1. Properly restart your router
Off at the wall. Thirty seconds. Back on. Wait two minutes. Not glamorous, but it fixes a surprising number of issues.
2. Reposition your router
Central location, elevated off the floor, away from electronics and thick walls. The difference between an optimal position versus a corner cupboard can be dramatic.
3. Use ethernet for demanding tasks
A physical cable from your router to your device bypasses all WiFi variables. For gaming, video calls, 4K streaming, or working from home, wired connections are noticeably faster and more consistent.
4. Switch to the 5GHz WiFi band
Most modern routers broadcast on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 5GHz band is faster and less congested, though it does not reach quite as far through walls. Connect phones, laptops, and smart TVs to 5GHz where possible.
5. Change your WiFi channel
On 2.4GHz, if your neighbours routers are on the same channel, they are competing for the same radio frequency. Try channel 1, 6, or 11, the non-overlapping options.
6. Tackle bandwidth hogs
Cloud backups, automatic updates, streaming apps buffering in the background. Identify what is eating your bandwidth and schedule these for off-peak hours, ideally overnight.
7. Add a WiFi extender or mesh system
If specific rooms consistently have weak WiFi, a mesh system creates seamless coverage across a larger area.
8. Update your router firmware
Check your router admin panel, usually accessible at 192.168.1.1, and apply any available firmware updates.
9. Plug directly into the master socket
If you are on FTTC, try connecting your router directly to the master socket rather than via internal telephone extensions. Old internal wiring can degrade the signal noticeably.
10. Consider upgrading or switching
If you have exhausted the above and performance is still poor, Pop Telecom checks multiple networks at your address to find the fastest available option.
