Experts warn millions are putting their WiFi router in the wrong place – here’s where it SHOULD go

Nothing is more frustrating than a buffer show at the height of the season finale.

But experts argue that this can be solved in just a few simple ways, as millions of us put our Wi-Fi routers in all the wrong places.

Moving your router away from electronic devices, microwave ovens and even Bluetooth equipment are among the many tricks put forward by the broadband provider Zen Internet.

The ISP said, ‘Let’s be clear on that; you can’t put your router wherever you want. It still needs a direct connection to your mains (or ONT in the case of full fiber), so you may struggle to find the absolute ideal location.

“But there are some things you can do to make your router’s Wi-Fi signal work more easily.”

While it may not match your decor, the company recommends placing your router in an open area so that the signal can travel freely.

Hiding it in a drawer or closet is likely to choke the connection, in addition to any nearby electronic devices.

In addition to Bluetooth equipment and microwave ovens, this can include some baby monitors, wireless speakers, microphones, cordless phones, and even cameras.

“Dealing with this interference can be as simple as – where possible – moving your router away from these other types of devices,” added Zen Internet.

Devices that are not normally moved, such as desktop PCs, TVs and game consoles, can also be connected to provide an optimal internet signal.

While this defeats the point of wireless internet, the best internet connection still comes from a wired connection.

This can be set up by connecting each device directly to the router using an Ethernet cable.

“You’re guaranteed to get the best connection on your network and, crucially, you’re freeing up the wireless airwaves so there’s less competition for your wireless-connecting devices,” the broadband provider continued.

Powerline adapters and Wi-Fi extenders are among the other tools that can also boost the internet signal.

Adapters use the electrical wiring in a home to carry broadband signals to different rooms.

These devices can be plugged into a few outlets, the experts explain, expanding wired connectivity in any room you want.

On the other hand, Wi-Fi extenders can help boost the internet in areas of the home that are significantly further away from the main router.

Zen Internet said: “If you place one of these devices far enough away from your router (but still within good signal range), it will repeat the signal, allowing you to get a good connection further away.

“But WiFi extenders have a downside: they set up a new wireless network instead of just extending the range of your existing one.”

As a result, devices switch between multiple networks when a person moves in and out of range.

To combat this, the company suggests investing in their proprietary mesh network EveryRoom, which will allow the extender to better merge with the main router.

Ensuring that a router enables band steering is another way to address poor internet issues.

The company explains that most modern routers are “dual-band,” meaning they connect over a 2.4 GHz frequency range or in the higher 5 GHz frequency range.

While this may sound complicated, routers can determine which connection frequency is best for them using a process called band steering.

But it is important to check that this automatic switching process is enabled on the router rather than disabled.

“In rare cases, you might decide you prefer to control the process manually, and it’s possible to set up two separate networks (one at 2.4 GHz, the other at 5 GHz),” Zen Internet said.

While a 5GHz connection is often faster than 2.4GHz, it may be less effective further away from the router.

They added: “Remember, if you decide to do this, you’ll have to manually control which network your devices automatically connect to. So don’t automatically switch to the ‘best’ frequency for a certain place in the home or office.’

Despite these solutions, many problems really come down to a router’s available bandwidth in addition to unused devices on a network.

Data-intensive activities, such as downloading high-quality movies and shows, are likely to take up a large chunk of your connection if it’s only running at 100 megabits per second (Mps).

As a result, this would make it difficult to run another Internet-using program or software at the same time.

However, a 900 Mbps connection would solve this problem completely, allowing internet users to perform numerous tasks with ease.

Kicking unused devices off the internet can also increase bandwidth, with a list of connected items visible on the router’s control panel.

Zen Internet added: “Speaking of unwanted Wi-Fi usage, if you really want to stay in control, consider disabling automatic updates on your devices.

“From your phone to your PC, those automatic update downloads can be using a huge chunk of your Wi-Fi, often without you knowing. So why not take the process into your own hands and manually download updates at your convenience?’