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Could Technical Jargon Be Confusing Consumers When It Comes to Buying Internet Services?

What do you call the network in your household or business? 

Are there shrieks of ‘Muuuum is the Wi-Fi down?’ or perhaps partners asking ‘What’s going on with the broadband babe?’ 

Or if you’re the boss of a SME, maybe you’ve got employees interrupting your meetings asking why the internet is lagging. 

What’s the most popular name for internet connections? 

Broadband Internet Service Provider TalkTalk engaged Axicom to commission a new online survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by OnePoll. The survey claims to find that the most popular name for home internet connections is Wi-Fi. 

A third of respondents said they describe their internet connection using the term Wi-Fi, with ‘broadband’ and ‘internet’ coming in second and third place respectively. 

The survey also quizzed respondents on their understanding of different wireless technology terms, with 76% of those asked saying they ‘confidently understand’ the term Wi-Fi. 

Less confidently understood was ‘fibre’ with only half of the respondents confident with their understanding of its meaning. Interestingly, ‘fibre’ is often a term flung around by telecoms companies to describe their broadband products and services, which begs the question – Do consumers actually understand what they are being sold? 

Do Consumers Understand the Internet Products and Services Being Sold to Them?

The results to this particular survey would suggest the answer is unfortunately no, with 69% of respondents admitting that technology-related jargon is difficult to understand. 

Perhaps then, the aim of this most recent online survey was to gather information on how ISP TalkTalk can market their products and internet services to potential customers – Both business and residential. 

If consumers are not understanding terms like ‘fibre’ then perhaps the focus on the term ‘Wi-Fi’ instead will increase understanding and thus sales. It does seem to be the renewed focus of their recent brand refresh, despite the technical terminology not being entirely correct. 

Does this therefore reinforce a misconception around the understanding of technical internet terminology, rather than provide an accurate explanation? 

What is your understanding of some of the terms used in the survey? You can see a breakdown of the most understood terminology below, given in percentages. 

There seems to be a healthy understanding of the terms Wi-Fi, Wireless, Router and IP Address. Those less understood were concepts like Latency, FTTP/FTTC, Mesh, PSTN and LLU. 

What Do TalkTalk Have to Say?

The Product and Propositions Director for TalkTalk shared the companies thoughts on their recent survey and how the results are influencing how they talk to their customers in order to ensure the best understanding of their services and products. 

“Wi-Fi is a staple in all our homes, yet as an industry we haven’t kept up with the times when we talk to our customers. At TalkTalk, we’re shifting to talk about Wi-Fi more and more, as it’s the connectivity – making sure streaming or browsing is seamless – that matters most for our millions of customers.

Our latest research tells us that people prefer to communicate in the same way that they speak, without jargon, and our industry should reflect that. We know we’re not perfect, and we have much to do, but this is the first step in delivering a Better Way to Wi-Fi for customers who just want transparency and information they can confidently understand. And this builds trust between us and our customers too.”

What Does Wi-Fi Mean to You?

Whilst the term Wi-Fi might still feel like technical jargon to some, most homes and businesses use Wi-Fi to describe a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network connection that originates from a router that distributes the broadband internet connection from your Internet Service Provider. 

Wi-Fi and Broadband are not the same thing, but consumers seem to be regularly using the term ‘Wi-Fi’ to loosely apply to their wireless internet connection as a whole. 

When this starts to run into difficulties is when an issue arises. Someone shouts ‘The Wi-Fi’s gone down!’ – What’s the problem? It could be that the router is faulty and not transmitting a signal to user devices. In this instance, the actual broadband connection coming from outside the property could be completely fine – It’s only the transmission of the signal that has the issue. 

Likewise, the router could be transmitting a signal to end users and their devices remain connected, but conference calls aren’t connecting. The problem isn’t the hardware, but the actual broadband connection coming from the ISP. 

2 very different problems but both labelled as a ‘Wi-Fi’ problem.

Do You Get Lost in Technical Internet Jargon? 

If you need reliable Wi-Fi for your business but find it hard to follow all the terminology, then don’t worry. Not everyone can be Wi-Fi Experts! Thankfully the wireless engineers here at Geekabit have all the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate your network and get you the best wireless connection for your premises. 

Get in touch with our Hampshire, Cardiff or London based teams today to see how we can help. 

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Geekabit Deploys Wi-Fi Solution to New Gastropub in Historic Space in Farnham, Surrey

This week on the blog we’re excited to share the completion of a recent Wi-Fi project for a client over in Farnham, Surrey. 

Find out how our Wi-Fi engineering experts helped to transform this remarkable historic space into a well-connected Gastropub.

The Venue

Third Monkey is a new Gastropub, Restaurant and Cocktail Bar providing high-end hospitality and fun family dining in the heart of Farnham. 

The historic building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the late 1800’s and whilst much of his original architecture will remain, the updated premises will boast 2 floors of buzzing atmosphere plus a roof terrace. 

The building has been used as The South Street Social Club in recent years, formerly known as the Liberal Club, but closed back in 2023 due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic as well as other factors. 

