Virgin Media has issued some advice to customers about how to get faster internet speeds over the busy Christmas period.
The festive season is often a time when there are plenty new consoles and gadgets in your home, which can wreak havoc on your WiFi speed and signal.
So to help customers prepare for the chaos, the broadband company has sent out an email with some helpful tips for speedy WiFi at Christmas time - and according to the experts, there's one room that you should never keep your router in.
The worst place you can store your router is apparently the kitchen, as the signal it beams out can be easily interrupted because of all the other appliances kept in there.
The Express reports that the worst of these is the microwave, which may greatly slow down your WiFi while it's being used.
Explaining more, Virgin Media said: "It’s not just electronics that interfere with your WiFi signal: metal can also wreak havoc with your connection. 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."
As well as finding the right placement for your router, there are a few other things you can do to prepare for the big day.
Virgin advises that you keep it in the centre of the home if possible, clear of any other large objects. This will ensure that you get a good connection no matter what room you're in.
Another tip is to avoid keeping it near things like mirrors or fish tanks as they can harm the signal released from the router.
Finally, Virgin has warned against keeping the router too near the Christmas tree - as doing so can seriously affect how fast your internet is running.
"Whether you’re going for a real tree this year or a pretend one, we bet there’s going to be twinkling lights all over it," Virgin said in an email to customers.
"But did you know that fairy lights can actually obscure your router’s wireless signals? Yep, if your router ends up stuffed behind the tree, you’ll likely see a reduction in your WiFi speeds."
Five tips for speedy WiFi this Christmas
- Don't keep your router in a cupboard or behind the TV as this can block the signal
- Don't switch your router off overnight as it won't get vital updates it needs
- Switch your router off once a month then reboot it as this will help clear any issues
- Check your speed using services such as Ookla. If it's not what you are paying for call your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- Keep your router upright instead of lying on its side for the fastest speeds
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