THERE could be three unlikely Wi-Fi-killing culprits hiding in your house and they’ll make you think twice about where you choose to live.
Luckily, there is a solution beyond tearing your house apart.
1
Wooden flooring
Solid wood flooring of the house can scupper your Wi-Fi connection and even your phone reception, according to experts at Signal Booster.
“While the finishing on the doors, floors, decking, etc. may be nice for that natural look, they are cell phone signal blockers. All wood slows down a signal,” they wrote in a report.
The thicker the wood, the more it will disrupt your signal strength.
Softer woods, such as pine, may not decrease the strength much.
But you can’t exactly rip up the floor boards over a bit of buffering on Netflix.
Wi-Fi can be vulnerable to obstacles including walls and floors, but you can get strong connection that isn’t affected by a beautiful oak floor.
Drywall
Drywall can cause your signal to be blocked completely if it is already weak, according to experts.
3G, 4G, 5G data connection can also be impacted.
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“Closed rooms, meaning those which are not a part of an open floor plan, are more susceptible to cell phone signal disruption than sheet rocked rooms which are part of an open layout,” experts said.
But again, you don’t need to be knocking any walls down to boost your internet or data speeds.
Brick
People often don’t realise how Wi-Fi is affected by the type of house you live in.
“Though incredibly sturdy against the elements, brick is one of the top materials for blocking a signal.” explained experts at Signal Booster.
“First you have the thickness of the brick which slows the signal down.
“Secondly, you have mortar between the bricks which does not allow a signal.”
It means web browsers in the hauled up in old properties might not be getting the broadband speeds they pay for.
And for those who aren’t lucky enough to have access to full-fibre internet – getting onto Google or even streaming shows on Netflix can be a buffering nightmare.
So, what’s the solution?
It’s important to think about where exactly your Wi-Fi router is placed – and what might lie behind those walls.
But you should consider upgrading your Wi-Fi hub to a so-called ‘mesh’ router, which is built to eliminate dead zones with the help of plug-in pods.
Mesh networks rely on several mini router’s being dotted around the home which can provide better coverage over a wider space than if you just had one hub in one location.
The create a bubble of Wi-Fi connection over an entire property, if set up in the right places.
These pods ping the signals from the main router to the parts of the house where they are plugged in.
Depending on the size of your home, you can add more points for additional Wi-Fi coverage.
As long as they’re within range, they can communicate with each other without the need for a router or switch which allows for fast and efficient data routing.
Most broadband providers offer some from of Wi-Fi extender, including Virgin Media and BT.
Simply check out your providers website to get it set up.
Each provider will have a different deal.
But earlier this year, Virgin began offering customers with selected packages a free Wi-Fi booster, with the promise of top broadband speeds or a £100 in bill credit.
So in some cases, depending on your package, the solution is completely free.
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