Keeping it Connected: The Best Internet Access Setup for WFH
Today, I want to dive into another taken-for-granted aspect of our virtual lives—ensuring that your home Internet connection is up to the task of seamless remote work. Whether you're dialling into virtual meetings or accessing your office PC while family members are trying to stream Netflix (you know they are!), a solid Internet connection is your lifeline to work and the world.
Router Positioning
Where you position your Wi-Fi router is crucial. If it’s hidden away somewhere and there is lots of interference (especially thick walls and metal objects) in between its location and where you are working, then you are likely to have problems. There are often ‘dead spots’ in a house where the signal somehow just doesn’t reach. You can deal with these using Wi-Fi extenders, or trying to place the router somewhere near where you are working, though that may not always be possible depending on where the phone socket is in your house. The ideal spot for a router is in a high up location near the centre of your house. This is because the signal from the router radiates in all directions. If you put it on the floor, then almost half the signal is just absorbed into the ground.
Mesh Wi-Fi
A good (though more expensive) alternative to Wi-Fi extenders is ‘mesh Wi-Fi’. These are a set of wirelessly connected mini routers that you place around the house to give you full signal coverage. After I set this up, it completely solved all problems with dead zones and dropped Teams calls. Previously, if I went to the bedroom for a Teams call, I’d occasionally be disconnected from the call and have to be reconnected.
Boost Your Internet Speed
Pay for the best broadband you can afford which is available in your area. Fibre optic broadband is best. If you are going to be sharing your connection with someone else, particularly for work, then it’s even more important that you have a good connection. If you regularly find yourself drowning in lag during virtual meetings or experiencing sluggish downloads, and there’s no problem with the router or WiFi, it might be time to consider upgrading your internet speed. Check with your provider to explore faster options tailored to your needs—the small additional monthly cost is well worth the productivity boost.
Prioritise Devices for Work
If your household is anything like mine, everyone’s fighting for bandwidth. Take control by prioritising devices for work. Many routers allow you to assign priority to specific devices, ensuring that your laptop or desktop gets the lion’s share of the internet when you need it the most. You can also take advantage of your router’s Quality of Service (QoS) settings to prioritise specific types of Internet traffic. For instance, by giving priority to video calls and remote desktop traffic, you can ensure a smoother work experience even when other devices are competing for bandwidth.
Befriending Ethernet: A Wired Connection
A good ‘last resort’ trick is to have an Ethernet cable handy. On a couple of occasions, I had colleagues mention that my connection was a bit iffy, and my voice had broken up. Maybe something to do with the router and interference. During lockdown, I was taking part in an industry webinar panel, representing my company, and no way was I going to have Internet issues while answering a question! I got myself a long Ethernet cable, which I hooked up to the router well ahead of the call. Note that many new laptops might not have an Ethernet port built in, so you may also need to (as I did) buy an Ethernet-to-USB adapter.
A Dance with VPNs
Many of us use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for added security. While they’re fantastic for protecting your data, they can also have an impact on your Internet speed. Choose a VPN service that strikes a balance between security and speed, ensuring you’re protected without sacrificing performance.
Checking in on Your ISP and Router
Regularly check in on your broadband plan to ensure it meets your needs. If you find yourself struggling with connectivity issues, consider reaching out to your ISP for assistance or exploring other plans that might better suit your remote work and general family Internet requirements. Finally, if it’s been a while since you upgraded the router itself, consider investing in a newer, more powerful one. This can significantly improve your Wi-Fi signal strength and overall connectivity.