boost your wi-fi Shaky signal? Find out how to get up to speed

Poor connection driving you crazy? Get up to speed with some quick fixes to solve your wi-fi woes

regularly reboot your router to improve its perfomance and keep it working as efficiently as possible

Good broadband is right up there with other household utilities when it comes to how much we rely on it. smartphones, televisions, tablets, computers, even washing machines now rely on a strong wireless signal, so follow our advice on how to boost performance in every corner of your home.

Qi pay a lot for a fast broadband service so why do i still have a weak signal? Broadband speed and wi-fi strength are different things and some simple tweaks could make a huge difference. Charles Reed, smart home expert at Maplin suggests, ‘Don’t hide your router behind furniture. Instead, fit a longer cable, so you can put it in the middle of your home.’

QCan putting the router on a table improve signal? Yes, but you can also improve your wireless broadband by plugging in more devices. TVS, games consoles and set-top boxes all have Ethernet cables, and if you plug them in, there’ll be less demand on your wi-fi signal, improving its performance.

Qwill a new router make a difference? The best wi-fi standard is 802.11ac, so if your router is 802.11b or 802.11g, you may see an improvement with a new, more powerful model.

Qshould i turn my router off at night to save energy? It’s tempting, but if you do so regularly (for example, when you go to bed), your broadband may slow down. This is because the local exchange will think your phone line is unstable and can’t cope with high speeds.

Qis there anything else in my own home that creates interference? Other appliances, such as cordless phones and microwaves can also play havoc with your signal. If you don’t fancy having to buy new hardware (such as a dual band router) have a go at moving your router further away from any potentially interfering appliances.

Qare there any settings on my router that i can tinker with? Most routers automatically pick a particular channel, but if your neighbour is using the same one, they could interfere with each other. Change the channel via your broadband supplier’s homepage.

Qwhat if i have fibre-optic broadband and a well-positioned router but still suffer from patchy coverage? Try a Powerline Extender plug (£34.99, argos) – it uses your home’s existing wiring, so you can effectively plug into the router using any socket. To improve wireless coverage overall, you could try a plug-in wi-fi range extender, or a whole home wi-fi solution, to give your signal a healthy boost.

Qwhat about the smart home – will connected lights and appliances drain my wi-fi? Use Ethernet cables to plug in as many of these devices as possible to reduce the strain on your wi-fi and achieve the most reliable connection.