Desert Signal IT

← Back to Blog

5 Ways to Improve WiFi Speed in Tucson Homes

Posted in Wi-Fi & Networking · Tucson · 2025

5 Ways to Improve WiFi Speed in Tucson Homes

Slow WiFi can make even a beautiful Tucson evening feel frustrating. Whether you’re trying to stream a movie in Rita Ranch, hop on a Zoom call in Vail or keep the kids’ tablets happy in Marana, a choppy connection can ruin the vibe quickly.

The good news: most WiFi issues in Arizona homes are fixable with a few realistic changes. You don’t always need a new internet plan or the most expensive router—just a smarter setup.

1. Put Your Router in the Right Spot

In many homes, the router is hiding in the worst possible place: inside a cabinet, behind a TV, or stuck in a far corner by the ONT or cable line.

For better coverage:

  • Place the router as centrally as possible in your home, not buried in a closet.
  • Keep it off the floor—waist-height or higher is usually better.
  • Avoid blocking it with big TVs, metal filing cabinets, refrigerators or thick masonry walls.
  • Ask your ISP (or Desert Signal IT) about moving the modem/ONT if it’s in a terrible spot.

In Tucson stucco homes, walls and metal framing can kill signal quickly. A small change in placement can dramatically improve your bars in the back bedrooms.

2. Use 5 GHz (or 6 GHz) Where It Matters

Most modern routers broadcast at least two networks: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (sometimes combined under one network name).

  • 2.4 GHz – Slower, but reaches farther and through more walls. Good for smart plugs, cameras and IoT devices.
  • 5 GHz – Faster, but doesn’t travel as far. Ideal for streaming, gaming, work laptops and video calls.
  • 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E) – Very fast, but short range. Great if you’re in the same room as the router with compatible devices.

If your router allows it, you can:

  • Put work devices, TVs and consoles on the 5 GHz or 6 GHz network.
  • Leave smart home gadgets on 2.4 GHz for reach and compatibility.

3. Reduce Interference Around Your Router

In Arizona, interference often comes from:

  • Microwaves and cordless phones.
  • Baby monitors and older wireless cameras.
  • Multiple neighbors’ WiFi networks in apartments or townhomes.

To help your signal:

  • Move the router a few feet away from the microwave, baby monitor or cordless-phone base.
  • Change the WiFi channel in your router settings (especially on 2.4 GHz) to avoid overlap with neighbors.
  • Consider upgrading very old 2.4 GHz-only devices that constantly hog bandwidth.

4. Consider a Mesh System for Larger or Two-Story Homes

Many Tucson-area houses have:

  • Long single-story layouts.
  • Two-story homes with a router stuck downstairs in one corner.
  • Block, brick, or thick stucco walls that WiFi hates.

In those cases, a single router often isn’t enough. A mesh WiFi system uses multiple access points that talk to each other and share one network name.

Benefits of mesh:

  • More even coverage in bedrooms and home offices.
  • Smoother roaming when you walk around with a phone or laptop.
  • Simple app-based setup and monitoring for most systems.

If you’re unsure which mesh kit to buy or how many units you actually need, Desert Signal IT can help you plan and install a system that fits your house instead of guessing.

5. Clean Up Devices and Check for Bandwidth Hogs

Sometimes the WiFi isn’t the whole problem—your devices can slow everything down too.

Quick checks:

  • Look for big downloads (game updates, cloud backups, video uploads) running in the background.
  • Close unused streaming apps on TVs, tablets and phones.
  • Run a malware/virus scan on Windows PCs that feel suspiciously slow on every network.
  • Restart your router and modem/ONT once in a while (unplug for 20–30 seconds and plug back in).

If your speed is still terrible after those steps, run a speed test with:

  • A laptop plugged directly into the router or modem (if possible).
  • WiFi tests in multiple rooms, at different times of day.

If the speeds wired directly into the router are fine but WiFi is bad, it’s usually a placement, interference or coverage issue—not your plan.

When It’s Time to Call for Help

You don’t have to fight this alone. It’s worth getting hands-on help if:

  • You’ve tried moving the router and restarting everything, but WiFi still drops constantly.
  • You work from home and reliable video calls are non-negotiable.
  • Your kids’ schoolwork or gaming is constantly interrupted by lag.
  • You’re ready to invest in a better setup, but don’t want to waste money on the wrong equipment.

Desert Signal IT offers local, on-site WiFi help in Tucson, Vail, Marana, Green Valley, Rita Ranch and nearby areas. We can:

  • Map out where your signal is dropping.
  • Recommend realistic upgrades that fit your budget.
  • Set up mesh systems, guest networks and basic security.

Next Steps

If you want to start with DIY, try this quick order:

  1. Move your router to a better, more central location.
  2. Connect work and streaming devices to the 5 GHz network.
  3. Reduce interference (microwave, baby monitor, clutter around router).
  4. Consider mesh if your home is large, long or two-story.
  5. Clean up devices and look for bandwidth hogs.

If you’d rather have a neighbor who does this all the time handle it with you, you can always reach out. We’ll walk through your setup, explain your options in plain language and leave you with WiFi that feels a lot more like “set it and forget it.”