14 DAY TRIAL // With nearly the entire world staying home due to the coronavirus outbreak, authorities across the world are now giving tips to citizens on how to improve the quality of their network connections, especially as many are currently working from home.
UK media watchdog Ofcom published a blog post with seven tips to “stay connected during the coronavirus,” recommending people to use landline or Wi-Fi calls when possible to avoid cellular congestion, move the router clear of other devices, and stick with wired rather than wireless.
One particularly interesting tip concerns the interfering that could happen at home when using multiple electronic devices, with Ofcom telling people to avoid using their microwave if they want faster Internet.
Wi-Fi connection speed
“Keep your router as far away as possible from other devices, and those which operate wirelessly. Cordless phones, baby monitors, halogen lamps, dimmer switches, stereos and computer speakers, TVs and monitors can all affect your wifi if they’re too close to your router,” Ofcom says.
“Did you know that microwave ovens can also reduce wifi signals? So don’t use the microwave when you’re making video calls, watching HD videos or doing something important online. Also, place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor, and keep it switched on.”
The watchdog then goes on to recommend users to plug their routers directly in their main phone socket when possible, test the speed of the broadline line to know what to expect, and reach out to the ISP for additional advice on how to boost their Internet speed.
Tech giants across the world are also struggling with Internet congestion these days. YouTube, Netflix, and other services have already announced reduced video quality in Europe and elsewhere in order to save bandwidth, while companies like Microsoft throttled less-used features in an attempt to maintain the performance of its work-from-home solutions.
Via BBC