WiFi problems are one of the most common things we're asked about, at home and at work. Before you upgrade your broadband, try these.
- Move the router. Routers work best high up, in the open, and as central as possible. Not on the floor, in a cupboard, or behind the TV.
- Keep it away from obstacles. Thick walls, mirrors, fish tanks, metal cabinets and microwaves all weaken the signal.
- Restart it occasionally. A restart clears out glitches. If you're doing it every week, though, something's wrong.
- Use a cable where you can. Desktop PCs, smart TVs and games consoles are faster and more reliable on a network cable, and that frees up WiFi for everything else.
- Check what's hogging the connection. Cloud backups, large downloads and 4K streaming can slow everyone else down.
- Be careful with cheap plug-in extenders. They often halve your speed and create a separate network you have to keep switching between.
When it's time for a proper system
If you have a large building, thick walls, several floors or lots of users, one router simply can't cover it. A distributed WiFi system uses several access points working together as one network, so you can walk from room to room without dropping out.
We specialise in Ubiquiti UniFi systems, and have supplied and manage hundreds of access points across hotels, call centres, offices and homes. Find out about managed WiFi.