Big Questions, Short Answers: Why is my WiFi faster in some rooms than others?

We’re on a mission to help our customers solve tech headaches quickly. Because life’s busy enough, and no one has time for endless loading circles.

If your WiFi feels strong in some rooms and sluggish in others, you’re not alone. But before you start marking out your home with designated areas to stand to “get the good WiFi”, here’s the thing: it’s usually not the connection itself – it’s what’s happening inside your home. Better yet, when you’ve got Virgin Media WiFi, it’s fixable.

Walls, floors, gadgets and even where our Hub lives in your home can all mess with your signal. So, let’s break down what’s happening and how you can quickly solve it, so you can get back to streaming, scrolling and video-calling without the lag.

Big question: Why is my WiFi faster in some rooms than others?

Short answer: Walls, distance and interference are the usual culprits.

Longer answer: Your WiFi signal is like sound – the further it travels and the more things it smacks into, the weaker it gets. Imagine yelling across your house: it’s loud and clear nearby, but muffled or silent the farther away you go.

That’s basically how WiFi works. It’s also why no one in your household can hear you upstairs when you shout up from downstairs, asking questions. At least that’s what they say…

WiFi relies on radio waves sent out from the Hub. These waves weaken over distance and get blocked or bent by physical objects. The layout of your home, the materials in your walls and the electronics around our Hub all play a part.

Here’s a closer look at what might be slowing things down:

The farther you are from our Hub, the weaker your WiFi signal gets. Rooms at the other end of the house, upstairs or out in the garden can all feel the drop-off.

That’s because WiFi travels in waves. And if you’re keen sea surfers like us (to clarify – we’re keen, not good), you’ll know that just like any wave, it loses strength over distance.

So even if everything else is working perfectly and our Hub is purring like a newborn kitten, a room that's too far from the Hub might still feel slower or patchy.

When homes were being designed, very few architects considered the importance of us wanting to binge 10 episodes of Selling Sunset in HD on our phones in bed. The fools.

Some materials are WiFi’s worst enemies. Thick brick or concrete walls, metal radiators or underfloor heating can block or reflect the signal.

But to be fair to the home builders, we’re also sometimes at fault. Things like large mirrors or fish tanks can also play their part in a poor signal. It’s the water that’s the strong signal absorber, not the fish.

WiFi doesn’t like squeezing through dense stuff, so if you’ve got our Hub tucked behind the telly or hidden in a cupboard, it’s not living its #BestLife.

In today’s super-connected homes, we’ve got more gadgets than Batman’s utility belt. But it’s not just gadgets that are connecting to your WiFi network that are the issue. Things like baby monitors, cordless phones, Bluetooth speakers and even microwaves can interfere with your signal – especially if they’re near the Hub.

Other people’s WiFi networks (especially in flats or terraces) can also crowd the airwaves, making it harder for your signal to get through, especially during peak times when many networks overlap.

Here’s how to fight back against patchy signal: 

• Move our Hub – Placing it in a central, open spot can make a big difference. Avoid hiding it away or pushing it into a corner.

• Use WiFi Pods – We offer our signal-boosting WiFi Pods, part of WiFi Max. These easy-to-use mesh pods help to extend and strengthen the WiFi signal throughout your home, even stretching to those tricky-to-reach areas, using mesh WiFi technology instead of electrical wiring.

• Tidy the tech – Keep electronics that cause interference away from the Hub. And avoid placing it near large metal objects or mirrors.

• Do a speed test and follow the steps – It’s straightforward using our SamKnows RealSpeed speed test. Follow these steps and check for black spots.

Just remember: WiFi problems in certain rooms aren’t about your broadband not being fast – it’s about your home getting in the way. But with a few smart changes, you can help your signal go further and work harder.

Whether you want to solve an irritating WiFi problem or you want to keep up to date with the latest news and trends, visit our Tech and Connectivity hub for broadband and WiFi tips, tricks and user guides.

We’ve got speeds for every household. Take a look at our superfast fibre broadband deals.