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School Wi-Fi Scheme For Schools Scrapped Except for RISE Schools

 A new government scheme will offer certain schools £25m worth of support to boost connectivity in the classroom – Available only to RISE schools. 

The Regional Improvement in Standards and Excellence (RISE) initiative is a government program to support struggling schools, aiming to improve school standards through targeted interventions and universal support. 

Connect the Classroom Scheme

Under this new scheme, grants will be provided to schools eligible for RISE improvement support, helping to boost classroom connectivity. 

Previously, funding had been prioritised for all schools that were located in an Education Investment Area (EIA) as part of the Connect the Classroom Scheme

However, the new government axed the EIA and new eligibility criteria was drawn up. 

It has been recently confirmed by the Department for Education that schools receiving targeted intervention through the RISE initiative will be eligible for the Connect the Classroom scheme. 

Wi-Fi For Schools – Eligibility Criteria for Funding

Schools eligible will be contacted directly by the DfE to receive funding. Eligibility criteria for receiving funding includes falling below their Wi-Fi Connectivity Standards for schools and colleges which can be found here. This includes:

  • Using the latest wireless network standards
  • Having a full functional signal from your wireless network throughout the school or college buildings and externally when required
  • Have a solution that can centrally manage the wireless network
  • Installing security features to stop unauthorised access

Do you know what network standards your school or college should meet on wireless performance, coverage, management and security? You can check the DfE’s network standards for schools and colleges online.

£25m of Funding Available This Financial Year

Following the £215 million investment between 2021 and 2025, there is £25 million available this financial year 2025 – 2026. 

Schools Week, a weekly publication focused on education news and analysis primarily for school leaders and other education professionals, obtained figures showing how many schools were given Wi-Fi funding and support over the last few years:

  • 2021: 428 schools received support
  • 2022: 229 schools received £12.5 million in funding from the scheme
  • 2023: 1,303 schools received £94 million in funding from the scheme

The government confirmed that approximately 400 schools were due to get support and funding through the Connect the Classroom scheme. It added that despite the number of eligible schools being lower, the money will reach more secondary schools and thus benefit more pupils. 

Wi-Fi Fix for Schools

Quality Wi-Fi is crucial in schools – It’s vital that pupils have access to a strong, reliable network to access online learning resources, facilitate collaboration, and support various educational activities. 

A reliable and secure Wi-Fi network ensures students can access digital content, collaborate on projects, and participate in online learning platforms. 

But if you work in a school or college then you know all that already! If you’re concerned that your school or college Wi-Fi network is not performing optimally, but it perhaps doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria for funding via RISE and Connect the Classroom, then get in touch with one of our Wi-Fi experts for your school. 

Our dedicated Wi-Fi engineers can survey your London, Hampshire or Cardiff based school Wi-Fi network and identify any problems. We can then provide a network design and device recommendations to help make sure your students have access to the best performing Wi-Fi network possible. 

For more information on how our Wi-Fi experts here at Geekabit can help your school or college wireless network, get in touch. 

by admin
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Uncategorised
Have You Seen This Viral Wi-Fi Trend? Here’s Why You Should Ignore It

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. 

by admin
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Does Summer Heat Affect Your Wi-Fi? Your FAQ’s Answered

We’ve been enjoying much sunshine here in the South of the UK these last few weeks, complete with a mini heatwave back in April. Around that time some delightful media outlets were circulating articles, scaring internet users into thinking that the higher-than-usual temperatures were going to wipe out their Wi-Fi and block their broadband. So is this fact or fiction?

Despite the odd Spring rain shower here and there, we’re set for more warm weather over the next fortnight, so we thought it as good a time as any to set the record straight about Wi-Fi in hot weather and hopefully put your minds at rest by answering your frequently asked questions.  

“Will my broadband stop working in hot weather?”

The simplest answer is no. Hot weather is unlikely to disrupt your internet connection if you are exercising some common sense that you would extend to all electrical devices. In other words, if you keep your router out of direct sunlight then you’re not likely to run into heat-related problems. 

“Has a heatwave ever caused a Wi-Fi outage?”

Technically, the answer is still no. However due to an unprecedented and extreme (albeit brief) heatwave back in July 2022 where UK temperatures soared to 40 degrees for the first time, internet service providers did take measures to protect broadband cabinets. 

Over the course of 4 days, 2 of which recorded extreme temperatures, some ISP’s re-deployed engineers to monitor the cabinets and keep them as cool as possible. Hilariously, this included sheltering them from the sun with umbrellas and leaving the doors open to increase air flow. This novel approach in such unprecedented heat appeared to work, with no reported outages across various network providers.

“Can routers and other internet hardware overheat?” 

As we’re sure you are aware, most electronic devices emit at least a small amount of heat, and that includes your router. This means that theoretically, it is possible that your router could overheat in high temperatures. 

Thankfully, most manufacturers of said hardware take this into consideration when designing their devices, meaning that most are able to operate at temperatures of up to approximately 40 degrees (check with your manufacturer for specifics). 

There is a chance that devices and hardware could continue to function in temperatures exceeding their stated tolerance, but that is of course dependent on individual experience and will vary between manufacturers.

Let’s not forget that our broadband router isn’t the only device or piece of hardware that could struggle in high temperatures. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices could also experience problems if we were to experience a heatwave. 

“What happens if a router overheats?”

If a router becomes close to overheating or does indeed overheat, the first thing to happen will be an attempt to lower the heat output to protect itself from damage. This will likely lead to a degradation in performance instigated by the device’s processor and affect response times on the device’s user interface. This would likely then impact your LAN in terms of connection stability and Wi-Fi speed.

Most electronic devices, including routers, will restart themselves if they get too hot. Despite potentially causing your connection to drop, this should resolve itself quite quickly and cause minimal problems once it’s back online. 

Complete hardware failure due to overheating is rare, and certainly not something we would expect to see in temperatures sitting in the mid-twenties. We’ll check back in in July if we’re approaching 40 degrees again.  

Keep Your Connection Cool This Summer By Following These Warm Weather Wi-Fi Tips

Hopefully you are already in the Common Sense Club where you keep electricals out of direct sunlight and away from other sources of heat. Keep doing what you’re doing! 

Here are a few other tips to keep your Wi-Fi from wilting in the warmer weather.

  • Choose the coolest room possible to place your router. This is usually a room downstairs and with thick external walls. Of course, the coolest place in the house may not be the most conducive to a reliable, strong connection throughout your home so you will have to weigh up the pros and cons.
  • Locate your router on a surface that enables good air flow and the ability for heat to escape. Wall-mounted can be a great option, although do bear in mind whether the wall is south facing and radiating absorbed heat from outside.
  • If we were to experience a heatwave similar to the one in 2022, then purchasing a cooling mat for your router could be a useful option. An similar alternative would be to point a standard fan in the direction of the router to keep the air as cool as possible and improve air flow around the device.
  • Did you know that you can disable non-critical router services? If not then perhaps it’s best you don’t try. If yes and we’ve just reminded you, then you could try lessening the load, thus reducing heat output and hopefully increasing functionality in extreme hot weather.
  • If your router is overheating due to indoor temperatures and you don’t actually need it to be switched on, then consider turning it off for a while to cool down. We do not recommend doing this often (not more than once in a day) and especially not if you are on an DSL/ ADSL/ FTTC connection.
  • In general, older devices are less tolerant to heat and are more likely to overheat. It could be worth considering replacing an old router for a newer model if you encounter persistent connection problems in hotter weather. 

If the temperature outside is pushing 40 degrees like July 2022, then it’s likely you’ll be hanging out by the fridge door and/or dousing yourself in ice water. These might cool you down but are definitely not recommended for your router unfortunately. 

If your house is 40+ degrees and your router is struggling to function then it might be time to step away from the internet and go outside to find a shady spot with as much breeze as possible. 

But for the time being, let’s enjoy these comfortably warm mid-twenty days with a strong, steady Wi-Fi connection in one hand and a cold beer in the other.

by admin
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Can Wi-Fi Extenders Just Stop Working?

They can indeed. And it can be handy to know the signs if an extender is about to fail.

Disclaimer: Here at Geekabit, we don’t actually recommend Wi-Fi extenders as a solution to Wi-Fi problems. There are usually other more effective solutions that can be put into place with a little help from Wi-Fi experts like ourselves. However, we also know that people don’t always heed expert advice… So, here are some useful tips to keep in mind if you do go down the Wi-Fi extender route. And if that doesn’t work, you’ll know who to call. 

Just like other electronic devices, Wi-Fi extenders can fail. Whilst they do tend to last a decent amount of time and generally don’t need too much maintenance or repairing, they still won’t last forever. As with anything in the tech world, components will start to wear out and older extender models will become obsolete with the emergence of new technologies. Let’s take a look at some of the main issues that could stop a Wi-Fi extender from working.

Why has my Wi-Fi Extender stopped working? 

