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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Sam Barker & Karen Antcliff

Martin Lewis explains 5 tricks to get the fastest wi-fi speeds from your router

Everyone's favourite MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis shares your pain if you have ever sat patiently waiting for your download to do its thing or for your film to stop buffering.

Coming to the rescue with some top tips, Martin says that you no longer have to suffer and offers some ways to supercharge your internet speed.

The financial guru, who set up consumer website MoneySavingExpert, emailed readers to share the news, and if, like many, you are a home-worker, it will be music to your ears.

Your broadband speed can be improved.

To start, Martin says that there is a free way to check your broadband speed as well as your upload speed (how fast you can send data over the internet), reports the Mirror.

There are three sites that can help test your speeds, these are: Broadband Genie, Fast.com and Speedtest.net.

Run tests at different times of the day to see when your internet struggles the most.

Peak times, known as "internet rush hour", are between 7pm and 9pm, this could naturally create a lag when there is a high number of people near you on the same network at the same time.

But if you don't want to switch, or are just interested in improving your internet speed, here are some of MoneySavingExpert's top tips.

Don't forget, you could also get a huge saving on your broadband plan if you get state support. On average, people on Universal Credit could save £144 a year.

1. Use wires not WiFi

Going wireless is obviously a lot neater, but going old school and plugging your computer or laptop into the router directly can massively improve speed.

An Ethernet cable means faster data transfer and less interference.

2. Put your router in the right place

We all know that the closer you are to the router the better your internet speed will be.

WiFi can't travel through thick walls or large objects, so where you put your router can make a huge difference.

The best places to put routers are:

  • In central locations
  • High up with no obstacles

3. Keep routers away from other devices

Wireless routers can also be subject to interference from other electrical goods.

To test this, run a speed test then try switching off all electrical devices except your router and run another test to check any difference.

Items like cordless telephones, halogen bulbs, baby monitors, dimmer light switches, TVs and screens can all affect your broadband speed if you are too near the router.

4. Use a wireless booster

Wireless boosters are gadgets that can supercharge your signal across your home.

This is normally done by people in large homes or in properties with blackspots for signals.

But these boosters only extend the signal you have, they can't improve it.

Your broadband supplier might send you a free booster if you can't get signal in certain rooms.

5. Turn off WiFi devices not being used

The more devices that are connected to your WiFi, the slower the overall speed.

Switching devices off can help get better connectivity, so try turning off the WiFi reception off when these items are not in use.

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