How to set up a faster Wi-Fi connection.

Is your home Wi-Fi network using DHCP or a static IP address? This small tweak can help you connect faster.

Allowing your Wi-Fi router to automatically assign IP addresses to all devices can sometimes be the silent cause of connection loss or difficulties in sharing data between smart devices in your home.

The identification system is hidden behind each Wi-Fi signal bar.

Whenever you connect your phone, computer, or robot vacuum to your home Wi-Fi network, your router automatically assigns that device a unique identifier called an internal IP address. Modern networks operate on two main IP address allocation methods: dynamic IP (managed by the DHCP protocol) and static IP.

Should you use a static or dynamic IP address for devices connected to Wi-Fi?

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

By default, most modern home routers have DHCP enabled. Simply put, DHCP is like a hotel manager; every time a device checks in, it automatically assigns a random number of available rooms (IP addresses). When the device disconnects or you restart the router, these room numbers are reclaimed and changed on the next connection. Conversely, a static IP address is like "buying" a fixed number of rooms for a single device, ensuring that the address never changes regardless of how many times the system restarts.

Does internet speed actually change?

Much debate has erupted within the tech community surrounding which IP configuration yields higher network speeds. Technical experts assert that, in terms of bandwidth performance, download/upload speeds, and latency (ping), neither static IP nor DHCP significantly impacts your network speed. Network speed depends entirely on your internet service provider's (ISP) plan and the hardware limitations of your Wi-Fi router.

However, static IP addresses have a slight advantage in the initial 'handshake' phase. Because the device and router already know each other's addresses without needing to go through the intermediate DHCP queue, devices with static IP addresses can establish a connection to the network a few milliseconds faster after startup.

Internet speed mainly depends on the ISP's plan.

PHOTO: PHONG DO

Smart IP allocation formula for the modern home.

So when should you leave DHCP as is and when should you manually configure a static IP address? The answer lies in the specific needs of each device.

• Keep DHCP enabled for mobile devices : For devices that frequently connect and disconnect from the network, such as smartphones, laptops, or tablets used by guests, let DHCP handle it automatically. This saves system resources and avoids IP conflicts.
• Assign a static IP address to your fixed devices and data sharing : This is a secret tip for tech enthusiasts. Devices that act as central hubs, require remote connectivity, or frequently share data with other devices need a permanent, fixed IP address.

If you frequently stream games from your PC to a handheld gaming device (like Steam Deck), play online games on your PS5, store movies and photos on a data storage server (NAS), or control a smart home system (Smart Home hub), setting a static IP address will ensure that devices always find each other instantly after each periodic system restart, completely eliminating hidden disconnections or device not found errors on the local network.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cach-cai-dat-giup-ket-noi-mang-wi-fi-nhanh-hon-185260517120105836.htm