There could be a number of reasons why Wi-Fi extenders might stop working earlier than you would expect. The number one reason for a Wi-Fi extender to break down is heat. 

Overheating

Like other electronic devices, Wi-Fi extenders generate heat. However, they don’t have fans or anything else to keep the heta from building up, so rely on passive cooling. This can be a big problem when they are switched on all the time, never getting the chance to cool down. 

To prevent a Wi-Fi extender from failing too soon due to overheating, there are a couple of things you can keep in mind. 

  • Place the Wi-Fi extender in a place where there is plenty of air flow around it e.g. an open book shelf
  • Avoid places where there is less air flow like shelving units, cupboards, cabinets or enclosed spaces

Dust

How often do you clean your Wi-Fi devices and hardware? A simple, regular clean of your Wi-Fi extender can help extend its life. Whilst we wouldn’t recommend taking a Wi-Fi extender apart to clean inside it, it’s definitely worth the effort to check the vents on it and blow away any dust.

New Technologies

As with any kind of Wi-Fi hardware, things do become obsolete over time as new technologies are developed and introduced to the market. 

A popular reason for people to replace their Wi-Fi extenders is to make sure that their extended network is as fast and can handle as many devices as their primary network. 

When should I replace my Wi-Fi extender?

If everything is working to your satisfaction, then there’s no need to replace anything. However, if you’ve been googling ‘do I need to replace my Wi-Fi extender?’ then you’re probably already experiencing problems and looking for the solution! 

Preemptive replacement of Wi-Fi hardware would usually be for crucial network components, for example, your router. Wi-Fi extenders aren’t usually as important, so there’s usually no need to replace them until they break. 

However, if you are relying on your Wi-Fi extender to provide internet access to parts of your home or to devices that must be connected (for example, perhaps a garden office or CCTV cameras) then you may feel it’s more important to stay ahead of problems and replace them before issues arise. 

There isn’t really a set time frame for replacing a Wi-Fi extender – They can last for as long as ten years, maybe more. But there will come a time when internal components will start to fail as they naturally start to degrade. In scenarios like the above where your Wi-Fi extender is fulfilling a vital function, you might want to consider replacing it on a shorter timeframe e.g. every 5 years perhaps or when you notice any reduction in performance.  

Can I tell if my Wi-Fi extender is starting to fail? 

Unfortunately, there’s rarely obvious signs that a Wi-Fi extender is beginning to fail. They tend to work one day, and not work the next. There may be some clues that it’s starting to degrade, which we’ll outline below, but this may not always be the case. 

Possible signs that your Wi-Fi extender is starting to fail:

  • Having to regularly reset the Wi-Fi extender. Whilst doing a factory reset may fix the issue, if you’re having to do this a lot then it’s probably time to consider replacing it. 
  • Difficulty connecting to the Wi-Fi extender. If interference isn’t an issue, but your devices are having trouble connecting or staying connected then it might be time to replace the extender. 
  • Slow internet speeds. If your connection is suddenly slower one day, then there is likely a problem with the extender. Also bear in mind that if your extender is older than your router, then it likely won’t support the latest Wi-Fi technology available to your router, hence causing a slower connection in the extended area. 
  • Dropped connection. If you can connect a device to your primary network, but it drops out when connecting to the extender then there is likely a problem with the Wi-Fi extender. 
  • Error lights. If lights on the extender are the wrong colour, flashing or not on at all then there is likely an issue. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out what the lights mean and how to resolve the problem. 
  • Unable to turn the Wi-Fi extender on. It may have overheated, so let it cool down and then try again to turn it on. You could also try plugging it into an alternative outlet. Pressing the rest button may also help with this issue. If after trying these things it still won’t turn on then it’s probably time to replace it. 

How can I help my Wi-Fi extender last longer?

No hardware can last for ever, so eventually all Wi-Fi extenders are going to fill and need replacing. That being said, there are some things you can do to take good care of it and help it to last as long as possible. As we noted above, the most common problems are caused by heat, so the main solutions lie in keeping the gear cool. 

Help your Wi-Fi extender have a long life using these tips:

  • When you’re setting up, always place your Wi-Fi extender in a well-ventilated area. Never place it in an enclosed space like a closed shelf or cabinet. Not only will an enclosed space block the Wi-Fi signal, but it will also cause the extender to get hotter than necessary, which will shorten its life. 
  • Use a surge protector in the same location as the Wi-Fi extender if possible. This can help stop voltage spikes which can cause severe damage to a Wi-Fi extender. 
  • Regularly give the extender a clean and remove dust by dusting the outside of it and blow dust from the vents. Dust build-up can also contribute to overheating.
  • Sometimes firmware updates from manufacturers can help keep performance at its best. If you notice worsening performance then it’s worth trying to install a firmware update (if there is one) to help speed up an older Wi-Fi extender model. 

