Three easy Wi-fi tricks that can improve your connection better than paying for a costly internet ‘extender’ device

THERE are three Wi-Fi boosting tricks that can improve your connection better than paying for a internet booster.

We break them down for you here, so you can have the best internet during the colder months.

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“In general, there aren’t specific things customers can do to boost their connection for certain weather conditions and generally, weather won’t change the strength of the Wi-Fi signal from the router to a device at home,” a Vodafone spokesperson told The Sun.

“But here are a few tips on getting the best out of home Wi-Fi.”

The first is checking if there are any gadgets near their router that might be messing with the signals, such as a microwave or Bluetooth speaker.

The second tip is to “avoid line of sight blockers” – which is when furniture or clutter blocks your view of the router.

If you can’t see it – this is usually bad news.

“It may be tempting to hide the router away where no one can see it, especially if it clashes with décor, but this can hamper your Wi-Fi range,” the spokesperson explained.

So, the third recommendation is to place the router in a high place, such as on top of a cabinet, shelf or ledge.

“This not only gives the router’s wireless signals the best chance of reaching every part of the home, but also gives them a better chance of overcoming everyday household objects that can interfere with wireless signals,” they added.

Wi-Fi extenders, or boosters, can be used to pick up signals from your router and push them out into further flung corners of the home.

They are designed to fix so-called darkspots, where Wi-Fi is patchy or, worse, non-existent.

While you can sometimes get Wi-Fi extenders for free from your network provider, they often cost money to buy outright.

And when you use an extender, there is a hidden ‘trade off’ that very few web surfers take into account.

Matt Hughes, Director of Broadband, TV & Home at EE and BT, previously told The Sun that using Wi-Fi extenders is not without “sacrifice”.

 “It’s worth keeping in mind that Wi-Fi boosters and extenders can often sacrifice network speed for range,” he said.

Although, with a little TLC, this problem can be fixed.

So, with a little consideration as to where your router is placed, you can avoid forking out the cash for a Wi-Fi extender.

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk