If you’re partaking in modern life in any form, then you probably have a Wi-Fi router somewhere in your home.
It has quietly become one of the most important pieces of technology in the house. Once the TV was our portal to the outside world, and before that, the radio. Today, nearly everything goes through that little box with the flashing lights.
Like its predecessors, the humble router is a robust little servant, designed to work away 24/7 for years without ever needing a break. So, what does it actually do?
Put simply, your router manages the traffic between all the devices in your home and your internet connection. Phones, TVs, game consoles, laptops, CCTV cameras, doorbells, robot mowers and countless other smart devices are all looking for their data *now*, if not sooner.
The router keeps everything moving in the right direction. In most homes it also provides the Wi-Fi — although, as we’ll see, the two things aren’t quite the same.
“Our Broadband is Terrible!”
Really? Sometimes it is. But quite often, the broadband connection itself is perfectly fine and the problem is actually the Wi-Fi.
This is something we see regularly at Broadband 4 Our Community (B4OC). B4OC began as a community broadband project bringing connectivity to homes and businesses in our local area that the larger operators weren’t reaching. Getting broadband to the house, though, is only half the battle. You still must distribute it properly inside the house.
Wi-Fi is radio. Distance, walls, floors and other obstacles all weaken it. Solid block walls can cause far more trouble than timber-frame construction, and electrical equipment can add interference.
Yet I regularly find the main Wi-Fi router buried behind a television, surrounded by cables and electronics, while somebody six walls away is complaining that they can’t play video games without buffering.
Before blaming your broadband provider, connect a laptop directly to your router with a network cable and run a speed test. If that’s good but your bedroom Wi-Fi isn’t, you’ve learned something important: your internet connection isn’t the problem — your Wi-Fi is.
Three Ways to Improve Your Wi-Fi
1. Move your router into the open
Give the poor chap a fighting chance. Don’t hide it in a cabinet or behind the TV. Ideally it should be in the open and reasonably central to where Wi-Fi is actually being used. Your fibre or phone connection may dictate its location somewhat, but even moving it a metre or two can make a surprising difference.
2. Invest in a Wi-Fi mesh system
For larger homes, particularly where you need coverage upstairs or through several solid walls, a mesh Wi-Fi system can be one of the best technology investments you make. Usually sold in packs of two or three, these units work together to spread Wi-Fi throughout the house instead of expecting one router in the corner to perform miracles.
3. Use network cables where you can
Wi-Fi is wonderfully convenient, but a cable is still king. If possible, connect TVs, game consoles, desktop PCs and home-office equipment directly to your network. You’ll get a faster, more consistent connection while also freeing up Wi-Fi capacity for phones, tablets and other devices that genuinely need to be wireless.
If you’re building or renovating, plan your network just as you would your electrical sockets. A small network cabinet, cables to TV and office locations, and a few cables for ceiling-mounted Wi-Fi access points can give you a tidy, reliable and future-proof setup.
Good connectivity isn’t just about buying the fastest broadband package available. Get the broadband into the house, put the Wi-Fi in the right places, and cable the devices that don’t move.
Life can be frustrating. Your internet doesn’t have to be.
Jim O’Brien, Broadband 4 Our Community (B4OC), Piltown, Co. Kilkenny
Listen: Bytesize E02
Angela Doyle Stuart is joined by tech expert Jim O’Brien (Broadband 4 Our Community) to discuss all things broadband, WiFi, routers and more.
Bytesize is supported by Coimisiún na Meán with the television licence fee.