Is my Wi-Fi extender causing network issues?

Problems with Wi-Fi connectivity and speed are the first clues when it comes to identifying if a Wi-Fi extender is failing or starting to fail. 

Got a unique SSID for your extender? Then you’ll notice right away that you’re having problems connecting to it compared with your primary network. 

Using a mesh network? If you’re using the same SSID and password for your extended network as your primary network or using a mesh network then you might notice you have connection trouble or slow internet speeds when you’re in the extended network area. 

As you’ll remember from our disclaimer at the start of this article, here at Geekabit we don’t recommend Wi-Fi extenders. One of the reasons why we don’t is that they can cause problems for your network even when they’re working. 

One of the biggest problems with Wi-Fi extenders is that they can actually cause interference on your primary network if they’re running on the same channel. So by trying to extend your network to a further area of your house and garden, you could be jeopardising your main network connection. 

This issue is reduced when using a mesh network as they create one big network where devices are seamlessly passed from one extender to the next. However, your bog-standard Wi-Fi extenders can cause real issues with your main Wi-Fi router if they’re operating on the same or overlapping channels. 

If you’re trying to create a reliable network across a large space and finding a regular router isn’t quite cutting it, then it might be time to call in the experts rather than reaching for the extenders. Give our friendly Wi-Fi engineers a call and we can identify the best Wi-Fi solution for your premises.

by admin
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4G 4G Mobile Broadband 5G 5G Mobile Broadband Connectivity Mobile Broadband Mobile COnnectivity Mobile Network Mobile Network 4G Survey Mobile Network 5G Survey Mobile Provider Uncategorised Wi-Fi
Could 40% of UK 5G Mobile Connections Actually be 4G?

A recent study seems to think so. Current research with foundations in monitoring and examining mobile phone reception, appears to show that despite your handset indicating a 5G signal, it actually only has a 4G connection. 

Samples taken from UK testing showed 38% of connections were 4G, even though the 5G icon was being shown. 11,000 tests were carried out over a period of 2 months at the start of this year. 

Why would a handset indicate it’s connected to 5G, if it’s actually using a 4G connection? 

It can differ from phone to phone, but for many if the phone is connected to a base station that has 5G equipment potentially available, then it will show the 5G icon. However, in real usage terms the connection may be using 4G or 5G. 

Some phones will change the distinction of the icon depending on whether an actual 5G connection is made. Others will show the same 5G icon whether the 5G connection is only available or actually connected.

The above image shows an area map of Central London where testing was carried out. The red shows actual 5G connections, and the blue indicates where a 5G icon is displayed but a 4G connection is made. 

As you can see for yourself, a 4G connection being used under the guise of a 5G connection is a common one. 

This issue isn’t anything new, but what is new is the research looking at how this is impacting our connections in the UK. 

With an average speed of 49 Mbps, this recent study found when testing that mobile broadband via actual 5G is approximately twice as fast as where it’s a 5G icon only (27 Mbps). 

Is 4G masquerading as 5G happening across all UK mobile networks? 

The results from this study were taken from a sample across all the UK mobile networks. However, it did find that it was more common with some operators than others to display the 5G icon despite being connected to 4G. 

Let’s have a little look at each mobile network. According to study tests, when the 5G icon is displayed, what percentage of the time are you actually getting a genuine 5G connection?

Three UK:  94% of the time 

Vodafone: 93%

O2: 66% 

EE: 32%

These findings are surprising, as other surveys and studies have found EE to do well in 5G performance in terms of data and coverage.

It’s important to bear in mind that getting a 5G connection everywhere is likely not possible, and people would largely accept a 4G connection in its place where 5G isn’t a possibility. The important bit, perhaps, is the visibility to consumers in terms of what they are actually getting moment to moment. Customers should know whether they are connected 4G or 5G and not just shown a blanket 5G icon where there is merely potential. 

We’re all for using 4G in places where that connection is going to be stronger and more reliable than a 5G connection. But let’s make sure customers are aware when this is happening. 

by admin
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Vodafone UK Named as London’s Best Mobile Network by Net Check Study

A recent network benchmarking study looking at 4G and 5G performance (for broadband and calls) across London has named Vodafone UK as the top performing network. 

