Latest news with #WiFi
The Sun
17 hours ago
- The Sun
The five shockingly common objects in your home that are tanking your Wi-Fi – and you can fix it in seconds
YOUR dodgy Wi-Fi might be your own fault – and not your internet provider's. It turns out that there are a few mistakes linked to common household objects that can cause Wi-Fi troubles at home. So much of what we do depends on having decent internet. That's why it's important to make sure you're not making simply errors that are silently killing your connection. SURPRISING WI-FI KILLERS Microwave ovens are great for fast cooking – but not fast Wi-Fi. For instance., Sky recommends keeping your router away from microwave ovens in an official Wi-Fi memo. Aside from being a large metal object, microwave ovens operate a similar frequency range to common 2.4GHz WiFi (but with much greater power). So you'll want to keep your router far away from the microwave if you've got it set up in the kitchen. On that note, that second thing to watch out for is metal of any kind. You'll definitely want to avoid having your router on or in a metal cabinet or shelving unit. And avoid having any large metal objects nearby, like a washing machine. Thirdly, watch out for mirrors, which can reflect and distort your Wi-Fi signal. Genius Apple trick lets you send iPhone texts with no signal or Wi-Fi It's fine to have mirrors in your home, but you might not want to have one sitting right behind your router. Fourth, be mindful of other devices that operate on the same 2.4GHz frequency as your Wi-Fi. Common offending gadgets include bluetooth speakers and cordless home phones. And fifth, beware water. Drink it, obviously – but don't put it near your router. 3 Aside from the obvious risk of water damage, large amounts of water can affect signals. So don't put your router on top of – or next to – a fish tank, or right by a giant vase filled with water. As a bonus tip, keep your router off the floor too. It can be tempting to dump it down there to get it out of the way, but routers generally work better when raised up. YOUR DEVICES MIGHT BE SLOWING WI-FI TOO Here's the official advice from Sky... "Everything you connect to your hub uses bandwidth, and the more you connect the more it can slow you down," Sky explained. "Even when you aren't using them, app updates, device backups and your smart home devices can still be using your bandwidth in the background. "Try disconnecting anything that doesn't need to be connected so they're not hogging your bandwidth when you're trying to browse, work or play. "And try avoiding activities that need a lot of speed, like online gaming or streaming in HD." Picture Credit: Unsplash You'll want it about head height, so find a nice shelf (preferably not metal) to stick it on. WHY ELSE MIGHT YOUR SPEEDS BE SLOW? Of course, there are plenty of other reasons that your Wi-Fi might be struggling. Your first port of call should be the speed that you're paying for. If you've got a cheaper broadband package then your internet speeds simply might not be very good. 3 It's easy enough to check your speeds: try or See if that matches up with the speeds on the package that you paid for. If it's miles off – like you're getting an eighth of the promised speed – then something is probably up. You'll experience worse speeds the further you are from the router, so consider connecting gadgets via an ethernet cable if they're very far away. If you've got a big home, you might need several connection points around the home to get the best speeds in the most distant parts of your house. And sometimes internet speeds can drop in an area temporarily due to a technical issue that has nothing to do with you – and is out of your control. Also, if your household is making heavy use of the internet – multiple devices uploading and downloading – then you may experience Wi-Fi trouble too.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
iOS 26 has an awesome Wi-Fi upgrade for your iPhone
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. We're rapidly approaching the release of iOS 26. Apple has been hard at work, and we've been eagerly anticipating all of the new features it's set to bring to the table. A small but mighty feature coming to iOS 26 is that the sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. If you've dealt with the annoyance of captive Wi-Fi networks, you know how tedious it can be to get every device up and running, and this feature will make it easier. Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach found the feature and posted about it on X while staying at a hotel. His iPhone asked him if he wanted to fill in his Wi-Fi details from his iPad, which was already connected to the hotel's network. If you're a traveler or simply someone who enjoys public Wi-Fi (with one of the best VPNs of course), this feature will enable you to log in to all your devices much more quickly. This isn't the first time we've seen this feature mentioned. Bloomberg reported that Apple was working on it, but when Apple didn't mention the feature during its WWDC presentation, we were less sure it was coming. We heard Apple is working on several other features in iOS 26 that weren't announced too, so this feature not being there isn't shocking. As for when you can get your hands on iOS 26 (if you're not interested in testing the beta), we expect it to be released in September, as that's typically when Apple puts out its major updates (though the company is changing things up this time with its naming convention). Apple's iOS 26 is expected to bring tons of new upgrades. For instance, we tried Apple's upgraded CarPlay in iOS 16 and were quite impressed with its new look and features. Should you upgrade your iPhone because of iOS 26? iOS 26 developer beta 2 is out — here's what's new I tried the new CarPlay with the iOS 26 beta — and Apple just solved my biggest issue with infotainment interfaces
