UK Broadband Speed Test

To improve your WiFi speed, you first need to ascertain whether the issue is with the WiFi (Wireless connection only) or your general broadband speed. Ideally, you would first connect to your router via a wired ethernet connection and run a speed test. This would give you a more accurate representation of your broadband speed. If happy with the confirmed speed, you could try the same test over a wireless connection. For best results, this test would be close to your router (within 5 metres), with a pure line of sight, avoiding any obstacles, like doorways and staircases. If the speed you achieve wirelessly is similar to the speed reached in your wired-connected test, your problem is likely to be from interference or a physical obstruction path as you move around your home.

When considering the optimum location of your router, you need to be mindful of the impact on the signal of different materials. Standard glass, wood and fabric cause a relatively low interference to WiFi signal. Brick is considered a medium interference obstacle, and plaster, concrete and low emission energy saving glass or bullet-proof glass is extremely difficult for WiFi to penetrate. Metal obstacles should be completely avoided. Remember that some of your internal walls could have been constructed using foil-backed plasterboard, and cement board is often used in wetrooms and bathrooms.

The location of your router is critical if you want to maximise its performance. Most basic routers have an omnidirectional antenna, giving you an even 360 degree coverage. A central router position in the home helps to minimise dead spots.

The most common source of interference is from other WiFi networks. The default channel your WiFi router is set to might be the same as your neighbours, causing interference. Configuring your router to use a different WiFi channel should fix this problem. If your router is on the 2.4GHz band, you would typically select channels 1, 6, or 11. A modern, good quality router like the BT Smart Hub 2 will perform a WiFi scan when you first set it up, or when you initiate a factory reset. Another common cause of WiFi interference can be from; fluorescent lighting, WiFi video cameras, cordless house phones, microwave ovens, WiFi printers and baby monitors. WiFi devices operate on either 2.4 GHz or 5 Ghz. A good, modern router will also offer 'dual-band', transmitting two networks simultaneously, allowing you to connect some of your devices to the less congested 5Ghz frequency band. Even if your router supports the 5Ghz band, it might not be automatically switched on. Refer to your routers user guide for setup instructions.

The 2.5Ghz frequency band used for most WiFi devices is the standard and has been around for a while. It's good at what it does, but it's so popular that it can be a congested frequency to use. This is why the 5Ghz band was introduced. But, if interference is not an issue, then switching to the 5GHz band might make things worse. Although the 5GHz frequency band has the advantage of being able to transfer data faster and is less prone to interference, it's not as good at penetrating walls and obstacles around the house. It also has a shorter range. So, if you're trying to get your WiFi to reach the garden shed - try it with the 2.5Ghz band first!