Based in Berlin, NET CHECK completed their London study of mobile network performance and found that Vodafone achieved the highest number of ranking points – Scoring 932.83 out of 1,000 points.  

Who is NET CHECK?

NET CHECK was founded in 1999 to improve the quality of communication networks. Since then, NET CHECK has become one of the leading partners of network operators and infrastructure providers in the operation and optimisation of mobile and fixed communication networks of all technologies.

When and where was the network study conducted?

Between the 30th October and 7th November, a team from NET CHECK carried out a mix of performance based tests across all 32 London boroughs plus the City of London using Samsung S23+ smartphones. 

Covering 23 routes, the measurement technicians covered a distance of 1018km across Greater London whilst driving. The measuring equipment (SwissQual Benchmarker II (Rohde & Schwarz) and Samsung S23+) was placed in the roof boxes of two passenger cars collecting data on the performance of voice and data services during the tests. This approach allowed performance measurement for all the operators simultaneously and at the same locations. 

How did the network study allocate points?

As we said above, the maximum number of points a network provider can rank is 1,000. This is earned by a max of 350 points for voice services and a max of 650 points for data services. 

The testing involved a range of both voice and data services, with categories including:

  • Accessibility
  • Reliability
  • Speech quality  
  • Mobile broadband speed-tests using customer applications such as the browsing of popular web pages, video streaming and more. 

Sample wise, they collected approximately 15,700 data samples per operator to enable them to accurately analyse data services. For voice services, they made approximately 1,390 test calls. For each test call, they collected 12 speech samples which resulted in approximately 16,600 speech samples in total.

Which networks were close behind frontrunners Vodafone?

As we stated above, Vodafone ranked the highest in terms of points with 932.83 out of 1,000. 

Not far behind them was EE with 923.45 – Only about 9 points less than highest ranking Vodafone. 

In 3rd place it was O2 Virgin Media  with 834.16 points, with Three UK trailing behind its competitors with 757.82 points. 

You can see a summary of results from the study below. To have a read of the full report, head here.

With thanks to NET CHECK for all the tables and imagery, directly from their report.

by admin
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Rural Broadband Satellite Broadband Satellite Internet SpaceX Starlink Uncategorised
FAO Existing Starlink Customers: New £8 Roaming Plan Added to UK Satellite Broadband Service

Are you a current customer of SpaceX’s Starlink’s Satellite Broadband service? The company offers ultrafast broadband speeds via its mega constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites. It would appear that for existing UK customers, a new super cheap roaming plan has just been quietly added to its list of services. At just £8 per month, it’s certainly caught our attention.

Here’s a quick low down on Starlink Satellite Broadband

If you don’t know much about Starlink, here are some quick-look facts to get you up to speed with this service from SpaceX and their low earth orbit satellite broadband service:

  • Starlink consists of almost 7000 LEO satellites
  • Around 2,800 of these are v2 Mini / GEN 2A satellites
  • They orbit earth at an altitude between 500 and 600 km
  • By the end of 2027 they plan to have added thousands more to their constellation
  • UK customers typically pay £75+ per month for 30 days, plus £299 for hardware and £19 for postage (this is on the Standard unlimited data plan)
  • This package promises Latency times of 25-60ms, downloads of 25-100 Mbps and uploads of 5-10 Mbps 
  • At the end of last year, Starlink had a global customer network of 4.6 million people (which had risen by 2.3 million from 2023). At the end of 2024, 87,000 of those customers were based in the UK (which had more than doubled from 2023 at 42,000). The majority of these UK customers can be found in rural areas. 

What are the options when it comes to Roaming with Starlink satellite broadband?

Starlink currently has 2 Roaming plans on offer for new customers. These are:

  • ROAM 50GB – Best for infrequent and individual travel with low usage, for £50 per month
  • ROAM Unlimited – Best for RVers, campers, travelers, and working on the go, for £96 per month

Don’t forget you also need to pay between £299 and £399 for the hardware, plus an additional £19 shipping fee). 

The service performance on ROAM can be more variable than what you might get on a residential service, but it does support:

  • Use in motion
  • International travel
  • The option to pause the service when not in use 

New £8pm Roaming Plan for Existing Starlink Customers

Last week we heard whispers of a new £8 per month Roam service offering a 20GB usage allowance. Not the largest, however it would work well as a short-term back-up option. 

Unfortunately, this new cheaper option only appears to be available to existing Starlink customers – It’s not showing online for new customers perusing the options on the Starlink website. 

However if you are already an existing Starlink user, if you go to unpause an already paused service, it would seem you will be shown this new option for £8 per month. Exciting news for current customers! Especially when it comes to those who need a back-up option, those who live in rural areas, or are planning to travel. 

