With more households staying at home to work and children off school due to the ongoing pandemic, internet and mobile speeds are more stretched than ever before.
As a result, many may find their broadband is lagging and will be looking for ways to improve it.
While telecoms companies are constantly monitoring traffic on their networks, to help those who must now work from home, households can also take steps themselves to improve their internet speeds.
We reveal the biggest myths surrounding internet speeds – but also the things you can do that will improve your broadband connection.
Families will now be using more and more of their broadband and mobile network from home
Myths
Myth 1: It doesn’t matter if other devices are near-by: Keeping your router as far away as possible from other devices is a good idea, including those which operate wirelessly, as they can all affect your wi-fi if they’re too close to your router.
This includes cordless phones, baby monitors, halogen lamps, dimmer switches, stereos and computer speakers, TVs and monitors.
Also, place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor, and keep it switched on for maximum effect.
Myth 2: Having a microwave near-by doesn’t matter: It is proven that microwave ovens can reduce wi-fi signal.
Therefore, you shouldn’t use the microwave when you’re making video calls, watching HD videos or doing something important online.
Myth 3: Switching my router on and off each day improves speeds: There is a myth that rebooting your router will make your internet work faster.
Some say that rebooting your router can help speed up your broadband with the theory being that the routers cache gets full and rebooting for 20 seconds or so clears the cache, improving performance.
However, this isn’t the case with all routers.
To test your speed, use Ofcom’s official mobile and broadband checker. If possible, carry out tests over a few days and at different times of day.
A number of in-home factors can affect wi-fi speeds, so look on your provider’s website for guidance on improving your signal around the home.
Households are advised to use Skype or WiFi calling to speak to people, rather than 4G or 5G
Myth 4: Having loads of devices connected doesn’t matter: The more devices attached to your wi-fi, the lower the speed you get.
Devices like tablets and smartphones often work in the background, so try switching WiFi reception off on these when you’re not using them.
If you’re carrying out video calls or meetings, turning the video off and using audio will require much less of your internet connection or try starting them at less common times, rather than on the hour or half hour.
You might also want to manage your family’s online activity, so that different people aren’t carrying out data-heavy tasks, like HD streaming, gaming or video calls, all at the same time.
Downloading video in advance, instead of streaming it, can also help.
Tips
Use your landline or wi-fi calls if you can: More people are making calls on their mobile network during the day.
Because of this high demand, you may find you get a more reliable connection using your landline. If you do need to use your mobile, try using your settings to turn on ‘wi-fi calling’.
Wi-fi calling is available on some smartphones and mobile packages. It allows your phone to make calls over your broadband network, which often provides the best sound quality and also helps reduce demand on the mobile network.
Similarly, you can make voice calls over the internet using apps like Facetime, Skype or WhatsApp.
Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router rather than using WiFi
Try wired rather than wireless: For the best broadband speeds, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router rather than using WiFi.
This is a computer networking cable which should give you a faster, more reliable connection. They’re available from as little as £3.
Plug your router directly into your main phone socket: Where possible, try not to use a telephone extension lead, as these can cause interference which could lower your speed.
If you have to use an extension lead, use a new, high-quality cable with the shortest possible length.
Tangled and coiled cables as well as interference from your phone line can also affect speeds so try plugging ‘microfilters’ into every phone socket in your home.
They look like little white boxes and split the phone and broadband signals so that they don’t affect each other.
Different providers have varying setups in the home, so always check their website before unplugging any cables.
Get advice from your broadband provider: If your connection isn’t working as well as it should, you can find advice on your broadband provider’s website – which is also available on mobile phones.
If you need to contact them for help, please be aware that, because of coronavirus, some companies have many fewer people to help with your queries.
Most are prioritising vulnerable customers and essential public services, so take this into consideration.
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