{"id":28805,"date":"2026-04-15T14:42:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T04:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/?p=28805"},"modified":"2026-04-15T15:57:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:57:46","slug":"how-to-improve-wifi-speed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/how-to-improve-wifi-speed\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Faster Internet and Better Wi-Fi at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everything you need to know about improving your internet speed and Wi-Fi performance explained in plain English.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><b>TL;DR &#8211; Quick Takeaways<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your internet speed and your Wi-Fi speed are two different things and fixing one won&#8217;t always fix the other<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most &#8216;slow internet&#8217; problems are actually Wi-Fi problems happening inside your home<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walls, distance, and other devices can all slow down your Wi-Fi even if your internet connection is perfect<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simple changes like router placement and reducing interference can make a huge difference<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For large homes or thick walls, a mesh Wi-Fi system is the best solution<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cable your most important devices whenever possible, it&#8217;s faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Let&#8217;s Talk About Speed (And Why It Gets Confusing)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;re paying for fast internet. You deserve fast internet. But somewhere between your internet provider and your laptop, things get&#8230; frustrating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s the thing: when your internet feels slow, it&#8217;s usually not your actual internet connection causing the problem. More often than not, it&#8217;s your Wi-Fi &#8211; the invisible network inside your home that connects your devices to your router.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of it like this: your internet connection is the water flowing into your house through the pipes. Your Wi-Fi is the tap in your bathroom. If the tap is blocked or far away from the main pipe, you&#8217;ll get a trickle, even if there&#8217;s plenty of water flowing to your home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this guide, we&#8217;ll walk you through exactly how to figure out what&#8217;s slowing you down and what you can do about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>First Things First: Internet Speed vs Wi-Fi Speed<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you start troubleshooting, it helps to understand what you&#8217;re actually dealing with.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Your Internet Speed<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the speed your internet provider delivers to your home. It&#8217;s the connection coming through your phone line or cable. This is what you pay for on your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/nbn\/\">plan<\/a>, whether that&#8217;s 50Mbps, 100Mbps, or 1000Mbps download speed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Your Wi-Fi Speed<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the speed you actually get on your devices around your home. It&#8217;s controlled by your router and affected by everything from walls to other electronics. Your Wi-Fi speed can never be faster than your internet speed \u2014 but it can definitely be slower.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The key insight: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you&#8217;re paying for super-fast internet, you&#8217;ll only experience slow speeds if your Wi-Fi can&#8217;t keep up.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Tell If It&#8217;s Your Internet or Your Wi-Fi<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s a simple test:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Connect your device directly to your router with an ethernet cable<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Run a speed test<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (search &#8216;speed test&#8217; in Google)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Disconnect the cable and run the same test on Wi-Fi<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>If the wired speed is fast but the Wi-Fi speed is slow: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it&#8217;s a Wi-Fi problem. Keep reading, we&#8217;ll fix it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>If both speeds are slow: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it might be your internet connection. Contact your provider to check if there&#8217;s an issue with your service.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30017 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Modern_Australian_kitchen_with_a_very_old_internet_router_sitting_inside_a_cupbo-1.jpg\" alt=\"Modern Australian Kitchen With A Very Old Internet Router Sitting Inside A Cupboard\" width=\"1344\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Modern_Australian_kitchen_with_a_very_old_internet_router_sitting_inside_a_cupbo-1.jpg 1344w, https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Modern_Australian_kitchen_with_a_very_old_internet_router_sitting_inside_a_cupbo-1-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1344px) 100vw, 1344px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><b>What&#8217;s Actually Slowing Down Your Wi-Fi<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wi-Fi is basically radio waves travelling through your home. And just like a radio signal, lots of things can interfere with it or weaken it. Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s probably affecting yours:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Distance from Your Router<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The further you are from your router, the weaker your Wi-Fi signal gets. It&#8217;s like trying to hear someone shouting from the other end of a football field; technically possible, but not ideal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What you&#8217;ll notice: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full bars right next to the router, but one or two bars in your bedroom upstairs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Walls and Obstacles<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wi-Fi signals struggle to pass through solid objects. Some materials are worse than others:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brick and concrete: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">major Wi-Fi blockers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Metal (like filing cabinets or fridges): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">complete signal killers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Plasterboard walls: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not too bad, but they still weaken the signal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Water (fish tanks, water heaters): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">surprisingly effective at blocking Wi-Fi<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>3. Interference from Other Devices<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your Wi-Fi shares radio frequencies with other electronics. These can create &#8216;noise&#8217; that interferes with your signal:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microwaves (serious Wi-Fi disruptors when they&#8217;re running)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baby monitors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bluetooth devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cordless phones<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your neighbours&#8217; Wi-Fi networks (especially in apartments)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>4. Too Many Devices Connected at Once<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every device on your Wi-Fi shares the available bandwidth. Your router can only handle so much at once. Think of it like a highway. The more cars (devices) using it, the slower the traffic moves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, gaming consoles, smart home devices, and everything else, many households have 20+ devices fighting for Wi-Fi. That&#8217;s a lot of traffic.