Virgin Media has issued a stark warning to millions of broadband users across the UK.
According to Virgin Media, almost 1 in 5 of its full-fibre broadband users (18%) are still consistently breaking “the golden rule” to maintain a solid wireless connection at home: switching off their Wi-Fi router overnight.
Broadband customers should keep these critical devices on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the brand urges.
While switching off your Wi-Fi router overnight to conserve electricity might sound like an innocuous habit — but it stops this vital kit from functioning properly. That’s because broadband suppliers, like Virgin Media, use the downtime overnight to issue and install crucial software updates. This ensures your Wi-Fi router is patched against the latest security threats, quashes any bug, and optimises performance.
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But that’s not the only reason that turning off a Wi-Fi router can have dire consequences.
Known in the industry as power-cycling, frequent switching off and on of these devices can lead to connection instability. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Virgin Media could mistakenly interpret this as a line fault — potentially imposing speed restrictions as a precautionary measure while engineers investigate the issue.
Gareth Lister, who serves as Virgin Media O2’s Director of Connectivity, has listed three rules that broadband users should never break to ensure a solid connection at all times. These are:
- Don’t switch your Hub off overnight
- Give your Hub space, make sure it’s out in the open
- Check your speeds via the Connect App
In a recent survey of Virgin Media customers, conducted by Censuswide with 2,001 UK-based respondents, it was revealed that almost one in five broadband users broke the first of these “golden rules” — potential worsening their Wi-Fi connection at home.
To maintain optimal Wi-Fi performance, proper router placement is crucial. Virgin Media advises keeping the router out in the open, as high off the floor as possible, and away from other electronic devices such as baby monitors and telephones.
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Wi-Fi signals can be disrupted by various household items. Fish tanks and microwaves are known to interfere with the signal. Avoid placing the router in direct sunlight to prevent overheating, and never hide it in a cupboard as this can significantly reduce signal strength.
Rather than switching off your Wi-Fi as a first resort, the best practice to diagnose potential wireless connection problems is to run both wired and wireless speed tests. This can help determine if slow speeds are due to your broadband connection or Wi-Fi interference.