If your broadband is suffering from another exhausting weekend of downloads, streaming movies and video calls to friends and family then it might be worth checking what’s placed nearby your router.
Even if you’re paying for the most premium 1Gbps speeds, household items - that many of us own - can wreak havoc with the internet signal and begin slowing things down.
If your Wi-Fi doesn’t feel fast and furious here are some objects you must move well away from the router. You might find some very simple changes make a dramatic difference.
Microwave ovens
If your Wi-Fi box is the in the kitchen then it’s a good idea to move it somewhere else. This room is not your broadband’s best friend and one of the worst accessories for killing speeds is the microwave oven. This popular appliance belches out invisible signals that can mess with online connections and make downloads feel slow and sluggish.
In a recent email to its customers, Virgin Media explained, "Kitchens are often home to heavy-duty metal appliances (think ovens, fridges and washing machines), as well as signal-emitting electronics like microwaves, making them a particularly inhospitable environment for your router."
Mirrors
They might be good for checking out your makeup and latest hairstyle but your Wi-Fi really doesn’t love mirrors.
These home furnishings can reflect and change our environment, so be mindful of how you use them. Some especially large wall mirrors can really impact connectivity as the mirror is made up of a thin coat of metal which may cause interference. So, if you have a house of mirrors try to keep them at least one meter away from your router if you want the best possible speeds.
TV cabinets
Yes, the Wi-Fi router flashing away in the corner of the room isn’t exactly the best look for those wanting an immaculate show-home finish. However, tucking this box inside a TV cabinet can be a really bad idea. To get the best possible speeds, this device needs to be out in the open and preferably up off the floor. This gives it space to blast out the signal and keep all of your gadgets connected to the web. Placing it inside wooden furniture will keep it hidden but will also hinder its performance.
Baby monitors and cordless phones
Some other gadgets such as baby monitors and cordless phones often use a similar type of signal to your Wi-Fi. This means they can end up fighting for supremacy in your home and that may leave your download speeds suffering.
Fish tanks
Own a fish tank? Make sure your aquatic pets aren't in the way of your router as water can seriously disrupt things when trying to get online. As the signal tries to pass through the wet stuff it can get reflected in all different directions and that will dampen your downloads.
One final thing to remember is to give your router a reboot once in a while but never switch it off overnight as this can lead to vital upgrades not being installed. If you constantly switch things off and on again, your provider can believe there’s an issue with the line and place emergency speed restrictions on your broadband to keep you online.