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Old or Outdated Router<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your router is more than 3-4 years old, it might be struggling to keep up with modern demands. Newer routers use better technology, handle more devices, and broadcast stronger signals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30018\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Modern_Australian_loungeroom_at_the_centre_on_a_table_is_a_very_fast_internet_ro-1.jpg\" alt=\"Modern Australian Loungeroom At The Centre On A Table Is A Very Fast Internet Router\" width=\"1344\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Modern_Australian_loungeroom_at_the_centre_on_a_table_is_a_very_fast_internet_ro-1.jpg 1344w, https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Modern_Australian_loungeroom_at_the_centre_on_a_table_is_a_very_fast_internet_ro-1-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1344px) 100vw, 1344px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><b>How to Optimise Wi-Fi\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right, enough theory. Let&#8217;s fix this. Start with the easiest solutions and work your way down the list.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 1: Move Your Router to a Better Spot<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>This is the single biggest fix most people can make.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your router should be:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Central: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put it in the middle of your home, not tucked away in a corner<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Elevated: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Place it on a shelf or mount it on the wall &#8211;\u00a0 Wi-Fi broadcasts better from higher positions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>In the open: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t hide it in a cupboard, behind the TV, or under your desk<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Away from interference: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep it away from microwaves, metal objects, and thick walls<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Step 2: Restart Your Router<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, the classic &#8216;turn it off and on again&#8217; advice, and yes, it genuinely works.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unplug your router from the power<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wait 30 seconds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plug it back in<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wait a few minutes for it to fully restart<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This clears out temporary glitches and can improve performance. Do this once a month for best results.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 3: Switch to the 5GHz Network<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most modern routers broadcast two WiFi networks:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>2.4GHz: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better range, but slower speeds and more interference<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>5GHz: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Faster speeds, less interference, but shorter range<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re close to your router (same room or next room), connect to the 5GHz network. You&#8217;ll usually see it listed as &#8216;YourNetworkName-5G&#8217; or something similar in your WiFi settings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re far away or have thick walls between you and the router, stick with 2.4GHz for better coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 4: Reduce the Number of Connected Devices<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disconnect devices you&#8217;re not actually using. That old tablet that auto-connects whenever you walk in the door? The smart plug you never use? Your kid&#8217;s gaming console that&#8217;s downloading updates in the background?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All of these take up bandwidth. Fewer devices = more speed for the ones you actually care about.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 5: Update Your Router&#8217;s Firmware<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Router manufacturers regularly release updates that improve performance and fix bugs. Check your router&#8217;s settings (usually accessed by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your web browser) and look for a firmware update option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If that sounds too technical, contact your internet provider, they can walk you through it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 6: Change Your Wi-Fi Channel<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you live in an apartment or densely populated area, your Wi-Fi is probably competing with dozens of your neighbours&#8217; networks. They&#8217;re all trying to broadcast on the same &#8216;channels&#8217; (think of them like radio stations).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most routers automatically choose the best channel, but sometimes they get it wrong. You may be able to manually change the channel in your router settings, or use a Wi-Fi analyser app to see which channels are least crowded.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 7: Consider Upgrading Your Router<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your router is old (3+ years), it might be time for an upgrade. Modern routers are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Faster<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better at handling multiple devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More reliable<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equipped with newer Wi-Fi standards (look for Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E or even Wi-Fi 7)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mate has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/faq\/do-i-need-an-nbn-compatible-modemrouter\/\">recommended list of BYO modem\/routers.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Your Wi-Fi Has a Secret Limit (And Why It Matters)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s something most people don&#8217;t realise: your Wi-Fi can only move data so fast, and it&#8217;s often slower than your actual internet speed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if you&#8217;re paying for a 100Mbps internet plan but your router only supports Wi-Fi speeds of 50Mbps, you&#8217;ll never get faster than 50Mbps on Wi-Fi, no matter how good your internet connection is.