BT broadband users warned to move their Wi-Fi routers

BT has advised broadband customers on the most effective place to put their router in the house for the best Wi-Fi connection.

It's a wonder of modern life, and also an eternal source of torment. Maybe your router keeps cutting out, or maybe your home has Wi-Fi blind spots where there's never any signal.

Few things are more frustrating nowadays than Wi-Fi interruptions, which always seem to happen right in the middle of something important.

But now, BT has warned its customers over the worst places to put their router in their homes, as it turns out that placement can help to ensure you have a better signal throughout your home without having to invest in expensive signal boosters for more remote corners.

Jack Sullivan / Alamy Stock Photo

And it's not just the position of the router either, as even the things surrounding it can have an impact on the quality of the signal. Fortunately, BT has provided some helpful tips on how to get the most out of it.

BT said: “Move your hub away from the window – your hub broadcasts wi-fi in all directions and half of your signal will go outside, rather than your home."

They also explained that metal objects as well as televisions can disrupt the signal if the router is next to them. However, while positioning is effective, it's not everything.

BT added: “If your wi-fi isn’t as fast as you expected, it might have nothing to do with your connection, but could be due to the age and power of your device."

It's all very well having a brilliant Wi-Fi connection, but if your phone or laptop is a much older model you won't get the full benefits of the faster speeds.

"Typically the newer it is, the faster the wireless speed it will support", BT explained. "For example, a smartphone from 2013 can handle around half the wi-fi speeds of a modern phone.”

AKP Photos / Alamy Stock Photo

There is also the factor of what you're using the internet for, as some services use a lot more data than others.

BT explained: “Your speed is also affected by what your broadband is being used for. For instance, streaming services like Netflix or YouTube, online gaming and video conferencing use more of your broadband speed than checking Facebook, or sending an email.

“And since your connection is shared at home, the number of devices using your broadband at the same time can have an impact on how fast or slow it feels.”

So there you go - don't put your router by the window, don't expect too much from old devices, and make sure you have enough bandwidth to cover what you'll be using it for.

And if none of that helps, you can always turn it off and on again.