What we would love to see next is this kind of tariff being offered on their Standard package for fixed locations. And, of course, we’d really like to see this £8 per month option become available to new Starlink customers too – Once they’ve purchased the hardware, of course. Watch this space! 

by admin
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Starlink Delivers Best Latency in UK Compared with Europe, Finds Ookla

February saw the publication of one of the latest studies from internet benchmarking company Ookla. Their popular Speedtest.net broadband and mobile connection testing service looked at the performance of Starlink’s LEO satellite broadband service, covering locations across Europe.  

The good news is that out of all the countries tested, the UK delivers the best latency. The bad news is that download and upload speeds are poor here in the UK. 

A quick low down on Starlink Satellite Broadband

Here’s some quick-look facts to get you up to speed with Starlink and their low earth orbit satellite broadband service:

  • Starlink consists of almost 7000 LEO satellites
  • Around 2,800 of these are v2 Mini / GEN 2A satellites
  • They orbit earth at an altitude between 500 and 600 km
  • By the end of 2027 they plan to have added thousands more to their constellation
  • UK customers typically pay £75+ per month for 30 days, plus £299 for hardware and £19 for postage (this is on the Standard unlimited data plan)
  • This package promises Latency times of 25-60ms, downloads of 25-100 Mbps and uploads of 5-10 Mbps 
  • At the end of last year, Starlink had a global customer network of 4.6 million people (which had risen by 2.3 million from 2023). At the end of 2024, 87,000 of those customers were based in the UK (which had more than doubled from 2023 at 42,000). The majority of these UK customers can be found in rural areas. 

As can sometimes be expected from newer technologies, the changeable nature of rising customer demand and ability to launch new satellites to keep pace with that demand has meant that Starlink has seen a slight decline in performance here in the UK. 

This performance dip is also affected by differences in access to data capacity at local ground stations as well as regulatory access to the necessary radio spectrum bands which can vary from country to country. 

How does Starlink performance compare across the UK and Europe?

This latest report from Ookla has taken data collected during the last quarter of 2024 and enables us to take a closer look into how Starlink is performing, providing a useful overview across the UK and Europe. You can read the report here. 

The Good

The UK was top of the performance table when it came to latency, delivering the fastest server response times across Europe at 41ms. The slowest was Cyprus, with 144ms. 

When it comes to latency, Starlink has continued to improve in general. Between the last quarter of 2023 and the last quarter  in 2024, data showed a consistent trend of declining median latency across more than a dozen European countries. The UK, for example, saw a drop of 9ms (50ms down to 41ms) with similar improvements being seen in other countries. 

The Not-So-Good

The UK could be found in the bottom half of the performance table for average median download speeds and upload speeds (87.06 Mbps and 12.78 Mbps respectively).

The fastest Starlink downloads were in Hungary and fastest uploads in Romania. 

The Ookla report looking at data from Q4 2022 to Q4 2023 also stated that some of the steepest speed declines were seen in Central European countries when it came to median download speeds. Speeds fell by 31% in Germany (from 94.37Mbps to 65.44Mbps) closely followed by a 24% dip in Switzerland (going from 136.03Mbps to 103.88Mbps). 

But it’s not all bad news!

It would seem, from the data seen in the final quarter of 2024, that there signs of successive speed declines starting to stabilise. Early indications suggest a potential recovery when it comes to download and upload speeds. 

We’ll be interested to see whether this supposed trend continues to hold over the next few quarters to quarters, given the tendency for variability. 

Starlink’s performance set to improve

The broadband and wireless network community expect Starlink performance to continue to improve, with the up-coming SpaceX Starship rocket. This will give them the ability to launch significantly higher numbers of satellites, including the next generation V3 GEN3 bigger satellites that will be able to handle 1Tbps of capacity. This in turn will help them meet the rising customer demand. 

Watch this space. 

With thanks to Ookla for the graph images and Starlink for the main blog image.

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Ubiquiti is Skyrocketing – Here’s Why 

It’s no secret that our Wi-Fi experts here at Geekabit are big fans of Ubiquiti and their range of Wi-Fi devices and equipment. We love their kit and it would seem we’re definitely not the only ones. 

We’ve been chatting about the benefits of using Ubiquiti Wi-Fi equipment for your network for years. A blog from a few years back was one of our first on the topic and is a good place to start if you’re unfamiliar with the pros of using Ubiquiti for a business network. 

