Simple Wi-Fi check could instantly reveal why your | Tech News

With more of us streaming films, working from home and downloading huge video games onto our consoles, a first rate broadband connection is now important. However, regardless of general connections getting faster, the newest information reveals that tens of millions of us nonetheless endure from lacklustre speeds, and it is not all the time the fault of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Of course, if an ISP solely gives 70Mbps downloads, there’s nothing houses can do to make issues any sooner, however there are some straightforward issues to check to make sure every little thing is working at its best.

According to Community Fibre, one of the primary locations to begin is checking the age of the router that powers the broadband. Anyone with a hub that’s over 5 years outdated ought to contemplate switching to one thing newer as quickly as doable, as older routers merely cannot keep tempo with fashionable wants.

“Older routers may not support modern WiFi standards like WiFi 6, which offer faster speeds and better coverage. If your router is more than five years old, it could be the bottleneck,” Community Fibre defined.

“Newer routers are designed to handle more devices and reduce interference. Upgrading can make a huge difference, especially in busy homes.”

Most ISPs ought to offer one thing newer totally free, however there are additionally loads of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 routers on the market, which might all help enhance speeds.

Along with upgrading the router, there are another easy issues to strive, together with checking the place it’s been positioned.

Community Fibre says it’s important to keep that flashing black box away from issues that could intervene with the signal. It’s additionally a horrible thought to shove it in a cabinet or behind the fish tank.

“WiFi signals weaken when they pass through walls, furniture, or appliances. Placing your router in a cupboard, behind a TV, or near metal objects can drastically reduce performance.

Instead, position your router in a central, elevated spot – ideally on a shelf or wall mount – and away from other large electronics such as microwaves.

It’s not just walls that block WiFi. Things such as some baby monitors, radio devices and Bluetooth speakers can cause signal interference, and others (e.g. Mirrors, fishtanks, chimney breasts, walls) introduce signal attenuation – where the signal strength is weakened as it passes through.

Finally, it’s a good idea to see how congested things are. If you think of broadband a little like a motorway you’ll get a good idea of why things can grind to a halt. The more traffic running along the cables, the slower things get.

“Every device connected to your WiFi shares the available bandwidth,” Community Fibre added.

“If your household is streaming, gaming, and video calling all at once, speeds can plummet.

“Disconnect devices you’re not using and consider scheduling large downloads outside of peak hours. If you have the option of hardwiring devices that don’t move, this will help relieve congestion. Some routers will also allow you to adjust your router’s settings to prioritise traffic for work calls or streaming.”