Source : the age
It wasn’t that long ago that the family computer was the only device in the house using the internet.
Today, the average broadband household has 25 connected devices: smart TVs, gaming consoles, phones, security cameras, electric vehicles and laptops. This reflects how many Australian households now stream, game, study and work online – often at the same time.
So, what do you do when your home internet isn’t keeping up? It rarely points to a fault in the underlying network. As households connect more devices and spend more time online, the setup inside the home can play a bigger role than most people realise. In fact, nbn research shows 51 per cent of nbn users have not made a change to their in-home internet equipment or setup in the past two years. Here are a few simple places to start.
Wi-Fi router placement
Your Wi-Fi router is one of the hardest-working devices in the house, but it’s often one of the most overlooked. Where it sits may have a surprising impact on your internet experience. It works best with a clear line of sight to the devices using it. nbn’s advice is to put it somewhere central, open and raised at waist height if you can, rather than in a cupboard, behind the television or on the floor.
Then look at what surrounds it. Walls and large objects between your router and devices can weaken the signal, which is why a central, open location often works best. Large appliances, metal objects and mirrors may also affect how the signal travels. Water can absorb the signal too, so avoid placing the router near a fish tank where you can. Some household devices, including microwaves and baby monitors, may cause interference. Try moving the router a couple of metres. A small shift may be enough to notice a difference.
Run multi-room speed tests
This is the step many people miss. Testing in one spot tells you very little. Testing in several rooms can help show where the problem might be.
Start beside your Wi-Fi router, using a speed test app or browser-based speed test. Then repeat the test in the rooms where the internet feels slowest.
If speeds are slower than expected everywhere, connect a laptop to the router with an Ethernet cable and test again. This takes Wi-Fi out of the picture and can help show whether the issue is with your internet connection or your home setup.
If the wired test is closer to the speeds you expect for your plan, the issue may be linked to something inside the home, such as Wi-Fi coverage, interference or older equipment. If the wired test is also slower than expected, discuss it with your internet provider.
Check the equipment age
Like smartphones, Wi-Fi routers can start to feel their age. They may still work, but newer models are usually built to handle more, including faster internet plans over the nbn® network, more connected devices and more people online at the same time.
If you’ve recently changed to a faster plan through your internet provider, consider checking whether your router is still the right fit. The model number is usually on a sticker underneath; a quick online search can tell you when it was released, which Wi-Fi generation it uses, and whether the manufacturer is still providing important firmware and security updates. If your router is over five years old, it may be time to ask your internet provider whether it is still right for your plan.
Consider mesh
Wi-Fi signal can weaken the further it travels, especially through thick walls, brick, concrete or other dense materials in your home. If your speed tests dropped off sharply in particular rooms, a mesh network may help spread coverage more evenly through the house.
Mesh systems use extra units, called nodes, to carry the signal into harder-to-reach areas in your home. It’s worth considering in homes with three or more bedrooms, or across multiple storeys.
Plug in when it counts
Wi-Fi gives you flexibility, but for devices that stay in one place, a cable can sometimes work better. For online gaming, high-definition streaming or moving large files, an Ethernet cable connected directly from your device to the Wi-Fi router may help provide a more stable connection and less lag*.
It suits anything that stays put, such as a desktop computer, a games console or a smart television. Check the cable, too: older or lower-grade cabling can lead to slower speeds, and nbn recommends at least CAT 6 for anything new. If you want extra Ethernet points installed, discuss the right option for your setup with a registered cabler.
None of the above recommendations require a new plan. A few practical adjustments to what is already in the house may improve speed, coverage and reliability, and the speed test will tell you whether they worked.
Discover nbn’s practical tips for improving your home internet setup at nbn.com.au/optimise
*Your home network setup is one part of your overall internet connection. Your experience also depends on your nbn® technology, and factors outside nbn’s control (like your internet provider and plan, usage during busy periods and the number of concurrent online devices at your premises). If you’re still concerned by the performance of your service, we recommend speaking to your service provider.