Over the past year in particular, Ubiquiti devices have really increased in popularity, with shares in Ubiquiti Inc (UI) surging up by 222.8% in the past year. Why? Their customer base has seen a gradual yet steady increase in growth, supported by a flexible business model. If you’re into stocks, shares and investments then you might like to research UI as an investment option. 

But here at Geekabit, investment advice isn’t really our forte – We’re all about the wireless equipment, and this manufacturer has our attention. 

What makes Ubiquiti so popular? 

There are many wireless internet device manufacturers on the market – Why are UI doing so well? 

In our fast moving world, the demand for the internet is constant. There is a continuous stream of data traffic with the need for round-the-clock access to video, audio, online gaming and social networking (not to mention work emails, online conference calls and file transfers). 

This means that we require fast, seamless connectivity that can support these bandwidth-intensive apps whilst simultaneously moving away from wired network connections. 

Our need for strong, wireless networks is met perfectly with Ubiquiti’s comprehensive range of products and solutions. From Ubiquiti you can find:

  • A range of networking devices
  • Network infrastructure for fixed wireless broadband
  • Wireless backhaul systems
  • Routing
  • Wireless LAN infrastructure
  • Video surveillance products
  • Machine-to-machine communication components
  • And much more


Our Wi-Fi experts and engineers here at Geekabit aren’t the only ones that rave about Ubiquitis products – They have a rapidly growing community that are highly engaged with their range, including:

  • Service providers
  • Distributors
  • Value-added resellers
  • Systems integrators
  • Corporate IT professionals

This community might be what sets UI apart. They leverage the strength of the Ubiquiti Community by providing rapid product support and dissemination of information, thus reducing operational costs whilst maintaining a proprietary network communication platform. Ubiquiti works from an extremely flexible business model which can therefore adapt to market demands. 


Will Ubiquiti continue to grow?

Continued growth is expected for Ubiquiti, with significant opportunities in developed as well as emerging economies. Emerging countries are relentless in their pursuit of staying connected with the world, and adopting wireless networking infrastructure is a big part of that. Developed economies are always looking to increase bandwidth further in order to bridge the gap between demand and supply. 

Ubiquiti are committed to research and development, and spend significantly on activities that help them develop innovative new products that use state-of-the-art technology – All helping them to stay on the cutting-edge of networking technology with their market offering. 

With products that offer both high performance and best value, they continue to beat their rivals. Ubiquiti product families such as UniFi and AmpliFi have both seen improvements and added features.


Invest in a reliable network

Whether you’re into investments, tech, wireless networking or a combination of all 3 – Ubiquiti has something to offer. 

Positive market gains remain diverse across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, energy and of course tech industries. 

Ubiquiti just so happens to be listed by quite a few investment analyst outlets as having skyrocketing stock with it reaching an all time high at the start of this year. Offering networking technology to service providers, enterprises and consumers, UI saw their stock surge by nearly 21% towards the end of January. Perhaps they have their supply chain improvements and product availability to thank for this? 

If stocks and shares aren’t your thing, but you’re ready to invest in a strong, reliable wireless network for your business, then get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts today. 

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Could Wi-Fi 8 Actually Bring the Reliability We All Want and Need? 

Some broadband users want speed and nothing but the speed when it comes to Wi-Fi. But what’s the point in mind-boggling speeds, if your connection isn’t reliable? 

The next and 8th generation of Wi-Fi looks set to let go of the notion of ridiculous speeds in favour of, well, actually working in a reliable manner. 

The Wi-Fi 8 standard is all about ultra reliability and we’re here for it. 

Wi-Fi 8 is on the way

Previous updates to our beloved wireless network technology saw a focus on pushing up the bandwidth – Yet Wi-Fi 8 is more concentrated on reliability.  

Wi-Fi 8 you say? Haven’t we only just officially adopted Wi-Fi 6? Well it seems that way, but that was actually back in 2021, swiftly followed by Wi-Fi 6E and then hot on its heels was Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 7 was certified in January of last year and expected to be ratified towards the end of 2024, with support on Windows 11 added last February.  

What we all need to remember is that we can only take advantage of what the new standards have to offer if we update our devices and hardware to those that support the new standard. Therefore, full scale adoption and broader availability are still developing for Wi-Fi 7 as support increases.

The Wi-Fi Alliance predicted that 233 million Wi-Fi devices would enter the market in 2024. This figure is expected to grow to a whopping 2.1 billion devices by 2028.

Why are we chatting about Wi-Fi 8 when Wi-Fi 7 is still being adopted?