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Tired of Slow Wi-Fi? These 4 Easy Router Tweaks Are Your Solution
Like most everyone I know, I rely on the internet for pretty much everything: streaming, working, gaming and keeping all my smart devices running smoothly. A fast, stable internet connection isn't a luxury anymore; it's a must. But even though I'm paying for gigabit internet, I still run into random slowdowns and frustrating Wi-Fi dead zones in the house. If you've been in the same boat, you get it. It's annoying when your speeds don't match what you're paying for, especially as the price of internet tends to increase year over year. The good news is that there are a few easy tweaks that can seriously boost your internet performance -- and you don't have to be a tech expert to do them. To keep your Wi-Fi running smoothly, consider these simple tips and tricks, designed to optimize your Wi-Fi set-up and keep your Zoom meetings and gaming sessions running uninterrupted. Read More: Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers for 2025 1. Invest in the right router for your space First things first: you can trace a lot of connection issues back to your equipment. It all starts with choosing the right router. Not all routers are the same, and your wireless speeds depend on variables like the size and layout of your home. Locating local internet providers A single wireless access point should suffice for most apartments and smaller homes (under 1,500 square feet). If your router is several years old, consider upgrading to a newer model or Wi-Fi 6E. That's not the latest and greatest generation of Wi-Fi technology -- that would be Wi-Fi 7 -- but it's newer than what most have in their homes and should give you faster wireless speeds and better overall coverage for a good price. For bigger, multilevel homes, it's worth considering upgrading to a mesh network to offer consistent coverage throughout the house. If you install the main access point and find that a far corner of your home doesn't have solid wireless coverage, just add another node to that area. Problem solved. To learn more, check out our list of the best mesh routers. If you need some additional guidance, consult our router buying guide. It's worth noting that where you place the primary access point still matters, regardless of whether you have a single access point or a mesh network. 2. Find the best place for your router Chris Monroe/CNET When you first move into a new home or apartment, the modem is usually installed along the wall in one of the far reaches of the house. This is simply because that's where the line comes into the house and the technician's job is to set up the connection, not optimize your network. That part is up to you. It's tempting to leave everything where the technician set it up, especially if you feel clueless about the best place to put a router, but it's unlikely that the original location is the most optimal place for your router. That said, location might just be the most important consideration when trying to boost your Wi-Fi. Even if you have the newest router technology, you might not be getting the fastest speeds if your router is poorly placed. Here Are The Wi-Fi Range Extenders We Recommend Here Are The Wi-Fi Range Extenders We Recommend Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:01 / Duration 4:45 Loaded : 3.64% 0:01 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 4:44 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Here Are The Wi-Fi Range Extenders We Recommend Choose a central location Routers send the signal out in all directions. If you keep your router in the left corner of the house, you're losing wireless coverage, and if your neighbors can guess your Wi-Fi password, they can easily access your network. Moving the router to a central location is your best bet for consistent speeds (and network security). Installing a router across the house from the modem may prove troublesome. It may require manually running an especially long Ethernet cable under the floor or along the bottom of your walls, or enlisting the help of power line network adapters, which use your home's electrical wiring to pass an internet signal from point to point. The improved wireless coverage will be worth it. If you're curious about the difference between a Wi-Fi and Ethernet connection, former CNET broadband writer Hallie Seltzer tested both connections at her house to determine which worked better. Raise the router Routers tend to spread their strongest signals downward, so it's best to mount the router as high as possible to maximize coverage. Try placing it high on a bookshelf or mounting it on the wall. Search online, and you'll find many custom wall mounts built for specific routers, like this stick-up mount for the Eero Pro 6 mesh router. A router mount is an easy solution if you're struggling to find an elevated spot for your router without a tangle of messy cords. Avoid other electronics Pick a location that's away from other electronics and large metal objects. The more walls, large obstructions and electronics near your router, the higher the chances are that something will interfere with the strength of your signal. One type of electronic device to especially avoid is the microwave, which emits a strong signal in the 2.4GHz band, the same wireless band your router operates in. Be careful not to stick your router behind a large TV, which can cause electronic interference while also physically blocking or disrupting the signal. Along with electronics, keep an eye out for bulky furniture and the like that might be limiting the signal's reach. Wi-Fi doesn't travel well through water, for instance, so if you have an aquarium in your home, try to avoid situations where it'll be in between your router and the device that needs to connect. 