Tech experts have issued a warning to broadband users ahead of the Christmas holiday. Failure to take note could see your service experiencing some 'serious interference', they said.
Christmas may be coming but if you work from home and are down for a shift over the festive holiday period you'll need to have your internet connection on top form. This is especially important with the possibility of extra demand on your household's services due to families at home and new gadgets being connected to the home broadband.
Telecommunications firm, Virgin Media has issued a fresh email warning about where not to put your router. The firm is offering advice on why certain rooms in your house could been a reduction is speed and connectivity.
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According to the latest advice from the Internet Service Provider (ISP), the worst place to position your router is in the kitchen as the signal it beams out can suffer serious interference due to all the appliances that clog up this room. The worst offender is the microwave oven, which they say can bring your broadband to a shuddering halt, reported the Express.
It would also appear that if you've found a home for your internet box next to the oven it's a good idea to try and find somewhere else to position it. Virgin Media add: "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."
And it isn't just about finding the right room when it comes to finding a happy place for this little box of tech, there are some other things you can do to improve signal before the final Christmas countdown.
Virgin also says that it's best to keep the router clear of other objects and, if possible, placed right in the heart of the home. That will make sure every room gets a decent connection and will help rid the home of annoying dead spots. Those with fish tanks in their property should avoid positioning the router next to them and that goes for mirrors as these can also wreak havoc with the signal it emits.
Surprisingly, while your Christmas tree might be the star of the show in your home at the moment, your router just won't love it. Yes, that glowing decoration in the corner might look fun and festive but your Wi-Fi really hates it.
Virgin says in its email notice: "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. 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."
Top 5 Wi-Fi tips
- Switch your router off once a month then reboot it as this will help clear any issues
- Don't place 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 to keep things up to speed
- Check your speed using services such as Ookla. If it's not what you are paying for call your ISP
- Don't lie the router on its side. Keep things upright if you want the best speeds
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