People are just realizing four common Wi-Fi mistakes are ruining your speed – but ‘shelf trick’ could save you

WI-FI experts have revealed common mistakes that can slow down your connection.

It can be very frustrating to suffer from a slow Wi-Fi connection in your home.

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Thankfully, there are a few ways to tackle this issue – we have outlined four methods below.

WI-FI PLACEMENT

Distance and obstruction by walls can interfere with or impact your Wi-Fi signal.

For these reasons, it’s imperative that your Wi-Fi is placed somewhere where its connection cannot be hindered.

Experts recommend placing your router in a central location in your home.

If it’s placed in a corner, you risk that signals getting sent outside of your home.

Similarly, if it’s being placed somewhere with lots of walls, like a closet or a cabinet, you risk a slower connection.

Moreover, because your router shoots its strongest signals downwards, it’s also important to mount it somewhere high.

AVOID CERTAIN OBJECTS

In addition to placement, you’ll also want to make sure you put your Wi-Fi away from objects that can interfere with its signal.

This includes electronics, large metal objects, and large, bulky furniture.

One specific electronic device to avoid is the microwave because it also emits strong signals.

Placing your router behind a TV is also discouraged by tech experts.

Along with electronics and large furniture, water could also hinder the reach of your router’s signal.

So if you have an aquarium in your home, avoid placing your router nearby.

BANDWIDTH HOGS

Many people don’t know that certain activities and devices can consume a lot of Wi-Fi data, in turn causing it to slow down – this is known as bandwidth hogging.

Bandwidth refers to the capacity at which a network can transmit data.

Some examples of bandwidth hogs include running multiple smart televisions in your home at once, or online gaming.

That’s because high-definition, 4K, and 4K Ultra-HD TVs produce imagery that uses a lot of bandwidth in the process.

The best thing you can do to avoid bandwidth hogs without giving up gaming or your television is to upgrade to fiber internet.

If you already have fiber internet and want to better your Wi-Fi connection, you can increase your plan’s maximum speeds.

REBOOT ROUTER

Another thing you can try to boost your Wi-Fi speeds is to reboot the router.

This can help clear out the memory and refresh your connections, HighSpeedInternet.com reported.

To reboot your router, unplug the modem and router from the power outlet > wait around 15 seconds then plug the modem back in.

Wait a couple of minutes again > power on the router > and wait for all lights on your cable modem to become green.

This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk