Don’t let your house be haunted by bad WiFi: Seven hacks for a smoother connection

Halloween is just around the corner, and you might be planning to watch some scary movies, play some spooky games, or video chat with your friends in costumes. But nothing ruins the fun like a slow or unreliable WiFi connection. You don’t want to miss the jump scares, lag behind the action, or freeze in the middle of a conversation. So how can you make sure your WiFi is up to the challenge?

First of all, let’s take a look at what not to do.

Don’t do these scary hacks!

When it comes to WiFi, it seems like everyone has a helpful piece of advice. But many of these so-called hacks can range from making no difference at all to reducing your performance and maybe even being dangerous!

Changing your WiFi frequency: Most routers use the 2.4 GHz band, which is more prone to interference from other devices and networks. If your router supports the 5 GHz band, you can switch to it for a faster and less congested connection. However, this hack may not work for everyone. The 5 GHz band has a shorter range and may not penetrate walls as well as the 2.4 GHz band. You may experience dead zones or weak spots in your WiFi coverage if you use the 5 GHz band in a large house or multiple floors. You can use a WiFi analyser app to check which band is less crowded in your area, but you may have to compromise between speed and range. And in most cases – because your router will take care of this automatically for you – it’s best to leave this alone entirely.

Using a VPN to encrypt your traffic: A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that creates a secure tunnel between your device and the internet, encrypting your data and hiding your IP address. This way, you can protect your privacy and security from hackers and anyone else who might be snooping on your WiFi network. A VPN can also be used to help you bypass geo-restrictions and access content that is blocked in your region. However, a VPN does not improve your WiFi signal or speed. In fact, it may slow down your connection due to the encryption overhead and the extra distance your data has to travel through the VPN server. A VPN is useful for many purposes, but it is not a WiFi hack.

Using tinfoil or aluminium cans to boost your WiFi signal: These hacks are supposed to focus or amplify the WiFi signal in one direction by creating a parabolic reflector around your router’s antenna or behind your router. However, these hacks may also reduce the signal in other directions and create dead zones in your home. Moreover, if the tinfoil or aluminium cans are not properly attached or aligned, they may block or reflect the signal back to the router and cause overheating or interference. And that’s not to mention that cutting up tin cans and leaving them lying around your router isn’t the safest thing to do. The last thing you want this Halloween is a visit to A&E!

Now for seven hacks that might help to improve your WiFi signal and speed.

1. Find the best spot for your router

Your router is the heart of your WiFi network, and its location can make a big difference in how well it performs. Ideally, it should be placed in a central and elevated position (i.e. the middle of the house), away from walls, metal objects, and other sources of interference. You can use a WiFi analyser app to measure the signal strength in different rooms and find the optimal spot for your router.

2. Update your router software

Your router software, also known as firmware, is the program that runs your router and controls its functions. Updating your router software can help improve its performance, security, and compatibility with new devices and standards. We would advise checking your manufacturer’s website for instructions on updating your router firmware.

3. Use an Ethernet cable or a powerline adapter

Sometimes, the best way to improve your WiFi is to not use it at all. If you have a device that needs a stable and fast connection, such as a smart TV, a games console, or a desktop computer, you might want to connect it directly to your router with an Ethernet cable. This will eliminate any wireless interference and latency issues. If running a long cable isn’t possible, you can use a powerline adapter instead. This device uses your existing electrical wiring to create a wired network between your router and your device.

4. Speed up streaming

If you’re experiencing slow or choppy streaming, you may want to check your internet speed and compare it with the recommended speed for the streaming service and video quality you’re using. For example, Netflix suggests at least 5 Mbps for HD streaming and 15 Mbps for 4K streaming. You can use a tool like Speedtest to measure your current speed. If your speed is lower than the recommended one, you can try some of these tips to improve it:

• Reduce the streaming quality. Most streaming services allow you to adjust the video quality settings, which can lower the bandwidth consumption and reduce buffering. 
• Download the video to watch offline. Some streaming services also let you download videos to your device so you can watch them without an internet connection. This can be useful if you have a slow or unstable connection, or if you want to save data.
• Turn off or disconnect devices that you’re not using. If you have multiple devices connected to your network, they may be using some of your bandwidth even if they’re not actively streaming or downloading anything. You can try turning off or disconnecting devices that you’re not using at the moment, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart speakers, etc.
• Pause or shut down background apps and services. Some apps and services on your device may be running in the background and consuming internet data without your knowledge. If you’re streaming on a computer, this is certainly something you could try.

5. Set up a guest network for visitors and smart devices

Setting up a guest network can help you improve your WiFi at home in several ways, including boosting your bandwidth.

• It can enhance your WiFi security by preventing unauthorised access to your main network and your personal data. You can also monitor and manage the activity of your guests on the guest network, and block anything suspicious.
• It can improve your WiFi performance by reducing the bandwidth and consumption on your main network. You can limit the speed and duration of connections for your guests and devices on the guest network and prioritise the traffic on your main network.
• It can increase your WiFi convenience by allowing you to easily share your WiFi with your visitors without revealing your main network.

If you’re a Zen customer, you can easily setup a guest network on your FRITZ!Box router by following the steps in this guide or watching our how to video.

6. Prioritise important devices and applications

Did you know that your FRITZ!Box router (and many other routers) allows you to decide which connections and applications are given priority over others?

Prioritising devices or applications means that they’ll get preference on the network, which is handy if bandwidth is limited.

If you’re a Zen customer, you can find everything you need to know here. If you’re using another manufacturer’s router, check their website to see if they offer something similar.

7. Switch to Zen EveryRoom for guaranteed coverage and performance

If you have a large house or multiple floors, you might experience dead zones or weak spots in your WiFi coverage. To solve this problem, you can switch to Zen EveryRoom. Zen EveryRoom is a WiFi mesh system that uses your existing Zen FRITZ!Box router and one or more repeaters to create a seamless WiFi network that covers your entire home or office. With Zen EveryRoom, you’re guaranteed a WiFi boost in your home and no more ‘not-spots’, for a smooth connection whatever room you’re in. And what’s more, as you move around from room to room, your devices will intelligently work together, meaning no more dropped connections.