Working from home sounds great – until your Wi-Fi starts buffering mid-meeting or your video freezes at the worst possible moment.
If your job relies on a strong internet connection for hybrid and remote working, then your home broadband really matters.
Here’s how to optimise your broadband for remote working and get your setup working with you- not against you.
Upgrade your broadband technology
If your connection struggles to keep up with video calls, file uploads or multiple devices, the issue might not be your setup – it could be your broadband technology.
Older connections (like copper-based networks) can slow down during peak times and struggle with modern demands. That’s where Full Fibre makes a difference.
At Grain, we use Full Fibre technology that runs directly to your home. That means faster, more reliable speeds. No slowdowns, no interruptions, just a connection that keeps up with your day.
Best location for your router
If your router is hidden behind furniture or surrounded by other objects, your signal won’t travel as well as it should.
For the best coverage, keep your router as clear of obstructions as possible.
Distance from your router
Wi-Fi signal gets weaker the further you are from your router. It’s a bit like listening to music from a speaker – the further away you go, the harder it is to hear. Wi-Fi works the same way.
If your home office is far from the router, a Wi-Fi extender can help boost the signal and keep things running smoothly. Find out more about our Wi-Fi extenders.
Network congestion
Depending on your internet provider and the network they use, your connection may be impacted when lots of people are online at peak times.
Many providers use a ‘Passive Optical Network’, where a fibre cable is split between up to 32 properties – meaning your connection, and speeds, are shared between you and the other properties using the same fibre.
At Grain, we have a Point-to-Point network, which gives each and every property their own dedicated fibre cable. This means no sharing speeds, and no slowdowns at peak times, regardless of how much your neighbours are using.
Wired vs wireless connection
Wi-Fi is convenient, but a wired connection is hard to beat for stability.
An Ethernet cable gives you a faster, more reliable connection than Wi-Fi. If you can, connect your device directly to your router using an Ethernet cable for the best performance. We recommend using a Cat5e cable or higher.
Broadband add-ons to improve connection
Sometimes, a little extra support can make all the difference.
Add a Wi-Fi extender
If your signal drops in certain rooms, adding a Wi-Fi extender can help eliminate dead zones and improve coverage across your home. Read more.
Add a static IP
Adding a static IP address can improve the security and reliability of your home connection – especially if you use VPNs, remote access tools or host services from home. Learn more.
Best Grain broadband for working from home
If you want a setup that just works, choosing the right package makes all the difference.
- Our Full Fibre Boost packages come with a Wi-Fi extender to help improve coverage across your home, perfect for avoiding those frustrating dead zones.
- With our Full Fibre Gaming packages, a static IP address is included, offering added stability and security for remote working.
- Our Full Fibre Pro packages include both a Wi-Fi extender and a static IP, giving you stronger coverage and enhanced protection, all in one package.
Check your postcode here and upgrade your home office today.