Ten practical tips for speeding up your broadband

Even with a super-reliable Zen connection, things can sometimes get in the way of your speed. From electrical interference to WiFi struggling to travel through thick walls, a little troubleshooting can sometimes go a long way.

We’ve put together ten simple tips to help you get the best performance from your broadband, and five myths that are best left to online folklore.

1. Know your starting speed

Before you start, it’s a good idea to run a speed test. This gives you a benchmark of the speed you’re actually getting. You can use websites like Speedtest.net or Fast.com. For the most accurate picture, try running a few tests at different times of the day, on different devices, and compare the results from a wired (Ethernet) connection with a wireless one.

2. Give your router some space

It might be the hub of your smart home, but your router isn’t a fan of other electrical gadgets. Things like halogen lamps, baby monitors, microwaves, Bluetooth devices, even USB hubs have all been known to interfere with WiFi signals. Try to give your router as much of its own space as possible, away from other devices. That’s pretty hard in the real world but just remember that if it’s bunched up with other electronics or there are electrical devices between you and the router, your signal might be affected.

3. Manage your connected devices

Every device connected to your WiFi uses a slice of your bandwidth. Smart speakers, TVs, phones, tablets, laptops, and all your other gadgets and gizmos all add up. If your connection feels slow, try temporarily disconnecting a few devices you aren’t using. This can free up bandwidth and give a speed boost to the gadgets you’re using now.

For a smarter solution, many routers allow you to prioritise certain devices in their settings. This tells your network to always send bandwidth to your most important gadgets first, like your work laptop or smart TV.

4. Plug in for peak performance

Speaking of plugs, there’s an incredibly useful one on the back of your router. For tasks that need the fastest, most stable connection – like online gaming or important video calls – you can’t beat a wired connection. Using an Ethernet cable to plug your computer/TV/console directly into your router will always be faster and more reliable than WiFi.

5. Try a quick restart

You might think that this tip belongs in our questionable hacks below, but despite being the oldest trick in the book, you may be surprised by how often it works. Turning your router off for 30 seconds and then turning it back on can often solve connection issues. This simple reboot clears its memory and allows it to establish a fresh, clean connection. While we’re on a theme, turning the WiFi on your device on and off can have a similar effect.

6. Lock down your WiFi

Just like connected devices at home could slow down your WiFi, an unsecured network could tempt neighbours and passers-by to leach from your broadband too. It probably is (unless you’ve done something you shouldn’t), but make sure your home network is password-protected. Security is the main concern, but an unsecure network means anyone could be using your broadband and slowing it down.

7. Be mindful of your VPN

They’ve never been more popular than they are right now. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a great tool for online privacy, or even for circumventing geographical restrictions, but it can also put a dent in your connection speed. Because a VPN routes your traffic through additional servers, it’s normal to see a drop in speed. If your connection feels slow, try turning your VPN off for a moment to see if it makes a difference – that way, you’ll know if it’s the cause of your slowdown.

8. Check for background bandwidth hogs

Sometimes, it’s not your connection that’s slowing you down – it’s all the apps that are secretly using your bandwidth. Automatic software updates, cloud services like Dropbox syncing large files, or a streaming service left running in another tab can all have an impact. Check what’s running and pause anything you don’t need.

9. Banish not-spots with mesh

If you live in a larger home or have thick internal walls, you might find that your WiFi signal struggles to reach every room. A mesh system is the perfect solution. Our EveryRoom and eero services use smart and powerful devices to spread a fast, reliable signal to every corner of your home – so you can banish those not-spots for good.

10. Give your browser a tune-up

Sometimes, a slow browsing experience isn’t down to your broadband. For a faster, safer experience, make sure your browser is always up to date. It can also be a good idea to clear your cache and cookies from time to time if you’re experiencing slowdowns. Also, too many browser extensions can slow things down, so try disabling or removing any you don’t use regularly.

Still need more speed?

Sometimes, the simplest fix is the best. As our lives move more online – with more 4K streaming, more smart devices, and more people working from home – our old broadband packages can get left behind.

If you think it’s time for an upgrade, you can check what’s available by doing a quick postcode search or logging into your Zen Portal. It’s the quickest way to see if you’re able to move to a faster package.

The weird and wonderful world of WiFi hacks

You might have seen some strange tips online for boosting your WiFi signal, often involving household items. But do any of them actually work?

• The fizzy drink can booster: This popular hack involves cutting open a drinks can to create a mini satellite dish for your router. In theory, it acts as a reflector to focus your WiFi signal. In reality, the results are minimal at best, and the risks of a sticky desk or even a visit to the hospital (cutting open a can? Really?) just aren’t worth it.
• The tinfoil trick: A variation on the can booster, the idea is to wrap tinfoil behind your router to reflect the signal. While there’s a bit of science to it, you’re more likely to block or interfere with the signal than improve it.
• Opening the windows: Yes, really. There are plenty of people who’ll swear by opening windows to ‘let the signal through’ or closing them to ‘stop it escaping’. While regular glass has little effect on WiFi signals, there’s actually some truth to this one. Windows treated with metallic coatings (such as those that block UV rays or heat transfer) can affect your WiFi signal. It’s probably best to keep your router away from windows if possible.
• The coat hanger antenna: Some people claim that attaching a metal coat hanger to your router can extend its range. While that used to be true for boosting the signal to your old portable TV, WiFi operates on a totally different set of frequencies. You can put this one firmly in the myth category.
• Beware the fish tank: WiFi signals really don’t like travelling through water. Because of this, placing your router right next to a large fish tank can weaken the signal. While this one is true, we wouldn’t recommend moving your aquatic friends. It’s just another reason to find a nice clear, open space for your router.