access point with readings where you usually notice trouble.

Compare the connection near and far from the access point

1. Open the Wi-Fi Signal tool on the device you want to check. Keep any VPN, browser, and network settings the same for each comparison.
2. Take the device into the same room as the access point. Stand about 3 to 6 feet away, with a clear path between them. Avoid placing the device directly against the router.
3. Watch the response time, jitter, and lost requests for a few minutes. Note whether the readings stay steady or jump around. Keep other devices from starting large downloads or uploads during this first check.
4. Move to the problem spot and repeat the check for about the same length of time. Hold or place the device in a similar position and orientation.
5. If the results change from one run to another, repeat both locations once more. Comparing the same device in similar conditions helps separate a location problem from normal variation.

For a fair comparison, keep the device connected to the same Wi-Fi network and use the same browser. If you change rooms, let the device connect before starting the next observation. A phone or laptop may hold on to a distant access point briefly when a network has multiple access points.

What the results mean

Near the access point is steady, but the other spot is not

If response time, jitter, or lost requests become noticeably worse in the problem spot, Wi-Fi coverage or interference is a likely part of the trouble. Walls, floors, metal cabinets, and distance can weaken the radio connection. Try a different device position or access point location before changing your internet plan.

Both locations have similar problems

If the readings are poor or unstable in both places, distance from the access point may not be the main cause. The access point, its connection to the router or modem, a busy network, a VPN, or the route to the test server could be involved. Repeat the test at a quieter time and check whether other devices show the same pattern.

The readings are steady in both locations

The test did not catch a connection problem during those minutes. That does not rule out short dropouts or trouble that happens only during a call, game, or upload. Run the tool when the issue normally occurs, and try a longer check with Connection Stability if you need to watch for interruptions over several minutes.

Response time is high but there are few lost requests

A slow response can make pages or games feel delayed even when the connection does not drop. The test sends requests beyond your local Wi-Fi, so a distant server, VPN, or internet route can add delay. For more context on what a browser can and cannot tell you about radio signal strength, see How to test Wi-Fi performance without dBm.

How to improve the connection

1. Move the device into the open. Test on a desk or table rather than inside a bag, behind a screen, or beside a metal object. Retest in the same place after moving it.
2. Check which network the device joined. Make sure it is connected to your usual home network, not a guest network or a saved hotspot. On Windows 11, check Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi. On macOS and iPhone, check Settings › Wi-Fi or System Settings › Wi-Fi. On Android, look under Settings › Network & internet › Internet; the wording can vary by manufacturer.
3. Reconnect to Wi-Fi. Turn Wi-Fi off and back on, then confirm the device reconnects to the intended network. If you forget the network and join it again, make sure you have its password first.
4. Reduce activity on the network. Pause large downloads, cloud backups, and video uploads, then compare the readings again. If the connection improves, another transfer may be competing for airtime or internet capacity.
5. Check the access point's placement. Put it in an open, central location if practical, away from cabinets, thick walls, and large metal objects. Retest the trouble spot after moving it.
6. Restart the access point if problems persist everywhere. Save any important work first, then restart the router or access point using its normal controls. Give it time to reconnect before testing again. If only one device remains affected, restart that device and check for system or network-adapter updates.

Why a nearby test is not a pure Wi-Fi measurement

The Wi-Fi Signal tool measures how requests behave between your device and a test endpoint. A result can reflect the wireless link, but also the router, internet connection, VPN, and route to that endpoint. The browser cannot read the Wi-Fi signal level in dBm, so the comparison is about connection behavior, not a direct measurement of radio strength.

Use the near-access-point result as a baseline, then compare it with the same test in the place where you need a better connection.