3. Change Wi-Fi channels The Wi-Fi bands your router uses affect your speeds, but it's pretty easy to switch between channels. Most routers come with 2.4Ghz or 5GHz channels -- you can think of those channels as the highway your internet network uses to transmit data. More advanced routers, like the Wi-Fi 6E and the Wi-Fi 7, come equipped with a 6GHz channel. You should be able to switch your router's Wi-Fi band in the Wi-Fi network settings, though that may differ slightly depending on the router. While most routers use a dual-band technology, which allows them to use both frequencies at the same time, you may be able to choose a Wi-Fi band to prioritize. The 2.4GHz band offers a wider range but is slower than the 5GHz band. Conversely, the 5GHz band is faster, but it struggles with short range and keeping your entire house connected at fast speeds. Still, switching channels is a quick solution to slow Wi-Fi. 4. Set up your Wi-Fi antennas properly Some routers have no antennas at all, but some have up to eight. These antennas help direct the signal. If there are two or more antennas on your router, don't position them all in the same direction. Instead, make them perpendicular to one another -- position one horizontally and the other vertically. Or slightly change the position of all the antennas to cover a wide range of angles. You might have to experiment with speed tests to find the most effective configuration. The signal from each of those antennas will come out like a wave traveling in all directions, and that wave will be perpendicular to the antenna itself, so a vertical antenna is going to be more helpful in single-story homes, while a horizontal or angled antenna is going to put out a signal that travels upward, which might be more useful in a multistory home. Wi-Fi mapping software like NetSpot can help you visualize your network's strengths, making it easier to address weak spots. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET 5. Map your Wi-Fi signal In worst-case scenarios, you may have to map out the Wi-Fi signal in your home to find dead zones and analyze the range of coverage. Several years ago, we used the NetSpot software to map out the signal strength throughout the CNET Smart Home. Ultimately, we got a great look at the weak spots in our Wi-Fi network, which helped us shore things up by moving our hardware to more optimal locations.
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
Hidden cameras in hotels and Airbnbs are more common than you think — 5 ways to protect your privacy
Hidden cameras in accommodations have become a growing concern for travelers worldwide, with surveillance devices discovered in hotels, vacation rentals, and hostels across the globe. Despite laws and platform policies banning indoor cameras, unauthorized recording devices remain a concern. The chances of encountering a hidden camera are relatively low, but taking a few minutes to check your room provides valuable peace of mind. While spy cameras can be incredibly small and high-tech, the hidden cameras actually used in hotels and rentals are usually much easier to spot if you know what to look for. A quick security sweep should become as routine as checking the Wi-Fi password or locating emergency exits. Here's how to protect your privacy and give yourself peace of mind during your stay. Security experts consistently identify smoke detectors as the most popular location for hidden cameras in accommodation. Check ceiling-mounted smoke detectors for unusual openings that could conceal lenses, odd shapes that don't match standard detectors, or extra indicator lights that seem out of place. Examine each corner of the room, particularly around ceiling coving or wall joints where passive infrared (PIR) sensors might be installed. These motion sensors are commonly used for security alarms or automatic lighting but can house cameras. Look for devices mounted on angled brackets that would provide good room coverage, and watch for red lights that flash when you move past them. Scan the entire room for items that seem out of place or positioned unusually. Pay attention to furniture angled in specific ways, electronics with unusually small holes, or devices that seem odd for a hotel or rental property. Random USB chargers left plugged in are particularly suspicious, as hotels typically don't leave these items behind. Check common hiding spots including air purifiers, light bulbs, TV boxes, routers, alarm clocks, mirrors, books, and decorative items. Look for tiny holes in everyday objects or unusual reflections that might indicate a lens. Always trust your instincts — if something feels off about an item's placement or appearance, investigate further. Turn off the main room lights and activate your phone or smart watch's flashlight function. Next, slowly sweep the light around the room, paying particular attention to suspicious areas you identified during your visual inspection. Camera lenses reflect light even when very small, so watch for unusual glints or reflections that could indicate hidden surveillance equipment. Download a network scanning app like Fing, which shows devices connected to the local WiFi network. Look for devices with names like camera or other suspicious identifiers. Keep in mind that some cameras might operate on separate networks, so this method isn't foolproof but can reveal obvious surveillance equipment. For frequent travelers or those with heightened security concerns, portable camera detectors offer additional peace of mind. Devices like lens detectors use infrared technology to identify the invisible light emitted by certain cameras. These gadgets are roughly the size of walkie-talkies and can scan for hidden surveillance equipment. However, these detectors aren't perfect solutions. They may require close proximity to cameras to work effectively and can produce false positives from other electronic devices. They're most useful as part of a comprehensive checking routine rather than standalone detection methods. If you discover a device that seems suspicious, avoid touching or disabling it immediately. Take photos of the item and its location for evidence. For