Life Hack: These are the five worst places to store your broadband router
There are common mistakes being made that slow down your service and fixing the issue can be as simple as moving your router a few inches. Picture: iStock.
Thanks to Storm Éowyn a little over a week ago, hundreds of thousands of people across the country were impacted by power outages as well as broadband issues.
Times like this highlight how much we rely on our broadband service for essential everyday tasks, from minor conveniences like using smart plugs to turn lights on and off and monitoring a camera doorbell to bigger demands like remote working for those who log in from their homes.
With nationwide service being restored, our new-found appreciation for our WiFi means it’s a great time to look into how you can make it work better than ever in your home.
There are common mistakes being made that slow down your service and fixing the issue can be as simple as moving your router a few inches.
Broadband experts at Virgin Media Ireland have shared with us the worst areas in the home to place a broadband router as well as some tips on where you should place it to get the best results possible.
So many of us strive for a minimalist vibe to our home decor so a functional but perhaps not very aesthetically pleasing WiFi router can be among the first items to be hidden away. However, there are some hiding places that the experts say to avoid and top of the list is your boiler cupboard.
You may think out of sight, out of mind but keeping your router somewhere like this can have a big impact on your connection. Tight spaces restrict the hub's ability to distribute the signal evenly and, more seriously, the heat from the boiler can slow it down or even become a potential fire risk.
Sticking with an ‘out of sight and out of mind’ trend, under-stair cupboards are a go-to option for some people who wish to hide away their router. As with the above example, tight spaces will impact the router’s ability to send a strong signal. If it becomes buried under shoe racks, coats, jackets, and everything else hidden away under the stairs you will experience WiFi dead spots throughout your home.
Instead, make sure you place the router in a central position in your home where it is free of obstructions and other electronic devices.
Again, those of us with basements may see them as a great hiding spot for routers but it will instead limit the strength of your WiFi signal and its ability to reach all parts of your home.
In most cases, you will notice WiFi dead spots in the home in areas like bedrooms or other rooms that are located far away from the underground router. Move it up closer to the centre of your home for the best result.
Hiding your broadband router behind furniture might seem like an easy way to conceal messy cables, but it can greatly affect your WiFi performance.
Solid objects like walls, furniture, and cabinets can absorb or block WiFi signals, weakening their strength and reducing their range. This can lead to weak or unstable connections for devices further from the router, resulting in slower internet speeds and more frequent disconnections.
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably thinking that placing your router in the heart of your home is key. If the kitchen is coming to mind, however, perhaps reconsider it.
Certain electronic devices can interfere with the distribution of your WiFi signal, and the kitchen is often where we find some of the biggest culprits. Microwaves in particular can affect your WiFi and with our homes getting smarter there can be an array of gadgets and electronic devices in the modern kitchen that may also interfere with the signal. Devices such as gaming consoles or Bluetooth-enabled gadgets can also limit your WiFi’s strength.
Ultimately, to get the best out of your broadband, make sure your router is positioned in a central, unobstructed place in the home. Keep it elevated to reduce the chances of signal obstructions at ground level, and opt for WiFi extenders to improve on dead zones.