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is especially true for older routers and devices. A five-year-old laptop might have Wi-Fi hardware that simply can&#8217;t keep up with modern internet speeds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The fix: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure your router and devices support the speeds you&#8217;re paying for. If they don&#8217;t, it&#8217;s time to upgrade.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30019\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Architectural_cutaway_illustration_of_a_modern_2-storey_house_showing_interior_c-1.jpg\" alt=\"Mesh network system in 2 storey house\" width=\"1344\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Architectural_cutaway_illustration_of_a_modern_2-storey_house_showing_interior_c-1.jpg 1344w, https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_Architectural_cutaway_illustration_of_a_modern_2-storey_house_showing_interior_c-1-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1344px) 100vw, 1344px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><b>The Best Solution for Whole-Home Wi-Fi: Mesh Systems<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;ve got a large home, thick walls, or multiple floors, a mesh Wi-Fi system is hands-down the best way to get solid Wi-Fi coverage everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What Is a Mesh System?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of one router trying to cover your whole house, a mesh system uses multiple units (usually called &#8216;nodes&#8217;) that work together to create one seamless Wi-Fi network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of it like having multiple Wi-Fi routers strategically placed around your home, but they all talk to each other and act as one network. You walk from room to room and your devices automatically connect to whichever node has the strongest signal. There&#8217;s no manual switching between networks, no dropouts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Why Mesh Systems Beat Traditional Routers<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Complete coverage: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put nodes where you need them; upstairs, in the home office, out in the granny flat. No more dead zones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Seamless roaming: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your phone stays connected as you move around the house. No disconnecting and reconnecting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Better performance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each node has a strong signal to its area, so you get fast speeds throughout your home, not just near the main router.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Easy to expand: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you add an extension or need coverage in the garage, just add another node.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Smart device management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modern mesh systems handle lots of devices really well, perfect for homes full of phones, tablets, smart speakers, security cameras, and everything else.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>How Easy Are They to Set Up?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Much easier than you&#8217;d think. Most mesh systems set up through an app on your phone:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plug in the main node and connect it to your internet connection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Download the app and follow the setup wizard<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Place the other nodes around your home (the app usually helps you find the best spots)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Done &#8211; seriously, that&#8217;s it<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The whole process usually takes 10-15 minutes. No technical knowledge required. MATE has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/nbn-ready-modem\/\">range of pre-configured Mesh devices<\/a> you can purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Is It Worth the Cost?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;ve got a house where Wi-Fi drops out in certain rooms, or you&#8217;re constantly fighting to get signal upstairs, absolutely. The difference between struggling with dead zones and having solid Wi-Fi everywhere is massive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For apartments or smaller homes where a single router covers everything fine, you probably don&#8217;t need one. But for anything bigger than a small two-bedroom unit, mesh systems are a game-changer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Bottom line: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If coverage is your problem, mesh Wi-Fi is your solution.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30020\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_small_networking_switch_in_a_home_with_green_ethernet_cables-0.jpg\" alt=\"Networking Switch In A Home With Green Ethernet Cables\" width=\"1344\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_small_networking_switch_in_a_home_with_green_ethernet_cables-0.jpg 1344w, https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lucid-origin_small_networking_switch_in_a_home_with_green_ethernet_cables-0-768x439.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1344px) 100vw, 1344px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><b>When to Ditch Wi-Fi and Use a Cable Instead<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wi-Fi is convenient, but it&#8217;s not always the best option. For some devices and situations, plugging in an ethernet cable will give you much better performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Why Cables Beat Wi-Fi<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Faster speeds: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;ll get the full speed of your internet connection, no Wi-Fi bottleneck<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>More reliable: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No dropouts, no interference, no signal issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lower latency: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better response times; crucial for gaming and video calls<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Doesn&#8217;t share bandwidth: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each cable gets its own dedicated connection to the router<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>What Should You Cable?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cable these devices whenever you can:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gaming consoles and PCs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wired connections reduce lag and give you more consistent speeds. If you&#8217;re playing online games, this makes a huge difference.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Smart TVs and streaming devices: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stops buffering on 4K content and makes streaming rock-solid. Especially important if multiple people are streaming at once.