Now under new owners, Third Monkey and its Executive Chef are breathing new life into this notable building, bringing with it ‘refined yet relaxed’ vibes through its welcoming Gastropub on the ground floor, and a more elevated dining experience in the Restaurant and Cocktail Bar upstairs. And let’s not forget the Rooftop Terrace complete with weekend DJ’s providing a late-night destination venue for Surrey’s most sought-after town. 

You can find this exciting new venue at 46 South Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7RP.

Expert Wi-Fi Solution for Historic Premises Turned Gastropub

Wi-Fi Site Survey

As with all new Wi-Fi projects, we started with a Wi-Fi Survey. This is Geekabit’s key tool in analysing the performance of your network and helping to diagnose issues. 

As you can imagine, a historic building built in the 1800’s isn’t going to have been designed with Wi-Fi in mind! Unlike modern constructions, this type of building can present unique challenges for signal penetration and Wi-Fi infrastructure installation. Therefore, carrying out a thorough Wi-Fi site survey is vital.

Upon visiting, it was clear that the Third Monkey, was a completely fresh and new fit-out –
and we could get involved at the earliest stages to ensure that the possibilities for Wi-Fi
access point placement could work with the new building materials being used.

In this instance for Third Monkey, we used the information gathered during the Wi-Fi Site Survey to advise on the necessary networking equipment required as well as Fibre WAN providers. 

Wi-Fi Installation

Whilst some may think that installing Wi-Fi isn’t much more than sticking a box on the ceiling and plugging it in, there is actually a great deal more thought and expertise that goes into it if you want a successful Wi-Fi network. 

There’s little point in carrying out a Wi-Fi Site Survey to identify how to equip a historic building such as this with robust internet connectivity, if you’re not going to follow it up with expert installation.

For Third Monkey, Geekabit completed a full Wi-Fi Installation using one of our favoured brands Ubiquiti Wi-Fi and Ubiquiti network equipment. 

This Wi-Fi network deployment included:

  • Full data network installation
  • Network design
  • Data network cabinet installation
  • Termination of Cat 6 ethernet cabling
  • Setting up of network security devices
  • Commissioning of equipment, Wi-Fi configuration and optimisation, and post-installation Wi-Fi Site Survey

A big part of any Wi-Fi Installation also involves effectively co-ordinating with other suppliers and installers to enhance network efficiency and security. 

Of course, we round off any Wi-Fi deployment right back where we started – With a Wi-Fi Site Survey. This ensures we leave our clients with their optimum Wi-Fi network.

Our Wi-Fi engineers are also on hand to provide ongoing Network Support, Wi-Fi Management and Wi-Fi Guest Portal services. Another benefit of bringing in the expertise and knowledge of a Wi-Fi professional. 

Why Robust Wi-Fi is a Must for Hospitality Businesses

Despite the potential complexities that using a historic building for a modern use can have, this project shows that the two can indeed go hand-in-hand. 

We know how vital it is for hospitality businesses to have reliable Wi-Fi. A strong wireless network is not only essential for operational efficiency (ie. supporting POS systems and internal communications) but also in enhancing customer experience through Guest Wi-Fi. 

This particular hospitality venue is striving for a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, offering diverse customer experiences from casual dining to a late-night rooftop terrace. For this venue and others, seamless Wi-Fi connectivity underpins the ability to deliver high-quality service and attract a contemporary clientele, ultimately contributing to its success and reputation.

This Wi-Fi installation for Third Monkey demonstrates perfectly how you can take the charm of a historic building and bring it up to date with the modern amenities we come to expect from a high-end venue. Strong, reliable Wi-Fi is a must. 

Steve Cross, Director at Geekabit, comments: 

“We’ve been impressed by the team at the Third Monkey, who have been passionate advocates for ensuring they work with specialists in each field to create a high quality fit-out and venue that really raises the concept of the gastropub and restaurant. From an initial site survey visit, through to the entire Wi-Fi and network installation, we’ve been able to support the transformation of an historic space into a great addition to the Surrey town of Farnham.”

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Broadband Performance: A Must-Have for Estate Agents to Showcase Dream Properties

A recent survey highlights the critical importance for estate agents to offer broadband performance reports when marketing properties, particularly “dream property” offerings.

Recent research suggests that Estate Agents should be focusing on providing home buyers with broadband performance reports if they want to meet the criteria of buyers dream homes. 

The top ranked factor for the ‘dream home’ wish list when looking for a new property was reliable internet.

UK based platform Compare My Move assists home buyers, sellers, landlords and movers with the whole property buying process. They commissioned research with Front Door Comms and OnePoll, creating an online survey of 2,000 adults based in the UK, naturally representative of age, gender and region. 

62% Brits Looking for Decent Wi-Fi When Looking at a Potential New Property

The survey found that 62% of survey respondents put decent Wi-Fi as the number one feature they would want in their realistic dream property. Strong Wi-Fi came above a private driveway and a walk-in wardrobe. 

This would appear to highlight a shift away from fancy frills, instead favouring functional living and everyday essentials when looking for a new property. 

