About the author: My name is Sophie Layton, and I’m an MA International Public & Political Communication and BSc Biology graduate from the University of Sheffield. I am currently the Managing Editor of WILD Magazine, Editor of Ed Fringe Review, and Newsletter Editor for the Essex International Jamboree, as well as former Arts & Theatre Editor of Forge Press. I am also the Digital Media Officer for the Student Publication Association. I am a keen thespian with the Sheffield University Theatre Company, with interests in culture, LGBTQ+ issues and political science.
We’re all more interconnected than ever before, which makes losing your connection all the more severe. Let’s get you back online!
Picture the scene: A hardworking, dedicated student arrives home from a long day at university. Rustling up a dinner of whatever’s left in the fridge, they tidy away their books and notes and decide to treat themselves to a movie night in bed. Lights down low and tucked up in bed, they open their laptop, type in the name of their favourite streaming service, and as they plan to peruse the available titles, are met with a deflating sight – the spinning wheel of doom. A single bar confirms it; the WiFi’s playing up again.
So, in this blog, I’ll talk you through why your broadband could be slow and how you can improve your WiFi signal in your student home.
One of the challenges that has been plaguing our species since the dawn of time (or thereabouts) is WiFi speed, a problem that millions of people are combating every day. In truth, there are a whole variety of reasons why your WiFi might be slow, ranging from network capacity, router accessibility, local outages and connectivity, and more.
If your WiFi has suddenly dropped, it might be worth checking for local issues or restarting your router, but barring that, here’s our top tips for remedying a naff network!
We all have limits, and so does any healthy relationship. So if the relationship between your device and its WiFi network is on the rocks, maybe it’s time to see if one of you is under too much stress. WiFi routers can only support a limited amount of traffic at any one time, so if you’re trying to host the Gaming Society Meet on your standard WiFi network, you might run into trouble.
Consider turning off any devices you’re not using and reducing the number of programmes using WiFi at once – if all the power is being put into one task, it’ll likely run a lot faster.
If you want a good WiFi connection, playing hide-and-seek is not a great idea. WiFi routers connect to devices using radio waves, which possess a certain amount of energy. However, radio waves only have a limited penetrative ability, so objects in their range will impair their ability to connect to your device, so ensuring there is nothing directly between you and the router is key. Also, try to avoid any obstructions near the router at all to maximise your router’s range around the property.
WiFi may be wireless, but it does have a range. Imagine a WiFi router floating in mid-air; the WiFi signals form a spherical orb around the router, extending a certain distance in all directions, with the strongest signals at the router, and weakening with distance. This means that the further away you and your device are from the source of your WiFi network, the weaker the connection will be.
If you’re struggling to connect, try moving your device closer to the router – and if it works, consider it a great opportunity to move your set-up and try a whole new configuration for your uni house!
Occasionally, your WiFi might just be a little bit slow. Whether it’s due to your set-up, the house you’re living in, local connectivity, or a combination of the three, you may still find that your WiFi needs a power up – and your WiFi provider may have you covered. Many providers offer a WiFi ‘booster’ device, which, when calibrated with your WiFi network, acts as a secondary relay station for WiFi signals, getting the internet to those hard-to-reach areas. Contact your provider to see if they have one available.
If you find the WiFi is still not working, and your laptop is already far too close to the router or booster for comfort, sometimes a piece of hardware can be your best friend. Ethernet cables allow you to connect your device to the internet simply, without the wireless aspect of WiFi.
Check if your device has an Ethernet port, and if so, connect the cable to your router, and you should be good to go! If your device doesn’t have an Ethernet port, you might need to use an adaptor. It’s not the most convenient solution, but if you’re in a pinch, it might get you sorted in time to meet that deadline!
Live in a busy house? Poor WiFi is a recipe for housemate arguments, especially when one person insists on gaming 24/7, and another is on an endless FaceTime call, all whilst you’re trying to be a good student and stream a lecture.
Broadband has a limit on how much data it can move at once. If you live with multiple people, you’ll need a higher-speed package to keep everyone happy. If the signal is still struggling, remember that communication is key. Be sure to let your housemates know if you have an important exam or online interview at 10 AM so they can hold off on the massive PlayStation updates until you’re all done.
We never want to be the problematic half of a relationship, but sometimes the writing’s on the wall, and you just have to accept it – you are, in fact, the problem. If everything is working with your network, hardware, and location, your device might be the issue. Try restarting your device, forgetting the WiFi network, or using an alternative device. You could also run a diagnostic check to screen for any wider, underlying issues.
Losing connection is incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re working from home. But with a bit of problem-solving, know-how and the art of turning-it-off-and-on-again, your night in isn’t lost just yet! Follow these tips, and you just might be back online before you know it.
At Split The Bills, you can choose a package with bills included – this means your energy, water, an optional TV licence, and broadband. You can access Virgin Media Fibre broadband with speeds of 66-1000 Mbps, meaning you shouldn’t have to experience any WiFi problems in your new house share. If Virgin is not available, BT broadband is offered as an alternative.
Intrigued? Grab a quote for your household bills today!
The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the Split The Bills Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Split The Bills. Split The Bills accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.
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