This flashing black box in the corner of the room may not seem so exciting, but your router is vital to accessing the web. Minor modifications can improve the connection and also clear up any issues that may be causing the internet connection. Initially, Virgin says that it is very important not to place the router behind your TV or put it in a cupboard. “Make sure you have your Hub open,” says the broadband company. “Objects can block and slow down WiFi. Signals from baby screens and cordless phones can also block WiFi signals.” If possible, Virgin advises having a distance of about one meter around the router if you want the best experience and more. It is also good practice to keep the Hub upright, with its lights facing the room. This way your Hub’s strongest Wi-Fi signal goes out – not to the floor. READ MORE: Best Offers Virgin Media Broadband (June 2022): FREE Xbox or Internet Fiber from £ 20 So this is the first tip. Then it seems that restarting things can improve the health of your broadband connection. Over time, routers become clogged with data, and disabling and reactivating things can work wonders. Virgin advises that, from time to time, users should turn off their Hub and then wait at least 10 seconds before turning it on again. This will help restore things and clear up any issues that may be slowing down the speeds. A word of caution! It may take up to five minutes to reset, so make sure no one is in the middle of a movie or is going to make a significant Zoom call before disabling things. The final tip is to make sure you are the only one connected to your Wi-Fi, as neighbors who support your connection can bring things to an annoying halt. All Virgin Media nodes have a unique Wi-Fi password to ensure that only you and those who provide the password can access your Wi-Fi network. If you believe someone can access it, you can change your password with Virgin offering full tips through its website. After the change, anyone using your broadband connection without permission will be barred. Well, you have followed all these tips … now it’s worth taking a speed test to see if you are getting the speeds promised by Virgin. The speedtest.net site has been approved by Virgin, so this is a good place to start. Go to the website and click “Run Test”, then you will get the results and see how fast or slow things really are. IF things are not going well, it is worth checking the speeds for several days to see if things are getting better. If not, keep track of the miles you have and if and when they expire.
