One very simple broadband check will expose just how bad your Wi-Fi is

‌Broadband is now a vital service in all of our homes with it offering entertainment, access to the web and morning Zoom calls to the office. Most homes can’t live without their Wi-Fi but that flashing black box in the corner of the room could actually be slowing you down. Many routers we all use are supplied directly from our Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and whilst most are pretty decent when they are delivered it’s unlikely they ever get upgraded.

That means if you stick your ISP for years you’ll be stuck using ageing equipment. New research from speed test firm Ookla, has revealed that a large number of properties are still using Wi-Fi technology that’s stuck firmly in the past.

In fact, most still have Wi-Fi 4 or Wi-Fi 5 compatible devices in their homes which simply aren’t as good as the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 routers.

For those not aware, that much more advanced internet technology is capable of blasting faster speeds around homes whilst also being far more reliable.

So how can you see if your Wi-Fi router isn’t up to the job and is slowing you down?

It’s a very easy process. All you have to do is grab an ethernet cable and your laptop then head to your router and plug your PC directly into the rear of it.

Switch off the Wi-Fi settings and run a quick speed test using this hardwired option.

There are plenty of firms such as Google and Ookla that offer free checks, just search “broadband speed test” and you should find plenty of results.

Here are a couple of links to help find the best

• OOKLA SPEED TEST

• GOOGLE SPEED TEST

Write down the result and run the same test in different rooms using just the Wi-Fi signal. You’ll then see how the two compare and whether it’s worth investing in a new router or if there’s a need to ask for boosters from your ISP.

You might also want to check out these broadband tips to see if it helps your Wi-Fi speeds.

Speaking about its latest research Ookla said: “Our data shows Wi-Fi performance continues to lag behind ethernet performance within home networks in many advanced fixed broadband markets, with Wi-Fi speeds typically ranging from between 30-40% of ethernet speeds during Q1 2023.

“It’s clear from the gap between Wi-Fi and ethernet performance that ISPs need to do more to improve the customer experience for Wi-Fi users within the home. Part of the solution lies in rolling out more advanced generations of Wi-Fi technology, given Wi-Fi 4 and 5 remain the dominant technologies deployed globally.”