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Work-from-home computers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More reliable for video calls, faster file uploads and downloads, and won&#8217;t drop out during important meetings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Desktop computers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it sits in one spot and doesn&#8217;t move, cable it. No reason not to.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mesh Wi-Fi nodes: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can run cables between your mesh nodes (called &#8216;backhaul&#8217;), they&#8217;ll perform even better. Not essential, but it&#8217;s the ultimate setup if you&#8217;re able to do it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>When Wi-Fi Makes More Sense<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously, you can&#8217;t cable everything. Keep these on Wi-Fi:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laptops you use in different rooms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smart home devices (speakers, cameras, sensors)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anything where running a cable isn&#8217;t practical<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>How to Set It Up<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting up a wired connection is dead simple:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get an ethernet cable (Check it&#8217;s capable of your in &#8211; available at any electronics shop)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plug one end into your router<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plug the other end into your device<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That&#8217;s it,\u00a0 your device will automatically use the wired connection<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your router doesn&#8217;t have enough ethernet ports, grab an ethernet switch (basically a power board for cables). Plug it into your router, and now you&#8217;ve got more ports to use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Pro tip: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you can only cable one or two key devices, do it. Every device you take off Wi-Fi frees up bandwidth for the devices that need to stay wireless.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>When to Actually Contact Support<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should reach out to your our Aussie based support team if:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your wired connection is also slow (not just Wi-Fi)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;ve tried all the steps above and nothing has improved<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your connection drops out frequently<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem started suddenly (could be a network fault)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;re getting speeds way below what you&#8217;re paying for<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be ready to tell our team what you&#8217;ve already tried, it&#8217;ll speed up the troubleshooting process.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Quick Wins You Can Try Right Now<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you only have five minutes, here are the fastest fixes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Restart your router <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(unplug for 30 seconds, plug back in)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Move closer to your router <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(or move the router closer to you)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Switch to the 5GHz network <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(if you&#8217;re close to the router)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Disconnect devices you&#8217;re not using\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Close background apps and updates <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on your devices<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These five steps solve most Wi-Fi problems and take less time than making a cup of coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most internet speed problems aren&#8217;t actually internet problems, they&#8217;re Wi-Fi problems. Wi-Fi problems are almost always solvable without needing to call support or upgrade your plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start with the simple stuff: move your router, restart it, switch networks, reduce connected devices. For larger homes or coverage issues, invest in a mesh Wi-Fi system. Cable your important devices when you can, gaming gear, smart TVs, work computers. And if you&#8217;ve tried everything and it&#8217;s still slow, then it&#8217;s time to contact your provider.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news? With a few strategic changes, you can turn your frustratingly slow Wi-Fi into something that actually works the way it should. And that&#8217;s worth the 20 minutes it takes to sort it out.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"faq-section\" style=\"margin-top: 60px; padding-top: 40px; border-top: 2px solid #00b26b;\">\n<h2 style=\"color: #00b26b; margin-bottom: 30px;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Why is my Wi-Fi slow at night?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">Network congestion. During peak hours (usually 7-11pm), everyone in your area is online, streaming, gaming, video calling. This can slow down your connection, especially if you&#8217;re on an older internet technology like FTTN. Your Wi-Fi might also be competing with more of your neighbours&#8217; networks. Try switching to a less crowded Wi-Fi channel or upgrading to a faster plan if this happens regularly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Will a VPN slow down my internet?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">Yes, usually. A VPN encrypts your data and routes it through a server somewhere else, which adds extra steps and can reduce your speed by 10-50%. If you need a VPN for privacy or security, this is a reasonable trade-off, but if you&#8217;re using one &#8216;just because&#8217; and wondering why Netflix is buffering, try turning it off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">How many devices can connect to Wi-Fi before it slows down?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">It depends on your router, but most modern routers can handle 20-30 devices without major issues. The real limitation is bandwidth. If multiple devices are doing heavy tasks (4K streaming, gaming, large downloads) at the same time, you&#8217;ll notice slowdowns. Older routers struggle with more than 10-15 devices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Should I hide my Wi-Fi network name?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">No real benefit. Hiding your network name (SSID) doesn&#8217;t make it more secure, anyone with basic tools can still find it. It just makes it harder for your own devices to connect. Focus on using a strong password instead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Why does my Wi-Fi drop out randomly?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">Common causes include: interference from other devices (microwaves, baby monitors), too many devices connected, outdated router firmware, or a failing router. Try the restart and firmware update steps first. If it keeps happening, contact your provider, it could be a hardware fault.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Can weather affect my Wi-Fi?