
UK households urged to move routers away from their mirrors and beds
You can instantly boost your internet speeds by simply moving your Wi-Fi router away from six items in your home.
The location of your Wi-Fi router is crucial as it can significantly affect the performance and reach of your internet. Certain materials can absorb or disrupt your connection, causing issues with streaming, making calls or working remotely.
One such material is metal, including steel. You might be surprised at how many items in your home are made of metal, such as appliances, devices and fixtures. This comes after a major broadband provider introduced a new £60 charge and issued a deadline to act.
READ MORE: The Summer I Turned Pretty has major twist and fans are on the edge of their seats
Six items can affect your Wi-fi. Before ringing up your provider or shelling out for a pricier packag e, try repositioning your router to see if its placement is the problem. This simple move could save you a tidy sum, reports the Express.
Objects you should keep your Wi-Fi router away from
Wi-Fi signals struggle to penetrate metal materials, and many household appliances, pieces of furniture and fixtures contain significant amounts of metal. For the best results, keep your Wi-Fi router as far away from these metal objects as possible.
Additionally, many homes have metal laths in the walls, which can also interfere with the Wi-Fi signal. Therefore, you should keep your router away from any thick walls.
Other culprits that can cause your internet speeds to plummet or your signal to drop are thick concrete and ceramic tiles. Additionally, devices such as microwaves, smart speakers and baby monitors can absorb Wi-Fi signal because they use the same radio waves.
The optimal spot for your Wi-Fi router is as central in the room as possible, elevated off the floor and away from thick walls, particularly corners.
When selecting the best router for your home, comparing factors like speed, coverage, and the number of connected devices make all the difference. Google Nest Wifi; TP-Link (Archer A7); Asus (RT-AC86U); Netgear (Nighthawk R7000); and Linksys (Velop) are all internet favourites, recommended for their performance and reliability.
if you're a household of internet savvy smartphone and tablet users, its also suggested to consider the router's ability to support your web activity.
To support your speed, your choice should be able to support a greater speed greater than what you receive from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). If you are not engaging with the full speed you are paying for, that's money down the drain.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Tech experts issue 'juice jacking' warning to never share your phone charger
While asking for a charger from a stranger may seem harmless, it might be something you regret. Technology experts are warning the public against ever accepting a phone charging cable from a stranger. While it may seem a harmless and generous gesture for someone to offer you a charger when you're low on juice, it may actually put your personal information and data at risk. Malicious charging cables are a fast-growing threat facing mobile users, according to security professionals, and it's one that many of us aren't aware of. Known as 'juice jacking', hackers can steal everything from your passwords to your personal photos and information using cables that look identical to legitimate phone chargers. While tampered public charging stations were already a commonly known tech threat, fraudsters have now evolved to target vulnerable individuals with low phone charge when they're out in public. Criminals are creating cables that look identical to genuine Apple or Android products but contain hidden computer chips capable of logging keystrokes, stealing credentials, and even providing remote access to your device. A tech expert from Outplayed explains: "The sophistication of these attacks has reached a truly alarming level. "There's been a massive increase in these cables that are virtually indistinguishable from legitimate Apple products, yet they're essentially miniature computers designed to harvest your data." The USB technology that powers your gadget is also responsible for handling data transfer in your device, which hackers can exploit. When you plug into a malicious cable, it can automatically access your device's contents, often bypassing the security prompts that would normally alert you to data transfer attempts, explained the expert. And that's not all. Recent developments have made these cyber attacks even more dangerous through 'choice jacking' techniques, which can actually confirm data transfer permissions on your behalf without any user interaction. This means even built-in security measures can be dodged by sophisticated malicious hardware used by the cyber crooks. The expert adds: "What makes this particularly concerning is that these cables function perfectly as chargers. "Victims often have no idea they've been compromised until it's too late. The cable charges your phone normally while secretly communicating with attackers over Wi-Fi in the background." It's vital to remain vigilant, as these attacks can happen anywhere– from borrowing a cable at work to using one offered by a well-meaning friend at a coffee shop. Some malicious cables can even simulate keyboard inputs, effectively typing commands into your phone without your knowledge. The security professionals advise phone owners to always use their own charging cable and adapter, especially in public spaces like airports or hotels. If you must charge in public, stick to wall outlets with your own equipment rather than USB charging stations. For added security, consider investing in a USB data blocker - a cheap adapter that physically prevents data transfer while allowing charging current to flow. These small devices create a barrier between your phone and potentially malicious cables. If you're looking to invest in one, there are plenty of options, such as this ' anti-juice jacker ' on Amazon for a tenner, or this one on Currys for £3.99. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.


Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Daily Record
Millions of Android devices to lose updates on popular app - are you impacted?
