YOUR dodgy Wi-Fi might be your own fault – and not your internet provider’s.
It turns out that there are a few mistakes linked to common household objects that can cause Wi-Fi troubles at home.
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So much of what we do depends on having decent internet.
That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re not making simply errors that are silently killing your connection.
SURPRISING WI-FI KILLERS
Microwave ovens are great for fast cooking – but not fast Wi-Fi.
For instance., Sky recommends keeping your router away from microwave ovens in an official Wi-Fi memo.
Aside from being a large metal object, microwave ovens operate a similar frequency range to common 2.4GHz WiFi (but with much greater power).
So you’ll want to keep your router far away from the microwave if you’ve got it set up in the kitchen.
On that note, that second thing to watch out for is metal of any kind.
You’ll definitely want to avoid having your router on or in a metal cabinet or shelving unit.
And avoid having any large metal objects nearby, like a washing machine.
Thirdly, watch out for mirrors, which can reflect and distort your Wi-Fi signal.
It’s fine to have mirrors in your home, but you might not want to have one sitting right behind your router.
Fourth, be mindful of other devices that operate on the same 2.4GHz frequency as your Wi-Fi.
Common offending gadgets include bluetooth speakers and cordless home phones.
And fifth, beware water. Drink it, obviously – but don’t put it near your router.
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Aside from the obvious risk of water damage, large amounts of water can affect signals.
So don’t put your router on top of – or next to – a fish tank, or right by a giant vase filled with water.
As a bonus tip, keep your router off the floor too.
It can be tempting to dump it down there to get it out of the way, but routers generally work better when raised up.
YOUR DEVICES MIGHT BE SLOWING WI-FI TOO
Here’s the official advice from Sky…
“Everything you connect to your hub uses bandwidth, and the more you connect the more it can slow you down,” Sky explained.
“Even when you aren’t using them, app updates, device backups and your smart home devices can still be using your bandwidth in the background.
“Try disconnecting anything that doesn’t need to be connected so they’re not hogging your bandwidth when you’re trying to browse, work or play.
“And try avoiding activities that need a lot of speed, like online gaming or streaming in HD.”
Picture Credit: Unsplash
You’ll want it about head height, so find a nice shelf (preferably not metal) to stick it on.
WHY ELSE MIGHT YOUR SPEEDS BE SLOW?
Of course, there are plenty of other reasons that your Wi-Fi might be struggling.
Your first port of call should be the speed that you’re paying for.
If you’ve got a cheaper broadband package then your internet speeds simply might not be very good.
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It’s easy enough to check your speeds: try speedtest.net or fast.com.
See if that matches up with the speeds on the package that you paid for. If it’s miles off – like you’re getting an eighth of the promised speed – then something is probably up.
You’ll experience worse speeds the further you are from the router, so consider connecting gadgets via an ethernet cable if they’re very far away.
If you’ve got a big home, you might need several connection points around the home to get the best speeds in the most distant parts of your house.
And sometimes internet speeds can drop in an area temporarily due to a technical issue that has nothing to do with you – and is out of your control.
Also, if your household is making heavy use of the internet – multiple devices uploading and downloading – then you may experience Wi-Fi trouble too.