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">Not your Wi-Fi directly, but severe weather can affect your internet connection, especially if you&#8217;re on wireless broadband (like Fixed Wireless or mobile broadband). Heavy rain, storms, and extreme heat can all cause temporary slowdowns or dropouts. Wi-Fi inside your home shouldn&#8217;t be affected by weather unless there&#8217;s a power outage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Is it worth upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 (or 7)?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">If you have lots of devices (smart home gear, multiple people streaming, gaming), yes. Wi-Fi 6 handles more devices better, is faster, and more efficient. If you only have a few devices and your current router works fine, you can probably wait. But if you&#8217;re buying a new router anyway, definitely get Wi-Fi 6 or 7, it&#8217;s the current standard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Why is my upload speed so much slower than my download speed?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">This is normal for most home internet connections. Download speeds are prioritised because most people download way more than they upload (streaming, browsing, downloading files). Upload is mainly for video calls, cloud backups, and posting to social media. If you need faster uploads for work (video editing, large file sharing), you might need a business-grade plan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">Will upgrading my internet plan fix my Wi-Fi?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">Only if your Wi-Fi can actually handle the faster speeds. If you&#8217;re on a 50Mbps plan and upgrade to 100Mbps, but your router can only deliver 40Mbps over Wi-Fi, you won&#8217;t see any improvement. Fix your Wi-Fi issues first, then consider upgrading your plan if you genuinely need more speed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-item\" style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color: #333; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\">What&#8217;s the difference between a mesh system and a Wi-Fi extender?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: #666; line-height: 1.6;\">Mesh systems create one seamless network where your devices automatically switch between nodes as you move around. Wi-Fi extenders create separate networks that you have to manually switch between, and they often cut your speed in half because they use the same channel to receive and rebroadcast the signal. For whole-home coverage, mesh systems are much better.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <div id=\"cta-nbn-btns\">\r\n        <div class=\"review-content-wrapper cta-nbn-btns d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row\">\r\n            <div class=\"rating d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center\">\r\n                <div class=\"stars d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center mx-n1 mb-3 mb-lg-0 me-3\">\r\n                    <div class=\"item\">\r\n                        <img class=\"me-1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/themes\/custom-theme\/assets\/images\/stars-full.png\" alt=\"star-1\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\">\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class=\"item\">\r\n                        <img class=\"me-1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/themes\/custom-theme\/assets\/images\/stars-full.png\" alt=\"star-2\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\">\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class=\"item\">\r\n                        <img class=\"me-1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/themes\/custom-theme\/assets\/images\/stars-full.png\" alt=\"star-3\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\">\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class=\"item\">\r\n                        <img class=\"me-1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/themes\/custom-theme\/assets\/images\/stars-full.png\" alt=\"star-4\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\">\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class=\"item\">\r\n                        <img class=\"me-1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/themes\/custom-theme\/assets\/images\/stars-full.png\" alt=\"star-5\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\">\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"info mb-3 mb-lg-0 me-3\">\r\n                    Over<span class=\"no\"> 2500 <\/span> <span class=\"remarks\">5-star <\/span>reviews\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"product-review ms-3\">\r\n                <img src=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/wp-content\/themes\/custom-theme\/assets\/images\/product-review.png \" alt=\"Product Review\" class=\"img-fluid\" height=\"32\" width=\"161\" style=\"height:32px;width:161px\">\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <div class=\"content-bottom-links pt-3 mt-3 border-top\">\r\n            <div class=\"wrap\">\r\n                <h4 class=\"mb-4 flex-column flex-lg-row justify-content-start\">\r\n                    Are you ready to be our mate? Call now\r\n                    <a href=\"tel:13 14 13\" class=\"info-custombtn align-items-center\">\r\n                        <i class=\"fas fa-phone\"><\/i>\r\n                        <span class=\"tracknumber fs-5\">13 14 13<\/span>\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                <\/h4>\r\n                <ul class=\"links list-unstyled d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row mt-3\">\r\n                    <li class=\"pb-3 pb-lg-0 pe-3\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/nbn\/\" class=\"btn btn-lg btn-yellow fs-16\">See our internet plans<\/a>\r\n                    <\/li>\r\n                    <li class=\"pb-3 pb-lg-0 pe-3\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mobile\/\" class=\"btn btn-lg btn-yellow fs-16\">See our mobile plans<\/a>\r\n                    <\/li>\r\n                    <li class=\"pb-3 pb-lg-0 pe-3\">\r\n                        <!-- <a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/nbn\/\" class=\"btn btn-lg btn-yellow\">see our bundle plans<\/a> -->\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.letsbemates.com.au\/mate\/bundles\/\" class=\"btn btn-lg btn-yellow fs-16\">See our bundle plans<\/a>\r\n                    <\/li>\r\n                <\/ul>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\" data-testid=\"notifications-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\" data-testid=\"notifications-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"position: fixed; bottom: 10px; right: 20px; z-index: 2147483647;\" data-testid=\"notifications-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Everything you need to know about improving your internet speed and Wi-Fi performance explained in plain English. TL;DR &#8211; Quick Takeaways Your internet speed and your Wi-Fi speed are two different things and fixing one won&#8217;t always fix the other Most &#8216;slow internet&#8217; problems are actually Wi-Fi problems happening inside your home Walls, distance, and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":28806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[26],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Complete Guide to Faster Internet and Better Wi-Fi at Home - mate<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Stop WiFi buffering and dropouts: 7 proven fixes including router placement, channel changes, interference removal, and device optimization. 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