Help With Broadband Speeds

Ofcom, the Industry Watchdog, has launched its Connected Nations 2015 report – the most authoritative, in-depth look at the telecoms and wireless networks of the UK and its nations.
This year's report shows good progress on the availability and take-up of communications services, which are now crucial in people's personal and working lives.
However, the report recognises there is still more to do; particularly in improving broadband and mobile availability and quality of service for consumers and businesses around the country.

Ed:"Have you updated your broadband services to super fast fibre broadband?
Is your broadband speed slower than you expected?

If your answer is yes to both those questions, then you need to check if your in-home Wi-Fi is giving you the best service by downloading the Ofcom App 'The Ofcom Wi-Fi Checker' using this link here

The Ofcom Wi-Fi Checker, which runs on smartphones and tablets, allows consumers and businesses to discover the quality of their wireless internet signal wherever they live or work – as well as offering practical steps to help people get the best from their connection.

Surprisingly, wireless broadband may not be working as well as it could in nearly six million UK homes and offices, according to Ofcom research. This is often caused by the Wi-Fi set-up in the house slowing down broadband.

It could be down to something as simple as interference from other electronic devices, such as a microwave oven, baby monitor, a lamp – or even Christmas fairy lights.

Ed:"There has been a number of articles in the press this week blaming fairy and LED lights for drops in broadband, so it is welcome that Ofcom has highlighted this problem just before Christmas!"

Ofcom Troubleshooting Tips

• Move your router away from electrical devices: Halogen lamps, electrical dimmer switches, stereo or computer speakers, fairy lights, TVs and monitors and AC power cords have all been known to cause interference to broadband routers. Keep your router as far away as possible from other electrical devices as well as those which emit wireless signals such as baby monitors etc.

• Move your router to a different part of your home: The walls and furniture in your house act as an obstacle to the Wi-Fi radio frequencies. Ideally routers should be kept centrally within the home and placed on a table or shelf rather than on the floor

• Try restarting your wireless router: This may automatically select a less busy Wi-Fi radio frequency.

• Use an Ethernet cable to connect directly to your router: An Ethernet cable is a computer networking cable which should give you a faster, more reliable connection.

• Wi-Fi performance can be affected by lots of things. These can change over time and have a different effect in different rooms of your house. Ofcom recommends you try running the Wi-Fi Checker in different rooms and at the times of day when you're most likely to use the internet.

The App is available for both Android and iOS (Apple) smartphones and tablets.

Ed:"For the full Ofcom report click here