26th June 2020 / Prue Fletcher: How to Get the Most out of Your Home Wi-Fi Connection

"Imagine a downpipe. When it rains, the water runs down your roof, along the gutter and enters your downpipe at full speed before plunging downward. But what if there is a stick or two wedged somewhere in there? That will slow the water down a bit.

Maybe a little further along a bunch of leaves. Then a bird's nest. Or maybe all of these at once. By the time the water comes out the bottom of the downpipe, the rate at which it is travelling might be a lot less than when it went in.

So how do you fix this problem? You get a pair of gloves, a long stick, and you clear that downpipe out. (Or you should, anyway!)" NBN.

The latest advice from the Victorian Government's says that 'if you can work from home, you must work from home'. With that in mind, here are our top tips to help improve your wireless connection while we continue to work remotely.

Analysis

• Check the speed of your Wi-Fi here to determine its efficiency.

Consider the Placement of your Modem

• It should be in the centre of your home.
• Elevated, ideally 2 meters off the ground.
• Not near any connection dampeners, think fish tanks, other electrical appliances such as microwaves, TVs, etc.
• Always create space (e.g. not alongside thick double brick walls, corners of rooms, etc).

Too Many Devices Connected

• High definition streaming devices place a lot of demand on your internet connection. Activities that consume a lot of data, such as Netflix, Stan or other high definition streaming services are the main culprits. If this sounds like your household, consider hard-wiring your TV directly to your modem to free up some wireless space for your work-related devices.

Boosters: Extender or Mesh

Consider placing a booster in your home that will broaden your Wi-Fi coverage. There are two options available:

• Extenders
  Wi-Fi extenders work with your existing modem to boost the Wi-Fi signal to additional areas of your home, but typically don't provide as much Wi-Fi coverage as mesh devices. They may also broadcast a new network name, meaning you will have to select a new network on your device to connect to the extender.
• Mesh
  Wi-Fi mesh devices replace the Wi-Fi connection from your existing modem and generally provide more complete coverage. They also automatically connect your portable device to the strongest/closest Wi-Fi mesh node. Wi-Fi mesh systems are however more expensive than Wi-Fi extenders.

Does your Router Match your Requirements?

• Over the past two decades, both the quality of Wi-Fi and how we use it in our daily lives has changed dramatically. Older devices tend to have fewer internal antennas and support older Wi-Fi standards, which are slower. So, if your family has grown or you just haven't upgraded in a while, it might be worthwhile considering testing a newer device in the same location to help determine whether an upgrade is required.

For further advice, head to NBN's in-home optimisation check list and learn more about how you can get the best possible internet set-up in your home.

*Information sourced via nbn.com.au