Android devices that don't have access to the company's newer systems will no longer get updates for this Google-owned mapping app. Whether used in a car to help navigate traffic or walking around a new city, many people with a smartphone use a mapping app to help get themselves from A to B. Even if you have regularly travelled to a specific destination, being able to track your route - and get any live traffic updates - can give many people added peace of mind. While most of us go to our preferred map app without a second thought, Android users who use the popular Waze service may be out of luck as the Google -owned app is said to be ending support for millions of its regular users. According to Android Authority, many people will be losing access to the newest features and bug fixes as the latest update will only be applicable to devices running on specific systems. This means that users of older devices could end up more susceptible to lags and hacks due to not having the latest updates. Android users who use Waze on their smartphone or tablet that only runs on Android 9 or below are expected to be impacted when the newest version of the app uploads onto the Play Store, reports the Express. The latest Waze app will only work from devices with Android 10 or up. Additionally, any car navigation screens or infotainment that runs on Android are also expected to be impacted by the change. It should be noted that this doesn't mean that the Waze app will stop working on Android 9 or below devices, so users will still be able to use their favourite app for navigation. However, over time this version of the app will become less reliable and will not come equipped with any new features. Despite being acquired by Google in 2013, the Waze app has become a popular alternative to the tech giant's own app - Google Maps. Designed with different graphics, what makes Waze stand out from competitors is that most of the real-time traffic and hazard updates come from users themselves. Additionally, the app comes with a variety of customisable features and also highlights fuel price comparisons. While the switch to only supporting Android 10 or above has been seen on the beta version of the latest Waze update, changes usually seen in these trial versions are highly likely to carry on into the general release. As one of the most popular smartphone system providers, billions of people across the globe use an Android - whether it be a Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, OnePlus, or other brands. However, this does mean that millions of people will end up being impacted by this app update. While tech fans who own the newer devices that hit the market won't be affected by the change, there are plenty of people still using older smartphones and tablets that run on Android 9. This will mainly impact devices from the late 2010s. Tech brands have become better at still providing software updates to devices years after their release, but for devices around a decade old it isn't surprising for owners to only receive one or two updates a year. If you do own an older device, it may be time to consider getting an upgrade to a new model as these smartphones and tablets themselves, as well as some of their apps, are more vulnerable to being attacked by malware and hackers. This is due to the tech not having the most up to date security and software, which makes it easier for cyber crooks to get past their weak defensives and find ways to steal personal data from users. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.


Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Nap pods and on-board cinemas: The rail travel of the future
You certainly can't fault them for optimism: a British train company organising a Tomorrow's World -style exhibition featuring artistic renderings of how train travel might look by the year 2075. If you asked the typical train passenger, they'd probably be happy just to see the end of rail replacement buses and faulty loos. But LNER's eye-catching exhibition – which was on display at King's Cross last week and inspired some discussion online – may have helped them to be more ambitious with their vision. From specially designed 'nap pods' to floating video screens, the designs are about as far from the typical British train journey as the Hogwarts Express. That's down to the influence of Tom Cheesewright, a self-styled 'applied futurist' whose name has been attached to some of the more headline-grabbing travel predictions in recent years – including low-cost space travel and battery-powered planes. This time around, Cheesewright has turned his prodigious talents to Britain's railways, foreseeing a total revolution in terms of design and service. In a report accompanying the exhibition, he predicts that the new generation of trains will have aerodynamic, almost bird-like designs, and will be manufactured by 3D printers. The interior of the train has also been totally overhauled, with cramped carriages replaced by nap pods, floating video screens and cinema rooms. Meanwhile, the installation of 'smart seats' will mean that passengers can choose their preferred temperature and seat firmness, with the train remembering their preferences for next time. The entire boarding process has been replaced too, with facial recognition making ticket barriers obsolete. Instead, passengers will be able to arrive at their station and go straight to the platform – provided, of course, they've remembered to book their ticket in advance. 'The study findings aren't necessarily what we are working on right at this moment,' says an LNER spokesman, just in case there was any ambiguity on that front. Though they say that the exhibition wasn't just pure science-fiction, given that the designs were inspired by a real-world survey in which passengers set out their travel wish list. While it's true that 22 per cent of respondents gave a thumbs up to the idea of smart seats, the more common answers were more down-to-earth. Two thirds of passengers said the speed of the train itself was the most important thing, while 44 per cent wanted to be able to relax when travelling. Common bugbears like bad Wi-Fi and a lack of available seats weren't included in the options. What are the chances of anything like LNER's vision coming true? While the renders might look like fantasy, they aren't a million miles away from Japan's famous Shinkansen N700S, which uses its distinctive bird-like features to reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. (If we were being uncharitable, we might even ask if the Shinkansen may have 'inspired' the artistic renderings). Likewise, a lot of the technology that features in LNER's exhibition is already in use – at least in some capacity – elsewhere in the world. Abu Dhabi's impressive Zayed International airport already uses facial recognition instead of document checks, for example, while Tesla cars have 'smart seats' that enable drivers to save their preferred settings for things like seat and mirror positions. Some features aren't even really futuristic: Switzerland's Golden Pass Express has floor-to-ceiling windows, for example, while Germany's ÖBB Nightjet has some very impressive sleeper pods. Though, of course, both services will cost you more per mile than your typical ticket from London to Manchester. If you want a more realistic vision of future trains, you may want to look at China's dizzying progress with so-called 'maglev' (magnetic levitation) trains. Rather than run on traditional rails, these modern marvels levitate above the tracks using magnetic forces. 'This enables extremely high speeds, exceptionally smooth journeys, much lower maintenance requirements, and greater energy efficiency,' says Dr Johannes Kluehspies, president of the International Maglev Board. The Shanghai Maglev (also known as the Shanghai Transrapid) has been in operation for 20 years now, with a record operational speed of 268 miles per hour. Last month, engineers in Hubei tested a new prototype that managed to exceed 400 miles per hour – more than twice the expected maximum speed of HS2, and not far behind your typical passenger jet. Another thing the exhibition ignores – perhaps understandably, given the state of industrial relations on the railways – is the concept of driverless trains. While smaller closed-loop metro systems have been unmanned for years, rail engineers are now looking to automate much bigger networks. Rail experts at Siemens have been experimenting with self-driving trains that can respond in real time to their environment (for example, if there is a red signal), and even schedule their own maintenance. LNER's vision might not be the future of train travel, then, even if some of its ideas aren't totally pie-in-the-sky. But, hey, at least it makes for something interesting to daydream about next time you're stuck on a delayed service on a sticky summer afternoon.