questionable electronics, simply unplugging them is often the safest initial response, but never disable smoke detectors as this creates fire safety risks and potential property damage. Contact hotel management immediately if you're in a hotel, or the property owner if you're in an airbnb. Request a room change or consider checking out entirely if the situation isn't resolved satisfactorily. If you're in a remote location where leaving isn't possible, use tape, gum, or putty to temporarilly cover suspected camera lenses. Document everything with photos and report the incident to local authorities when you have the opportunity. For Airbnb properties, also report the violation to the platform, as indoor surveillance violates their terms of service and could result in the property being removed from their listings. Remember that the vast majority of accommodations are legitimate and respect guest privacy. These checking techniques take only a few minutes but provide significant peace of mind, especially in an era where privacy concerns are increasingly valid. Make camera checking part of your standard arrival routine, just like testing the tap or locating the bathroom. A quick sweep helps you relax and enjoy your stay knowing you've taken reasonable precautions to protect your privacy. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Comcast has a gift for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile customers
Comcast is not exactly beloved by customers. The cable company and Internet provider has a reputation for shady pricing practices. It advertises one price, but does not mention all the fees and other costs consumers actually have to pay. You might be buying a $25 skinny cable bundle, but it will actually cost you more than twice that once you pay the local broadcast and sports fees. Related: T-Mobile announces free new perk for customers after major loss This is a company that was longer a monopoly, but which still operates largely as if consumers don't have a choice. In some cases, at least with internet, they actually may not have a choice. Some markets only have one provider, and while there are alternatives like Elon Musk's Starlink, they are expensive and impractical. Still, it seems hard to believe that Comcast would think it could expand its business into areas where consumers do have a choice. But, when you target a market where AT&T and Verizon are leading players, how much customers hate you is relative. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter When you're weighing your options between three companies that aren't exactly famous for customer service, it's reasonable to think that price may become the deciding factor. As it entered the wireless phone market, Comcast has actually been a price leader. That actually puts it in a decent position to win market share from AT&T, Verizon, and maybe even the somewhat better T-Mobile. Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong spoke at the recent MoffettNathanson 2025 Media, Internet & Communications Conference on May 15. He was surprisingly candid about his company's growth plans. "We talk about these six growth drivers across the company. And so on the content and experience side, it's parks, as we talked about. It's studios and streaming. On the connectivity side of the business, it's wireless residential broadband and business services. So if you were to take those and sort of say, what's the size of the sandbox in each one of those that we're playing in? Wireless is the one that sticks out, as this is the largest sandbox of anything," he said. Comcast offers discount wireless service that uses its WiFi network wherever possible. When it's not, the company's phone jumped to Verizon's network. More Retail: Costco quietly plans to offer a convenient service for customersT-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customersAT&T makes generous offer to older customers That's a lower-cost way to offer wireless service, since it does not require constantly investing in a network. Armstrong sees wireless as a massive growth opportunity. "It's 80 billion is residential broadband. 200 billion is the size of the wireless market. So it's a logical place to be focused where, if you look at our share of that sandbox, it's probably the smallest out of the six. So it's sort of this neat opportunity where it's biggest sandbox, we currently have the smallest share. So that's a ton of room to grow into," he added. While it does advertise its wireless service broadly, Armstrong pointed out that it has a core audience that it can reach more easily. "I'd just point out, we're selling into our broadband customer base, right? So that is a very different sales and acquisition cycle than someone that's got to go attract a customer that they don't currently have," he said. Comcast's cost structure also allows it to do something Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile can't. "But then there's the decision on the back of that. Is this a standalone business that you're thinking purely about in revenue and EBITDA terms for the wireless business? Or can you go reinvest, right, and drive outsized growth, maybe accelerate your growth?" he shared. Related: Verizon quietly makes bold move to keep customers from fleeing Comcast has decided to bet big on growth. "We're leaning in, we do have - we've got free line out there for a year. Gives us incredible monetization after that year. We're starting to tier into different segments. We've got a premium segment we just announced. It's a little bit higher price point, but still a huge discount to the wireless industry. So fits nicely, but gets us a little bit more in the handset game," he added. Comcast's Xfinity wireless brand is currently offering a free mobile line for a year to new and existing customers who subscribe to select Xfinity Internet plans. That offer includes both new and existing customers. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
