Since the pandemic started in 2020, working from home has become the norm, and in fact, it is the preferred option for many professionals. Of course, there are lots of reasons why someone might wish to work from home, whether they run their own business, want to save on childcare costs, or to avoid lengthy commutes.
Whatever the case may be, working from home (WFH) has revolutionized the working world over the last couple of years. Many now have a home office set up, even if they operate on a hybrid model, and still visit the office from time to time.
Having a dedicated workspace at home can be useful, but ultimately, the aspect that matters most when WFH is your internet connection. A poor connection can make your daily working life very difficult.
So, if you currently work from home or if you’re planning to move to a remote role in the future, here are seven WFH internet tips to help you stay connected.
1. Run a speed test
If you’re unsure what speed your broadband is currently running at, it’s a good idea to do a quick speed test. This can help you to better understand how you use your bandwidth and what you’ll need to do to improve it.
If you’ve not done this before, there are several sites and apps you can use to help you test your connection. But in case you’re still confused, there are also lots of handy guides online that can help you as well.
The results of your speed test will give you a clearer indication of your current broadband and download speeds. This might prompt you to upgrade your package or broadband provider; it might also mean you have to be more strategic and aware of your usage throughout the day.
2. Clean up your network
Over the years, we connect various different devices to our home Wi-Fi and rarely think to disconnect those we don’t use on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a quick cleanup of your network, going through and removing devices such as smart TVs in the spare room, printers you don’t use, etc. This can instantly free up more bandwidth.
Similarly, it’s a good idea to limit the number of devices connected to the home Wi-Fi during the day. This will ensure your broadband is at its peak during working hours. Limit family members to using the Wi-Fi only during office hours and for those with a phone contract, encourage them to use mobile data where possible.
3. Turn off HD streaming
Nowadays, most people have at least one smart TV in their homes, and millions use streaming platforms to watch their favorite films and shows. By default, these tend to offer HD-quality viewing, but you can actually reduce this to free up your broadband and make working from home easier.
This can be especially helpful if you have young children at home that like to watch kids programmes throughout the day. Because let’s face it, they don’t care whether it’s HD quality or not! So go through the settings on these devices and change your playback settings to save some bandwidth.
4. Find the perfect place for your router
If your internet signal is not great, although it might seem obvious, you’ll be surprised what a difference simply moving your router can make. If it is in a more secluded location, walls and other large items can block the signal somewhat. As such, it’s best to move this closer to your workstation or even have it in your home office if you have one.
You can always walk around the house measuring the signal strength until you find the ideal location. Providing there is somewhere to plug it in and place it safely out of the way, of course.
5. Go back to wire connections
Although wireless broadband is the norm these days, wired connections are actually faster. So, if you rely a lot on video calls or large downloads for your job, you might wish to plug your laptop directly into one of the ‘LAN’ ports on your router. If you can, that is. Not everyone will have that option, but if you do, this can massively speed up your internet connection. This might be better suited to those who have their router in their home office or on the desk where they work, as it does mean you can’t move around too much.
If you don’t already have one, you can get these cables pretty easily online or in tech stores. If your set-up does not allow you to plug into the router, there are also plug ethernet adaptors and ethernet power line adapters, but these can be a little more complicated to use.
6. Get a booster
If you need a quick internet boost for work and you are unable to move your router for whatever reason, it might be helpful to get a booster. You can get these online or from your broadband provider, and these can be a budget-friendly way to speed up your internet.
In most cases, this is just a little box that you plug into the wall that will make your signal go further. However, be careful not to try to connect multiple boosters in your home, as this can actually impede bandwidth and signal strength. If the booster box doesn’t work, it might be time to upgrade instead.
7. Upgrade your broadband
Finally, if you know you will be working from home for the foreseeable future, it might be a good idea to upgrade your broadband altogether, especially if you haven’t looked at your package for a while.
Compare some of the top providers to find out who will offer you the fastest and most reliable broadband in your area within your budget. This might mean switching providers in some cases. In others, it might just mean upgrading your router and package if you already get a great deal with your existing provider and don’t want to leave them.
Either way, you don’t want to work from home to feel like a daily battle for bandwidth, and you certainly don’t want it to negatively impact your work. In that case, it might be time to upgrade your broadband.
