If you’re prone to the odd social media scroll every now and again, then you might have come across a viral post recommending that broadband users encircle their router with a halo of tin foil. Unfortunately, we’re not kidding.
This online ‘advice’ gained peak popularity, claiming to boost people’s broadband coverage at home just by creating a makeshift satellite dish of foil round the sides and back of the router.
And we get it. Everyone’s been in that desperate situation where you just need the Wi-Fi to work! Whether you’re streaming your favourite show mid-Netflix binge and it’s buffering over the tense moments. Or your boss is trying to contact you with that all-important work call and your connection keeps dropping out. Nightmare!
So it’s no wonder that people latched on to this purported Wi-Fi hack and attempted to boost their Wi-Fi signal with a roll of something they conveniently had lying in a kitchen drawer.
The right Wi-Fi advice
It’s always a good idea to exercise a bit of caution when it comes to online hacks and advice. We took one look at this photo of a tin foil encased router and cringed. But that’s because we’re Wi-Fi experts and we know what can actually help boost our Wi-Fi signal. Hint – The tin foil isn’t it.
Our blog is full of tips and advice on Wi-Fi and getting the best connection possible – Whether that’s broadband coverage, speed or consistently. We’d recommend starting there rather than some random person on X!
Just because a post has millions of views and shares, doesn’t mean it’s true. The ‘advice’ from this hack was to take a few sheets of tin foil and shape it like a stadium around your router. The thinking behind this is that it will help to beam Wi-Fi around your home in a more efficient manner.
Does this Wi-Fi tin foil hack actually work?
Whilst it may look somewhat like a satellite dish, the reality is that the curved, metallic design won’t actually reflect or direct Wi-Fi signals in a way that will make much of a difference.
The thinking behind this idea is that rather than Wi-Fi signals shooting off into corners of the house devoid of internet-seeking devices, it would instead serve concentrated beams of Wi-Fi signal into the room and the rest of the house.
Whilst this could make a small difference due to the Wi-Fi radio waves being more narrowly focused, it would also block the Wi-Fi from going behind the router which could cause more problems in itself.
As you’ll see from the image above from the original viral post, there are multiple antennae pointing in different positions and that can be repositioned if needed. This means that you can deliberately position each antenna in the optimum for the tin foil to have an effect.
Here in the UK, most standard-issue Wi-Fi routers are closed boxes with internal antennae. This means you wouldn’t be able to reposition them to make best use of your tin foil dish and could actually end up blocking the signal rather than directing it.
What Wi-Fi hacks can you do instead of the viral tin foil trick?
There are a few things you can try if you are experiencing Wi-Fi problems.
Router Placement
If you are struggling with the strength of your Wi-Fi, try placing your router in a different position. Conduct some speed tests in different areas of your home to see where the best location is. Remember to test the speeds in the places you most need it – Where do you stream Netflix? Where do you log on to your computer? Do you have gamers in your home? Test all these places to make sure your router is reaching them.
Generally, the best place for your router will be:
- In a central location
- Off the ground
- On a flat, open surface (not in a cupboard)
- Away from large obstructions like the TV, bookshelf or appliance
Putting your router in an enclosed space like a cupboard is not conducive to a well-functioning Wi-Fi network. And the tin-foil trick could actually have the same negative effect as shutting your router away.
Access Points
If after your speed tests you find that your Wi-Fi signal is generally lagging then don’t reach for the tin foil. What you really need is an Access Point or two. Cleverly placed Access Points around your home or property can help your Wi-Fi signal get to the places you need your coverage to reach.
Access Points may help improve connectivity in premises that are large or have thick walls, making it tricky for a standard router to get Wi-Fi to all the places where you need a connection.
If, after introducing some Access Points, you’re still experiencing problems with inconsistent broadband, then perhaps it may be wise to investigate alternative internet service providers.
“However, if you’re finding your broadband continues to have frequent interruptions, it might be time to consider switching providers to find the one best suited to your needs.”
Call the Experts
If you use your premises for business and thus need a strong, reliable connection, or perhaps have a large residence that makes it difficult for a router to provide complete coverage, then it may be worth calling in the Wi-Fi experts. Our Wi-Fi engineers can come and identify how to make your Wi-Fi network work for you.
Give our friendly team a call.
