Few things are more frustrating than your WiFi connection dropping out. Fast, reliable internet throughout our homes makes everyday life run more smoothly, which is why we’ve introduced our WiFi guarantee with WiFi Max. That means superfast, reliable broadband – and it’s our promise that you’ll enjoy download speeds of at least 30Mbps in every room or get £100 bill credit. 

It’s backed up by our signal-boosting mesh WiFi Pods (if needed) and Intelligent WiFi (self-optimising technology built into all our hubs to automatically sort any WiFi issue) – at no extra cost with our Gigabit Fibre Broadband and Volt packages. You can also add our WiFi guarantee with WiFi Max to our M50 to M500 Fibre Broadband packs (without Volt) for £8 a month, with your first WiFi Pod provided automatically.

We’re revolutionising the way we keep people online, and our high-tech solutions will make your Virgin Media WiFi even faster and more reliable. But there’s also another surprisingly simple method that could give your signal a bit of a boost: moving your router. Follow these dos and don’ts, and you might find that you can stretch your WiFi further than expected…

Do: stay central

The best place for your router is right in the heart of the home. Imagine your ideal signal range like a huge bubble that surrounds your entire living space. Your WiFi router should be broadcasting from the bubble’s central point; if it’s not, then your entire home is less likely to be covered by your internet connection.

Don’t: hide your hub

Some people are tempted to tuck their internet router away for aesthetic reasons, but stowing yours in a cupboard or box is a surefire way to weaken your internet connection because any physical obstruction around your hub will interfere with the signal. (It also increases the chance of the router overheating, which isn’t good.) For the same reason, you should avoid hiding pods behind furniture, especially bulky pieces like heavy chests of drawers or sofas.

Do: manage your WiFi Pods

Got one or more WiFi Pods? With the Connect app, you can keep an eye on how all of them are doing – see their signal strength, know which devices are connected to each one, get troubleshooting tips, rename them and much more.

Do: position your hub higher

Remember: imagine your ideal signal range like a huge bubble that surrounds your entire living space. By placing the hub higher, you’re effectively ‘wasting less’ of the bubble. You could position the hub high on a wall using an unobtrusive mount or small floating shelf (lots of retailers now make these especially for this purpose). Alternatively, place it high on a bookshelf. This is a good move if you want your device to go unnoticed – the router is likely to blend in with the books behind it.

However, if you in live in a home with multiple floors, the best position for the hub might in fact be on the ground on the first floor. And you’re still using height to your advantage.

Don’t: put your router in the kitchen

It’s not just electronics that interfere with your WiFi signal: metal can also wreak havoc with your connection. Kitchens are often home to heavy-duty metal appliances (think ovens, fridges and washing machines), as well as signal-emitting electronics like microwaves, making them a particularly inhospitable environment for your router. 

Do: give it space

WiFi routers aren’t team players – they generally prefer to operate at a distance from their fellow electronic devices. If your connection is weak, check to see if your hub is too close to objects that send out their own signals, such as TVs, wireless speakers or cordless phones. It will be happier if it’s at least one metre away from other electronics.

Do: avoid mirrors and fish tanks

It may sound bizarre, but fish tanks and mirrors are also the enemies of home broadband. Water inhibits WiFi signal, so placing your router next to a fish tank is likely to have a negative impact on its stability. Interestingly, this is also why mobile internet is sometimes disrupted in busy spaces, because the water in human bodies will also dampen internet signal.

Mirrors can also reflect the radio waves used to transmit wireless internet, which can have a negative impact on performance by scattering and distorting the signal. It’s not just mirrors, either: be wary of stainless steel countertops, filing cabinets or any other flat, reflective surface.

Don’t: go horizontal

Keep your router upright with the front lights facing into the room to ensure the WiFi antennas inside the router are in the most efficient orientation and less of your WiFi signal is wasted. Having the router upright will also ensure optimal air flow through the Hub and help avoid overheating.

Want to learn more?

To find out more about our superfast WiFi guarantee, click here.