Updated 12 August 2026
Slow wifi does not always mean there is a problem with your broadband connection. Where your router sits, the layout of your home and the device you are using can all affect the speed and signal you get.
If your wifi is slow, keeps dropping out or does not reach every room, start with these checks before changing your package or buying more equipment.
Is the problem your broadband or your wifi?
Broadband brings the internet into your home. Wifi carries that connection wirelessly from your router to your phone, laptop, TV and other devices.
You can therefore have a fast broadband connection at the router but a weak wifi signal in a bedroom, loft or extension.
Try the same website or app on more than one device. Then take one device close to your router and try again. If it works well near the router but not elsewhere, wifi coverage is likely to be the problem. If every device is slow, even close to the router, check the broadband connection itself.
A speed test is a good starting point, but a single test over wifi does not tell you whether the broadband connection or the wifi signal is causing the slowdown.
For the clearest result:
Then repeat the test over wifi in the rooms where you normally use it. If the wired result is good but the wifi result is poor, the issue is more likely to be wifi coverage, interference or the device itself.
Ogi customers can also run a test in the eero app. This measures the connection reaching the main eero, not the wifi speed reaching a particular phone or laptop, so use a test on the device as well when checking coverage in a room.
Wifi signals weaken as they pass through walls, floors, furniture and other obstacles. Where possible, keep your router:
Do not cover the router or place things on top of it. It needs space around it to work properly and stay cool.
If you have more than one eero, spread them around your home rather than placing them together. Do not put an extra eero in the middle of a dead spot. Place it between the main eero and the area with poor coverage, where it can still receive a strong signal.
If wifi is slow on one phone, laptop or TV but works properly on everything else, the device is the likely cause.
Try:
Older devices may not support newer wifi standards or higher speeds. Their hardware can limit the result even when the broadband connection and router are working properly.
A restart can clear a temporary connection problem. Follow your provider’s instructions, then give the router enough time to reconnect fully before testing again. If you have separate mesh wifi units, check that they have all come back online.
Do not keep switching the router off and on. If the same problem returns, note when it happens and contact your provider so they can investigate the cause.
Phones, tablets, smart TVs, games consoles, security cameras and other connected devices can all use your connection. Updates, file syncing and cloud backups may continue in the background even when nobody is actively using a device.
If the slowdown happens when your household is busiest, check whether several people are streaming, gaming, downloading large files or making video calls at once.
Temporarily pause or disconnect anything you do not need and test again. Ogi customers can use the eero app to see and manage connected devices.
How to get started with the eero app
If your connection regularly struggles during normal household use, even after you have ruled out a wifi problem, it may be worth checking whether a faster package would suit your home.
An Ethernet cable gives a device a direct connection to the router. It is usually more stable than wifi because walls, distance and wireless interference are taken out of the equation.
It can work particularly well for fixed devices such as:
A wired device still uses your broadband capacity, but it no longer competes for wifi airtime with phones, tablets and other wireless devices.
Protect your wifi with a strong, unique password. If someone nearby connects without permission, it creates a security risk and their activity can use some of your connection.
Use a separate guest network for visitors instead of sharing the password for your main network. It keeps guest devices separate and lets you change or turn off guest access without reconnecting your own devices.
Find out how to set up a guest network
An older router may not support newer wifi standards or handle a busy connected home as well as newer equipment. If your router came from your provider and you think it is part of the problem, speak to them before buying a replacement. Not every third-party router will work with every service or support all provider features.
One router may struggle to cover a large home, several floors, an extension or rooms separated by thick stone walls. A mesh wifi system uses several connected units to provide wider coverage. Placement still matters. Adding another unit will not solve the problem if it cannot maintain a reliable connection to the rest of the mesh.
Ogi supplies eero wifi equipment with its home broadband packages. The model and number of units provided depend on the package and current product terms.
Contact your broadband provider if:
Keep your speed-test results, including the dates, times and whether each test used wifi or Ethernet. This will help the support team narrow down the cause.
If you are an Ogi customer, our team in Wales can help you check your connection and equipment.
Get help with your Ogi service
Frequently asked questions
Why is my wifi slow when my broadband speed is fast?
Distance, walls, interference, router position and the device you are using can all slow wifi. A wired speed test helps you check the broadband connection before you start troubleshooting the wireless signal.
Why is my wifi signal weak in one room?
The room may be too far from the router or separated from it by thick walls, floors or other obstacles. Try repositioning the router or mesh units before buying extra equipment.
Will moving my router improve my wifi?
It often can. Put the router in an open, raised position and keep it away from cupboards, large metal objects and equipment that may cause interference. A more central position may improve coverage, although your installation and cabling will limit where it can go.
Does an Ethernet cable improve internet speed?
It can give a device a faster and more stable connection than wifi, although the device, cable and Ethernet ports can also limit the speed. It is the best way to test the broadband speed reaching your router because it removes wifi conditions from the result.
Do lots of connected devices slow down wifi?
They can, particularly when several are streaming, gaming, downloading files or making video calls at the same time. Updates and backups can also use the connection in the background.
Should I buy a wifi extender?
Not as a first step. Check the router position, test more than one device and make sure the broadband connection itself is working properly. If your home needs wider coverage, ask your provider whether an additional compatible mesh unit would be suitable.
Why does my wifi keep dropping out?
Weak coverage, interference, one faulty device, a problem with the router or a broadband fault can all cause dropouts. Test more than one device close to the router. If the connection still drops, contact your provider.
Check whether you can get Ogi full fibre broadband
If your current connection no longer keeps up with your home, check whether Ogi full fibre broadband is available at your address. Choose a speed that suits your household and get wifi powered by eero, with support from our team here in Wales.
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.
