by Wi-Fi speeds can make or break your day, but most of us don’t want to spend a fortune on additional broadband bundles and boosters to get fast internet.
According to a Virgin Media O2 survey, 98% of Brits reported that they rely on the internet every day, yet 34% of them feel unsure of tackling these network problems on their own.
The research also revealed that over half of respondents (59%) could get a more reliable connection if they placed their hub in a better location within their home
To address the issue, Virgin Media O2 teamed up with room planner and feng shui expert Cliff Tan.
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Gareth Lister, connectivity director at Virgin Media O2, said: “Broadband is an essential part of everyday life. Whether it’s working from home, doing an online store, or catching up with that must-have series, connectivity is at the heart of it all.
“However, being aware of where to place your router is something that is often overlooked.
“With reliable broadband top of most people’s priority lists, beating a night out with friends and a date with your partner, we teamed up with feng shui expert, Cliff Tan, to share our top tips on how to avoid common connectivity mishaps so our customers can enjoy a harmonious home with WiFi around every corner.”
Four things you should avoid doing that affect your WiFi speed
Virgin Media broadband expert O2 has outlined four things you should stop doing in your home to avoid “unwanted WiFi troubles”:
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Avoid putting your router in a closet, keep it outdoors (ideally high up) so the signal is free to roam.
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Move the router at least one meter away from objects such as televisions, wireless speakers, baby monitors, and cordless phones. These devices have their own signals and can interfere with WiFi.
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Hold the router upright, with the front lights facing into the room. This ensures that the signal goes outwards, rather than towards the floor.
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Avoid turning off your router at night. This is to ensure that the latest firmware updates can be completed so you can get the best out of your hub.
Look at the everyday objects that affect your WiFi speed, according to Virgin Media O2. (canva) (Image: Canva)
10 everyday household items that can affect your WiFi
Broadband experts have also shared 10 everyday items you may have around the house that can interfere with your WiFi
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Baby monitors
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Aquariums
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Metal furniture
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Cordless phones
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Wireless speakers
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televisions
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Refrigerators
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Games consoles
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Microwave ovens
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portable radios
Where should I put my WiFi router at home?
Space planner and Feng Shui expert Cliff Tan said the heart of the house represents balance and connection between the various zones according to traditional Feng Shui practice.
Feng Shui is the process of using energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surroundings.
To create a balanced, peaceful and WiFi-friendly home, broadband users can adopt similar principles to ensure the maximum possible flow from their connectivity.
Experts recommend placing your hub in a central part of your home, but more specifically, in the center of high-energy areas where you’ll rely on the hub the most.
Users should also aim to keep the hub up and facing forward so the signal can reach the entire room.
Virgin Media broadband expert O2 has urged Brits to avoid these 4 things that are affecting their WiFi speed. (Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
Eye contact
Energy feels best when you see it, and that goes for WiFi signals too according to experts.
They add, “If you can, try to make sure you can see the hub from where you need it most—for example, place it near an office or living room so your devices have a direct path for the signal from your router.”
Keep the mess away
Under Feng Shui, clutter is said to obstruct the natural flow of energy in a room.
Experts encourage users to see broadband connectivity like this too.
“Avoid placing items that could affect your hub’s signal, such as baby monitors, speakers and TVs, directly next to or in front of your router as they will interfere with WiFi and obstruct the natural flow of connectivity,” broadband experts said .
Mirror placements
When applying Feng Shui to a room, people need to consider that mirrors reflect and change our surroundings, so they need to be aware of how they use them.
They can also affect our WiFi, especially large wall mirrors as they are made up of a thin layer of metal which can cause interference to the hub.
Experts recommend users try to keep the hub at least a meter away from large mirrors.
They added: “Be aware of the five elements around the home. Feng Shui uses the five elements – earth, wood, fire, metal and water – to describe the physical and energetic world around us.
“Be careful with metal in your home as metal furniture. For example, a TV cabinet has a certain density and quality that can cause interference with WiFi signals, so you should consider where to place your hub.”
