Having trouble with home Wi-Fi or trying to improve coverage? These guides help you work out whether the problem is with Wi-Fi coverage, your router, the internet connection or the way a device is connected.
You will also find straightforward guidance on 2.4GHz vs 5GHz Wi-Fi, mesh systems, Wi-Fi extenders and when Ethernet may be a better choice.
Putting a mesh Wi-Fi node directly in the room with the weakest signal can seem like the obvious choice. But if Wi-Fi is already very weak there, the node itself may struggle to maintain a good wireless connection to the rest of the mesh. A better starting point is somewhere between the existing mesh and … Read more
Wi-Fi slow on one device but fine on others? The problem is more likely to be connected with that device or the way it is connecting to your network than with your broadband connection as a whole. But do not start resetting network settings or replacing hardware yet. The most useful first step is to … Read more
When the internet feels slow, it is easy to blame the Wi-Fi. But the slowdown could be coming from your broadband connection, the Wi-Fi connection inside your home, or even one particular computer or phone. Before changing router settings, buying extra Wi-Fi equipment or contacting your broadband provider, it helps to work out where the … Read more
Knowing where to put your Wi-Fi router can make a noticeable difference to wireless coverage around your home. A router hidden in a cupboard, sitting on the floor or positioned at one far end of the property may have a harder job reaching the rooms where you actually use Wi-Fi. There is no single perfect … Read more
If your Windows PC shows Wi-Fi connected but no internet, the problem is not necessarily the Wi-Fi signal itself. The quickest way to narrow it down is to find out whether the problem affects only this PC or every device on your home network. That one check can save you from resetting Windows settings or … Read more
When comparing Ethernet vs Wi-Fi for a home office, the main trade-off is consistency versus convenience. Ethernet can give a fixed computer a more consistent connection, while Wi-Fi gives you much more freedom over where you use your laptop. But that does not mean every home office needs Ethernet. If Wi-Fi at your desk is … Read more
If you’re comparing 2.4GHz vs 5GHz Wi-Fi at home, it can be difficult to know which one you should use. Neither band is automatically better. The useful choice depends mainly on how far the device is from your router, what is between them and whether the device supports both bands. You may not need to … Read more
If you have weak Wi-Fi in one room but the connection works normally through most of your home, the problem is often the wireless coverage reaching that particular location rather than your broadband connection itself. Before changing router settings or buying extra equipment, work out whether the problem follows the room or one particular device. … Read more
If you’re comparing mesh Wi-Fi vs Wi-Fi extender options, both can help with weak Wi-Fi in part of your home. But that does not mean mesh is automatically the better choice. The main question is how much of your home actually has a coverage problem. If Wi-Fi is already good almost everywhere and one room … Read more
If you are trying to work out where to put a Wi-Fi extender, do not simply plug it into the room where your Wi-Fi is weakest. A better starting point is somewhere between your router and the weak area, where the extender can still receive a good Wi-Fi signal from the router. From there, you … Read more