The 1 router position that 'seriously slows down' your WiFi and 4 more spots to avoid
Could you boost your broadband speed by simply moving your hub to a more suitable location?
Ever since the pandemic kicked in over five years ago - how time flies - home working has become the norm. While many workplaces are now back in the office full time, lots of others are still working remotely or on a hybrid model.
There are many benefits to working from home, including longer lies and much shorter commutes - if you can count going 20 paces from the bedroom a commute. But it has put an extra onus on people to have better broadband at home.
We're not just streaming our favourite shows at night any more, we're working hard on our laptops all throughout the day. And for many households, there is more than one person doing that.
While we would all love to have the top-of-the-range WiFi package in our homes, that's not possible for everyone. From instant barriers like the cost of better broadband to things like the make-up of our house, there are some issues that we just have to deal with.
Fortunately, however, there are certain other things we can do to improve our WiFi, such as where we place the router.
And one expert has shared some of the worst and best spots in your home to place the internet hub, revealing that one popular location can "seriously slow down" your coverage, The Express reports.
Geoff Pestell, CEO at broadband comparison site Fibre Compare, has explained how to avoid "dead zones" in your home and give yourself the best chance of having a reliable connection for fast home working and seamless streaming when you're chilling in the evenings.
The worst places to place your WifFi router
If you have poor signal strength, experience a lot of buffering, or have to reset your router regularly, then this could be down to where you've placed it. Several less than ideal locations could be interrupting your broadband signal.
Places to avoid include:
Inside cabinets or behind furniture
A common mistake many people make when it comes to placing a WiFi router in their home is tucking it away in a cabinet or hidden behind furniture. While this appears to make sense from an aesthetic standpoint - who wants to look at a router out in the open? - it may be causing you issues.
Concealing the device like this could significantly diminish the strength of the signal you get to your devices in your home, as well as causing all kinds of connectivity issues. This happens because airflow in tight spaces can become trapped and cause the hub to overheat and underperform.
Under the stairs
Similarly to the issues with having a router in a small cabinet, placing it under the stairs can cause issues. Again, it will keep it out of sight every day, but it can "seriously slow down" your WiFi speeds due to the stairwell walls blocking the signal.
Near other electronic devices
Many other people pop their routers near other electronic devices, like TVs or phones, because it seemingly makes sense to have them all in one place. But this is actually a mistake.
Other devices can emit interference that can impact the quality of your WiFi signal and, ultimately, lead to poorer performance.
Rooms that are far away from your main electronics
This might be more of an issue for those with larger properties, where the router has to have a much wider reach to connect with all devices. But if your hub is too far from the main gadgets you use - home working station, TV, etc - then you may find you have a weak signal.
Things like strong walls, flooring, and large objects can all reduce the strength of a signal, creating "dead zones" in parts of your house. And if the signal has to travel further, it's more likely to have to pass these obstacles.
It is therefore crucial that you place your router close to the electronics that need the best signal.
Near windows and water sources
Make sure you also avoid placing your router near any water sources or windows. The risk of water damage, either from rain getting in an open window or from showers, sinks, or washing machines, can damage electrical components or interfere with WiFi signal.
The best places to put your router
Geoff isn't all about the negatives, and offered some advice on where your should be placing your broadband hub too. While all homes are different, these tips should allow you to find the best possible position depending on the layout of your property.
In a central location
Whether this is a hallway or on the landing between floors, if you're lucky enough to have a big house, picking somewhere central reduces the need for the signal to travel as far to the extremities of the home.
But just make sure it's not being blocked by any big obstacles that could obstruct the signal getting out to your gadgets.
Off the floor
A raised router is a better router. Keeping it off the floor means the hub can send out a signal more effectively as there are fewer objects or walls in its path. Top picks include on a table or a shelf.
Furthermore, a router placed on the floor may experience issues due to the ground's ability to absorb it. There is also an increased risk of someone clumsily kicking the router and potentially damaging it.
Away from obstructions
Tying in with the other two suggestions, you should be minimising how many obstructions the signals will have to get past. While we can't guarantee a free path to all areas of the house, less is better.
So even when you are following the guidance, by having the hub in a central, raised location, make sure that there is nothing on top of it or close by blocking its signal path. You might want to blend it into your interior decor with trinkets, but this could disrupt the signal, so it is best avoided.
Test different places in the house
If you are not 100 per cent sure on where you want to place your router, testing out different locations is a great idea. Experimenting means you can see how the hub looks in various spots, as well as checking the strength of the signal.
As we said earlier, every home is different. So the best place for the router in your home may not be where you first thought. Try out a few sports and test your broadband speed to see which works best for you.
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'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Expert urges broadband customers to do one thing to avoid overpaying
A tech expert has urged customers to make one key change that would save them from spending more than £30 a month on their WiFi bill. Speaking to BBC Morning Live, Georgie Barrat said customers should check if they are still tied to their contracts, as a third of people are not but continue to let it 'roll on and on'. If your contract has expired, she recommends 'shopping about' and picking a lesser-known brand, reminding people that there are over 50 regional broadband providers. Barrat said if you are fond of your existing company, then still hunt around for better deals and try haggle your provider down. She stressed that customers should be searching for full fibre broadband deals.
Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Telegraph
Elon Musk's Starlink lined up to solve train Wi-Fi rage
Elon Musk's Starlink satellites are being looked at as a potential solution to solving the issue of patchy Wi-Fi on Britain's trains. Train operators in England and Wales are examining whether the satellite-based internet provider could be used to boost connectivity after a six-month trial of the technology began in Scotland last month. Starlink's constellation of more than 7,000 low-Earth orbit satellites could help maintain connectivity on the mainline when trains lose contact with a mast. In addition to minimising lost internet connections, satellite connectivity would also allow passengers and staff to make Wi-Fi phone calls and allow accurate GPS-based tracking of trains. Clarus Networks, based near Glasgow, is spearheading the push after securing regulatory approval to fit trains with Starlink equipment that was originally developed to provide inflight Wi-Fi on aircraft. Jamie Duncan, the company's marketing manager, said: 'We're in discussions with a number of potential users. It's much quicker to implement than masts and much more reliable.' While the cost of satellite Wi-Fi can be higher in some cases, Mr Duncan said it was generally competitive with installing cellular masts, especially in remote locations, and can sometimes match the cost of broadband fibre networks. It comes as the Government prepares to unveil plans to improve on-train Wi-Fi through a collaboration between track owner Network Rail and private network providers. While the initiative will focus on improving ground-based infrastructure, it is expected to leave room for satellite-based systems to eliminate remaining gaps in coverage. Clarus is trialling Starlink technology for ScotRail on lines from Inverness to Wick, Aberdeen and Kyle of Lochalsh that often divert many miles from the nearest mast. The company said it was working with a number of train operators elsewhere in the UK. Those include Transport for Wales (TfW), which runs trains for the Welsh government and plans to commence testing later this year after consulting with Clarus and ScotRail. A TfW spokesman said the trials were likely to be held on services from Cardiff to Holyhead and Manchester. Mr Duncan said Clarus had also held discussions with FirstGroup about satellite connectivity and said the Department for Transport (DfT) had expressed an interest in the Starlink technology. Tackling tunnels While FirstGroup is set to lose its West Coast and Great Western contracts as a result of the nationalisation of the network, it plans to remain in UK rail via so-called open access operators including Hull Trains and Lumo, which operate on the East Coast main line. FirstGroup said it had held 'exploratory conversations' with Clarus. The group's South Western Railway arm became the first operator in Europe to introduce superfast 5G Wi-Fi last month, days before the line was taken under state control. Moves are also under way to address the loss of connectivity when trains enter tunnels, putting them beyond the range of both satellites and conventional masts. LNER, which runs trains on the East Coast Main Line, said last month that in a first for the railway, a complex of tunnels outside King's Cross station had been fitted with a custom-built antenna system, boosting Wi-Fi links for passengers using the O2 and Three networks. A spokesman for Network Rail described the Scottish experiment as 'an exciting innovation' and said satellites were likely to be 'part of the answer to securing decent mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity for passengers across Britain'. A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'We are supporting train operating companies' trials to assess the suitability of satellite technology to deliver significant connectivity benefits for the railways.' Separately, The Telegraph has learnt that BT has held talks with Starlink over a deal that could see it resell satellite dishes to consumers. The tie-up has been under discussion for months as Starlink seeks to expand in the UK and sign more customers up to its broadband service. It also hopes to serve customers around the world with mobile phone signals from space. For BT, a deal with Starlink could help deliver signals to hard-to-reach rural areas that are not cost-effective for fibre cables. The former telecoms monopoly already uses its satellites to carry signals to mobile masts to improve speeds and reduce so-called not-spots.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- The Sun
Urgent WiFi warning as 1,000s of top-brand routers hacked in mystery attack that drags your internet into crook's ‘army'
Douglas Simpson Published: Invalid Date, EXPERT analysts have discovered a massive hack affecting Wi-Fi routers with thousands already compromised. Analysts who uncovered the hack said it has already impacted over 9,000 devices and is still ongoing. 3 3 So far only Asus routers have been hit by the hackers who seem to be adding the devices to their "army" after gaining control. It remains unclear what the internet crooks intend to do with the nearly 10,000 routers they have gained control over. The hack was detected by an AI system known as "sift" in March, this led analysts to investigate. Working for cybersecurity platform GreyNoise Enterprise, who designed the AI, analysts quickly identified and named the hack. The firm collects and analyses Internet-wide scan and attack data to provide insights into potential threats. The attack has been dubbed "ViciousTrap" by security experts who are monitoring the ongoing situation. Attackers stealthily accessed the routers over a period of time with their access seemingly immune to reboots and firmware updates. This gives the hackers control over the affected devices that is hard to block or remove. Despite the hack being identified the number of devices being affected is still rising indicating that the hack has not been stopped. Experts have said the hack is essentially invisible with little to no trace that devices have been affected. The reason why the attackers are building their army of routers is still a mystery. Asus has addressed the weaknesses that initially granted the hackers access to their routers. How to stay safe from hackers Protect your devices and networks by keeping them up to date: use the latest supported versions, use anti-virus and scan regularly to guard against known malware threats. Use multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of password compromises. Tell staff how to report suspected phishing emails, and ensure they feel confident to do so, investigate their reports promptly and thoroughly. Set up a security monitoring capability so you are collecting the data that will be needed to analyse network intrusions Prevent and detect lateral movement in your organisation's networks. A GreyNoise report on the hack said: "The techniques used reflect long-term access planning and a high level of system knowledge." Government authorities were notified of the hack shortly after it was discovered. Routers are always exposed to the Internet, and move significant amounts of highly valuable data, making them actively sought after targets for hacks. Experts are recommending performing a complete factory reset on Asus routers that may be affected. Following the reset experts are urging users to update their router firmware and reconfigure their devices manually. Updating routers to the latest firmware from or after May 27 can protect unaffected routers from falling victim to the hack and help remedy already affected routers. No source for the hack or a reason behind it have been identified yet.
