Want the best broadband speeds over Christmas, check your router and give it a reboot.
If family and friends are about to descend on your home, now could be a good time to check your Wi-Fi to ensure everyone stays connected over the festive period. There are loads of things that can affect those all-important internet speeds, and one of the biggest culprits for ruining the web at this time of year can be your Christmas tree.
Yes, that popular festive accessory is not your broadband’s best friend. Once covered in shiny tinsel and silver baubles, it can wreak havoc with the Wi-Fi router, especially if placed near or underneath those needle-packed branches.
Twinkling fairy lights can also be a hazard, especially if they aren’t new.
“Check where your WiFi hub is in relation to your Christmas tree. Older fairy lights set to the flashing or twinkling modes may interfere with your WiFi signal,” explained Thomas Joseph, Connectivity Expert at Sky.
“And if the tree itself is blocking line of sight to the hub, it can weaken your WiFi signal even more. “
Your tree isn’t the only hazard for Wi-Fi. Other things to be aware of are baby monitors, cordless phones, microwave ovens and even fish tanks. It’s also a good idea to place your router out in the open and get it off the floor, as this will help the signal get to more areas around the home. Just don’t put it next to the window as this is not only bad for speeds but can also be a security risk as well.
Virgin Media has recently issued this advice. “No matter whether you’ve got a real tree this year or an artificial one, we bet there’s going to be lovely twinkling lights all over it,” the broadband provider said.
“But did you know that fairy lights can obscure wireless signals? Yep, if our hub ends up stuffed behind the tree like an unwanted present, you may see a reduction in your WiFi speeds.
“To make sure you get your usual top-notch service, position our hub somewhere it has room to breathe. Large electrical devices like TVs are common culprits for disruption, as well as large bodies of water like a home aquarium, microwave ovens or even the boiler.”
One final top tip is to remember the 10-second rule and give your router a big reset before everyone arrives at the front door. Switching the flashing black box on and off again can clear any issues and get speeds back to their best.
Explaining more, Virgin added, “The firmware in your Hub monitors the security for your network, so it’s good to reboot your router once a month to make sure it’s running with all the security patches and updates it needs.”