Working or studying from home, shopping online or patiently queuing for festival tickets can be a right pain when you’re internet isn’t up to speed. Figuring out how to get the most out of your internet is now as much of a priority as checking you’ve got milk in the fridge. Let’s see what’s behind it all and, more importantly, how we can speed things up.
In 2019, according to consumer speed tests collected by price comparison site uSwitch, the UK average wifi speed was 54.2Mbps, with a fifth of homes still struggling with speeds of less than 10Mbps. When it comes to figuring out what speeds you need, we’ve got a couple of tips for you depending on your internet activities.
If you spend most of your time online streaming full HD content (TV shows on Netflix, films on Disney+, etc.), it is recommended that you need 5Mbps to do this successfully. Unless you’re planning on streaming to several devices at once, in which case you’re going to need something faster.
Moving up to 4K Ultra HD (approximately 4x the quality of full HD, usually premium content on Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube and gaming platforms) then a single stream will need 25Mbps, and for multiple devices streaming simultaneously, you need to seriously consider investing in download speeds of at least 200 Mbps, which should work for most households.
It is important to remember that the ‘maximum’ speed of your connection is not a guarantee. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) contract should let you know the maximum speed, and the prioritised speeds they’re offering you.
Let’s use our own contract as an example. At Ogi we offer three distinct packages to our home customers, Ogi 150, Ogi 300 and Ogi 900; each designed to suit the different needs of our customers. Looking at Ogi 300, this package is for slightly busier digital households with capacity for up to twenty devices and average download speeds of 300Mbps (150Mbps minimum download speed).
With speeds like this, you shouldn’t experience a problem with speeds with an Ogi full fibre package, but if you do there’s a lot you can do to sort stuff out:
Walls, cupboards and even bookshelves can impact your wifi signal. By moving your router, you can make a real difference to the speeds you get and how far its wireless transmissions can reach. The perfect spot will depend on your home, but try not to hide your router in a corner, or under a cupboard, or inside a drawer – the more central and prominent it is, the better. Don’t assume your new Ogi router has to go where your old phone line was. All of this is also true for your wifi extenders too. Move them around the house to make sure you get the best whole home coverage.
Now, it is important to understand that moving your router somewhere more prominent may mean you have to get creative with your cabling, but, taking the time to find the perfect position for your router, and spending the time to cable manage your home will result in a future proofed connectivity, where your router will benefit from having the ideal home.
Your service provider will provide a new router, but it’s worth remembering the age of your own devices can affect the speed of your network connection, but, as well as your own personal devices, equipment supplied to you gets old too! The general recommendation is that you upgrade to a new router every three to four years. So keep that in mind when you’re trying to improve your wifi speed!
If you’re working on a laptop or at a desktop computer the ideal situation would be that you would use an ethernet cable to connect those devices to the internet. You are always guaranteed a stronger, faster, more reliable connection when you’re connected via an ethernet cable.
Obviously, wifi is great, and it’s changed the way we can use the internet. Still, there will always be a time and a place for ethernet cables, be that for online multiplayer games, or live streaming content, which require a more stable connection.
If you experience sluggish speeds at “rush-hour” and only then, maybe it’s worth considering how many people in your household are actively using your network at that time. If however your speeds are not up to scratch throughout the day, you need to monitor the speed throughout the course of the day, over a few days. This will give you a better understanding of your speed. If you have made your home as friendly for fast connectivity as possible, it’s time to get in touch with your ISP.
If you’re a member of the Ogi family and you’re struggling with your internet connection, we have our own internet speed tester for you! Head on over, and check your speed. If your Ogi speed is a real struggle for you, make sure you’re checking numerous times a day, at different times (not just active times!) and over a couple of days and let us know by getting in touch.