If Wi-Fi 7 is still getting established and devices such as laptops are still supporting older standards, why are we already talking about the next update? 

As with many things in the tech world, the talk and buzz starts well before the next big thing enters the market. Much of the conceptual stages and technical details behind Wi-Fi 8 are still being ironed out. 

It’s been predicted that the first Wi-Fi 8 access points will be on sale towards the end of 2028. 

The embryonic stages of Wi-Fi 8, or 802.11bn as it’s affectionately known by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), actually started back in 2022. It was known then as the UHR or Ultra High Reliability study group. At this time, there were rapid advances in data transfer speed. Although these speeds haveoften been unobtainable by network users in practice. This could be due to interference, either from nearby networks or signals being attenuated by walls or other obstructions. 

Due to the theoretical throughput of a Wi-Fi AP growing by about 40 times since Wi-Fi 4, it’s not really that surprising that the spotlight of Wi-Fi 8 has been on reliability and the efficiency of communications. 

Wi-Fi could take on a bigger role in mission critical applications due to this stronger control over latency, for example in the manufacturing industry. 

What does Wi-Fi 7 bring?

With the arrival of Wi-Fi 7 came a number of enhancements. These included:

  • Doubling the channel bandwidth to 320 MHz compared with Wi-Fi 6 
  • A shift to 4K QAM encoding to deliver a theoretical top speed of more than 40 Gbps
  • Supporting the use of frequencies in the 6 GHz band in addition to the traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands (However strictly speaking this capability was actually an add-on to some Wi-Fi 6 devices as Wi-Fi 6E
  • Introducing multi-link operation (MLO), which allows for aggregation of channels in different frequency bands, allowing connections using 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz radios simultaneously

You can read more about Wi-Fi 7 on a previous Geekabit blog here. 

Why 6 GHz frequency? 

This frequency provides relatively uncrowded territory when compared with other bands – Hence the attraction to 6 GHz. 

What does Wi-Fi 8 provide that Wi-Fi 7 doesn’t?

Wireless chip firm MediaTek published a paper indicating that Wi-Fi 8 will bring much of the same specifications as Wi-Fi 7, especially in terms of those listed above.  

However, Wi-Fi 8 will bring with it additional capabilities that will improve the reliability of connections and thus boost the effective throughput that users experience in real life.

In the simplest terms, Wi-Fi 8 will help make some of the promises of Wi-Fi 7 more of a reality, such as implementing features to improve speed gains. 

Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR)

One enhancement to come with Wi-Fi 8 is Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR). This is aimed at networks with multiple access points (APs) where their signals overlap, for example on mesh networks. This will mean that clashes can be avoided by APs coordinating to adjust their signal strengths. 

This idea has built on a capability first implemented in the Wi-Fi 6 standard, called spatial reuse (SR). This lets devices adjust their channel sense thresholds, allowing channel reuse.  

Coordinated Beamforming (Co-BF)

Alongside this comes the related feature Coordinated Beamforming (Co-BF). This allows a device to direct its signal toward the intended receiver while minimising interference with other devices, extending spatial nulling in multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) environments. It does this by creating ‘nulls’ in the signal in the direction of those devices. 

Dynamic Sub-channel Operation (DSO)

An access point can also be allowed to assign devices to individual sub-channels via Dynamic Sub-channel Operation (DSO). This boosts utilisation of the spectrum. 

Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS)

Another enhancement put forward for Wi-Fi 8 would allow device hardware to better match the data transmission rate the prevailing signal-to-noise ratio. This would be especially true when the endpoint moves away from the AP. 

The options being considered include 16-QAM with a 2/3 coding rate, 256-QAM with a 2/3 coding rate, and 16-QAM with a 5/6 coding rate.

Wi-Fi 8 to bring better performance

On the face of it, it might seem like these individual features might not make much difference when it comes to the launch of Wi-Fi 8. However, when they are combined together they are expected to help Wi-Fi 8 deliver previously promised performance from earlier standards and make them a reality. 

Will it be a worthwhile upgrade? Wi-Fi 8 is set to not only bring better reliability, but also speed improvements over Wi-Fi 7, making it a potentially worthy upgrade. This would be especially true for those where consistent connectivity is vital. Industrial environments and IoT applications could be particular winners. 

But remember! We won’t see the benefits of these new enhancements until both access points (hardware) and devices are upgraded to the new Wi-Fi 8 standard. This is likely to take a bit of time. Years in fact! It likely won’t be until we are nearing 2030. 

You can read a bit more about Wi-Fi 8 and what it has to offer on a previous Geekabit blog here. 

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