Wi Archives

Little buys that make life better

This BPA-free straw device can stop your hiccups in just a few seconds. Better than holding your breath or asking someone to scare you.
Make your own lattes at home with a handheld frother (25% off). Works great with cold liquids, creamers, and oat or almond milk, too.
I hate ironing. A steamer is fast, easy and way harder to mess up. This one holds lots of water and works on both heavy and delicate fabrics.
If your closet, laundry room or storage area is a dark cave, you need an LED motion-sensor light. This one has three color options, runs 24 hours on a charge and is easy to install.
This popular Wi-Fi extender from TP-Link is deeply discounted. It covers up to 1,200 square feet and connects to as many as 20 devices. Plug it into an outlet and set it up in two taps.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

You can’t see me: An SSID is your network’s unique identifier. Hide it so randos don’t see your Wi-Fi network when they’re scanning for nearby options. To do this, go into your router’s settings, look for Wireless Settings, and tap Disable SSID broadcast. “Kim, how the heck do I access the settings?” Go to No. 1 here.

Amazon bans drivers from singing?

Open/download audio

Some Amazon drivers say they can’t even hum along to their favorite tunes. And NFL fans, want to watch every game this season? Be ready to cough up $2,500! Plus, cellphone bans in classrooms and an illegal Navy Wi-Fi dish on a warship!

Imagine that! Dependable internet on a plane: United Airlines is joining other airlines like Hawaiian to use Elon Musk’s Starlink for better in-flight Wi-Fi. Testing starts soon; look for it on passenger flights by late 2025.

Which of the following will totally destroy your Wi-Fi signal strength? Is it … A.) LED lights, B.) Wooden furniture, C.) Mirrors or D.) Ceramic tiles?

Find the answer here! →

9.9 miles

New world record for how far a Wi-Fi signal can reach. The testing happened in Joshua Tree National Park, which is ideal, given how little interference there is. I know what you’re thinking: “I can’t get decent Wi-Fi in my house!”

Share your Wi-Fi password the easy way

Open/download audio

It’s always a pain to share your home internet password. I’ve got a tip to make it easier: all you have to do is create a QR code.

190 Gbps

Speed reached in 6G Wi-Fi tests. The new standard is so fast that you’ll be able to download an entire season of your favorite show in a few seconds. But it’s not coming for another couple of years.

📶 Myth, busted: Bars measure signal strength, not quality. You may get clearer calls with fewer bars if you’re on a less-crowded frequency. For consistent service, consider Wi-Fi calling in areas with spotty reception.

📶 Goodnight, kids: If your kids sneak back onto their phones, tablets and computers at night, I have a trick: Disable the Wi-Fi after a specific time for all your devices or just certain ones, like your kiddo’s iPad. If you use an app to control your internet, pop in there. Otherwise, log into your router’s web interface. Steps here!

🪆 They need to be Putin place: A network of undersea fiber-optic internet cables could be Russia’s next target. If disabled, the West (the USA, Canada, Mexico and Australia, to name a few) could go dark — everything from Wi-Fi to calls to financial transactions. Russia’s also interfering with GPS systems, causing chaos for commercial airlines. Why? Retaliation against countries that support Ukraine.

Is your Wi-Fi router spying for China?

Open/download audio

Federal officials are raising red flags over TP-Link, warning their products might be linked to Chinese espionage. Plus, Redbox files for bankruptcy, Taylor Swift drops cassettes, and Apple’s next iPhone features AI.

🖨️ Print from your iPhone or iPad: If you have an AirPrint-compatible printer, open your doc and tap the Share button. Scroll to Print > Printer Options > Print. FYI: Both devices need to be on the same network, either via Wi-Fi or an ethernet cable connected to your router.

Which Hollywood actress played a big role in the development of Wi-Fi? Was it … A.) Audrey Hepburn, B.) Marilyn Monroe, C.) Hedy Lamarr or D.) Elizabeth Taylor?

Find the answer here! →

📶 Calling all RVers, travelers and campers: The new Starlink Mini dish gives you Wi-Fi anywhere, fueled by a power bank or solar generator. Price: $599 for the hardware, then $150 a month for unlimited data, or $50 per month for 50GB of data.

⚠️ Router warning: Linksys Velop Pro 6E and Velop Pro 7 mesh routers are sending Wi-Fi login details in plain text to Amazon servers. That means a hacker can gain access to your network. There’s no patch yet. For now, change your network name and password via the web interface.

Airplane Wi-Fi: Read this before you use the Wi-Fi on a plane. Anyone can grab your credentials. If you’re not flying soon, hit the site and email the article to yourself to read later.

📶 Wi-Fi issues on Windows 11? Forget the network and start fresh. In the taskbar, click the network icon > the network status button (top left). Right-click the network you’re on, then hit Forget. Now, go back to the network icon, click the arrow next to the wireless icon, and re-add your Wi-Fi network. Lovely.

⚠️ It can happen anywhere: An Australian IT pro was caught running “evil twin” Wi-Fi attacks on flights and airports. He set up phony Wi-Fi networks to trick victims into logging in, and then he snagged their usernames and passwords for whatever they did. Pro tip: Always ask the flight staff for the real Wi-Fi network name.

82% of campsites

Offer Wi-Fi access. It used to be a nice-to-have feature, but now, it’s almost as common as running water, electricity and an actual toilet. Other hot perks to attract campers: Pickleball courts, dog parks, kayaks and canoes. Oh, all these extras are in-tents.