Your working from home broadband checklist

Are you working from home?  You need broadband that works as efficiently as you do. Whether you’re self-isolating as a result of COVID-19, or it’s business as usual at home, your broadband performance matters now more than ever.   

We’re closely monitoring our network to make sure your broadband stays reliable and fast, even with extra traffic. Here are six things you can do ensure your connection is working at its best.  

Keep your router central 

Make sure your router is located centrally in your home with its current cable set up. If you’re working on wifi, the closer to the router you are, the better your connection will be.  

Read our article on the best places to put your router

Minimise interference

Try to avoid connecting around too many other devices also using the network at the same time. Avoid using your wireless devices near common sources of interference, such as power cables, microwave ovens, fluorescent lights, wireless video cameras and cordless phones. If you’re working from home with a spouse or flatmate, it’s time to seriously put that social distancing into action!   

Disconnect devices

It’s more than likely that you’ve got a few devices connected to the wifi that you’re not currently using. Disconnect or switch off them off. The same goes for applications that slow you down: YouTube, Netflix and other video streaming apps are the biggest culprits of throttling bandwidth!  

Reduce the number of active devices that use the same wireless frequency band. Both Bluetooth and wifi devices use the 2.4 GHz band, which provides coverage at a longer range (i.e. further away from the router) but at slightly slower speeds. Many wifi devices can use the 5 GHz band instead, which provides faster speeds, but less coverage range. So, depending on how far away you are from the router, you might be able to switch bands to suit your needs. 

Wire up 

If you want the best possible speed with a particular device, your best bet is to connect it directly. Find an ethernet cable and connect your router directly to your device.   

Reboot your device and check your channel

All our routers support wifi auto channel selection, meaning the best channel will be automatically selected when the device is powering up. So, reboot your device to maximise your speed! You can also configure the router channel manually if you prefer. Your router guide can be found here (under ‘Downloadables’), with more instructions.  

Test your speed

Run a speed test to see if you‘re getting the speeds you should be. If not, and you’ve tried all the steps above, we’re here to help! the quickest way to reach us is through My Account support request.

Our customer support centre remains fully open, 24/7. Our friendly team are on hand to answer any questions you may have to help you get the most out of your broadband.   

Hyperoptic not available at your property yet? Register your interest (and rally your neighbours to do the same!).   

If it’s your bandwidth that’s causing you problems, you might just need more! Lucky for you, we have packages with speeds up to 1Gb. Check out all our broadband packages.