The internet – what would we do without it?

You’re probably relying on the internet more than ever at the moment. Whether it’s to stay connected with loved ones, to keep abreast of the news, to entertain yourself with funny videos of cats or to work from home.

As we live much of our daily lives online, the speed, quality and performance of our broadband connection has never been more noticeable. After all, no one wants to look like a pixelated video game character from the 80s on their next video conference call, sound like they’re going through an underground tunnel when they speak, or wait ages for that big batch of memes to load.

There are a number of things that can affect your internet speed at home. Even microwave ovens can reduce wi-fi signals! So, aside from not microwaving that masala whilst you’re taking your next video meeting online, what else can you do to ramp up your internet speed? Let’s take a look…

A need for speed

The time of day you go online and the number of people simultaneously using the internet in your home can all play a part in slowing down your internet speed.

And, with much of the nation staying at home, it has put added pressure on broadband providers due to the sudden surge in internet usage.

But there are a number of things you can do to help improve your internet speed at home. Ofcom has provided a range of practical tips and advice for improving your broadband speed. And while some may seem obvious, others are more insightful and surprising.

Pole Position

The positioning of your internet router can impact your internet speed, so be sure to place your router away from any other devices that may interfere with your signal and impact performance.

Electrical devices such as fairy lights, halogen lamps, TVs, dimmer switches and AC power cords have been known to affect routers. So try to steer clear of these and try to ensure they’re not too close to your router.

Rather than leaving your router on the floor, try placing it on a shelf or table. Reroute your router and raise your internet speed game.

Timing 

When’s the last time you had a video meeting that was due to start at 2:23pm? Exactly… you probably haven’t. Most people tend to opt to start meetings on the hour, or at half past the hour. So, why not change it up?

Try starting calls at times that are less common. Hopefully, everyone won’t have the same idea and your internet speed will benefit as a result.

Turn off the video camera

If you’re carrying out video calls or meetings online, turning the video function off and just using the audio will require a lot less of your internet connection. In turn, improving your internet speed.

And, being off the camera when working from home isn’t necessarily a bad thing anyway, right? Particularly if you’re taking video calls in your dressing gown, PJs and slippers.

Go direct

Wi-fi is great, it allows you to roam around the house as you roam around the world wide web. However, if you’re looking to speed up your internet connection consider using an ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router.

This handy computer networking cable should give you a faster, more reliable connection.

Stay secure

It’s important to password protect your broadband to stop others nearby simply joining your network.

If you look at wi-fi networks nearby on your phone or computer you’ll often see a variety of networks, so make sure yours is secure. You don’t want any unexpected visitors slowing down your internet as well as compromising your security.

Decide on devices

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the more devices you have attached to your wi-fi, the lower the speed you get.

Households are increasingly full of smartphones, tablets, laptops etc. So why not switch the wi-fi reception off on such devices when you’re not using them? Less competition, more speed.

Summing up

So, there you go! A few tips and tricks to speed up your internet connection at home. We hope these help you to make the most of your internet connection whether you’re working from home or streaming shows.

Actually on that point, let us know what you’re watching in the comments below or on our social media channels. We’re always on the lookout for good recommendations.