If you're streaming a series or sitting in a meeting in your home office, you don't want to be surprised by a poor internet connection. Here are a few practical tips to make your Wi-Fi reception at home more stable.
The router should be positioned at a slightly higher level, for example on a cupboard or shelf. "Since walls and ceilings, steel beams, underfloor heating, water and riser pipes or heat-insulated windows can also significantly impair reception, WLAN routers should always be free-standing," advises Dirk Böttger, Vice President Product Management at Telekom Deutschland.
In addition, the router should be placed as centrally as possible in the apartment or house. This ensures that the WiFi signal is broadcast evenly.
Even objects containing water or coated with metal can obstruct the Wi-Fi signal. Since water absorbs radio waves, routers should never be hidden behind plants, aquariums, or refrigerators. Electrical appliances and furniture also weaken the signal and should therefore not be placed in close proximity.
Devices with so-called mesh technology ensure significantly more stable connections and better Wi-Fi range.
“Mesh repeaters also transmit the router’s Wi-Fi signal and automatically ensure that end devices such as smartphones, laptops or televisions always connect to the network node that has the strongest signal in the entire house,” explains Böttger.
How to improve your Wi-Fi signal
Using the MeinMagenta app, for example, Telekom customers can not only set up their connection and devices, but also test their internet speed with just one click.
But that's not all: After the measurement, tips are displayed on how to improve the WiFi signal in your home. For example, users receive helpful advice on how to best position the router, how to avoid interference and how to increase the WiFi range.
Another reason for a supposedly poor WLAN quality can be the wrong DSL tariff. "Higher bandwidths are often available, which then also result in a higher data throughput in the WLAN," advises Dirk Böttger.
And further: “If users stream a lot or watch high-definition television, a bandwidth of at least 100 Mbit/s, preferably 250 Mbit/s, is recommended.”
On the Telekom website, for example, you can enter your place of residence, street and house number and then find out at what speed you can surf.