If you’ve ever had your internet go down for a significant length of time then you’ll know how much you rely on that connection. From the obvious things like logging onto your laptop to work from home, to the more taken for granted things like asking Alexa for a timer whilst cooking dinner or trying to listen to music – Having no Wi-Fi is excruciatingly frustrating. 

Since the pandemic when the UK was plunged into the world of working from home and home learning, Estate Agents have seen a dramatic increase in questions about reliable broadband when prospective buyers are looking at new property. 

So it’s little wonder that prospective home buyers want to know exactly what kind of broadband connection they could expect from a potential new home – And if Estate Agents want to make a sale, and Estate Managers want to find a tenant then they need to be providing information that shows the available broadband for that property. 

Reliable Broadband for High End Estate Agency

High End Estate Agents aren’t just matching High Net Worth Individuals with their latest luxury home – They need to give their buyers confidence that they will be moving into a well connected home with strong, reliable broadband. 

Co-founder and MD of Compare My Move says it himself – The results show that “people are prioritising convenience, comfort, and connectivity in their everyday lives. While high-end extras might look impressive on paper, it’s the things we rely on daily – like Wi-Fi and a driveway – that really make a place feel like home.”

And thus, this needs to be reflected in the way that Estate Agents (including High End) and Estate Managers are marketing their properties. 

Is Slow Internet the Dealbreaker That’s Losing You House Sales?

The survey reported above supports previous research from a few years ago when it was found that 20% of people would not buy a property if it had slow internet speeds. 

Similarly, the lack of super-fast internet is often a deal-breaker when it comes to house hunting with many prospective buyers viewing the Wi-Fi connection more important than the number of bedrooms. 

Whilst the size of a property is still important, Estate Agents must now recognise that for many house hunters the quality and speed of the internet is now on par with other deemed essentials. In Scotland and the Southwest, some prospective house buyers value the availability of high-quality broadband above everything else – Even house size. 

Estate Agency and Estate Management clients are least likely to compromise on high-quality broadband when looking for a new home. Decent Wi-Fi was deemed more important than local amenities and space. 

In addition to this, homes for sale that had a worse connection could see Estate Agents selling at approximately £5K less, based solely on whether a home had access to a 300Mbps connection or not. 

How Many Homes Have Access to Full Fibre? 

According to Ofcom, 20.7 million UK homes, or 69% of the total, have access to full-fibre broadband. This represents a significant increase from 17.1 million homes (57%) in September 2023. 

Specifically, Ofcom’s Connected Nations report in July 2024 showed that:

  • Full-fibre coverage has expanded to 69% (20.7 million) of the UK’s 30.1 million homes. 
  • This is an increase of 12 percentage points (3.6 million premises) since September 2023. 
  • Full fibre is more prevalent in urban areas (71%) than in rural areas (52%). 
  • Gigabit-capable coverage, including full fibre and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable, has reached 83% (25 million) of UK homes. 
  • Northern Ireland leads the way with 93% of homes having access to full fibre. 

SpeedScore from Geekabit Wi-Fi Experts

With over a decade of experience providing connectivity solutions to UK markets, Geekabit saw how house buyers, tenants and hospitality customers are getting more tech savvy and starting to ask Estate Agents and Estate Managers questions about internet speeds and reliability.

Thus, we launched our innovative Internet Connectivity Measurement Platform – Geekabit SpeedScore. 

This gives Estate Agents and Estate Managers a variety of tools to help provide an independent certification of internet speeds and connectivity. Ideal if you’re trying to make a sale by proving the speed and connectivity of a property’s internet. 

Whether it’s a high end luxury property or the dream home of the average buyer, a clear, concise and accurate presentation of a property’s broadband could be the leverage to close that sale. 

You can read more about SpeedScore here. 

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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.

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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.

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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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Business Wi-Fi Ubiquiti Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice Wi-Fi Help Wireless Network Wireless Technology WLAN
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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Broadband Rural Broadband Satellite Broadband Satellite Internet SpaceX Starlink Wi-Fi
Starlink Reach 4.6 Million Users Worldwide

Over the last 7 months, the Starlink satellite broadband service from SpaceX has amassed a whopping total of 4.6 million users globally. The recent rapid growth of an additional 1.6 million users in less than a year serves as a significant milestone for the company which now encompasses 118 countries and territories across the world. 

Why has Starlink seen such rapid growth recently? 

Starlink reported 3 million satellite broadband users back in May 2024. In the 7 months since, the company has supported its growth by focusing on expanding its services, with the introduction of 27 new markets activating Starlink connectivity. 

Back in April, we blogged about Starlink expanding their broadband capacity here in the UK by increasing the number of gateway antennas at multiple UK sites and by adopting additional bands. 

This was followed just a few months later with the launch of their mini dish and roaming service, also available here in the UK. 

With new markets and growing connectivity to support, Starlink needed to ensure they have the infrastructure to support this connectivity. So they launched 89 new satellites into their ever-increasing constellation. 

There are currently over 7000 active Starlink satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These include 350 satellites that are designed to directly connect with LTE phones. 

Their commitment to the necessary infrastructure means that Starlink can provide reliable, high-speed internet access even in some of the most remote, hard to reach areas.  

What is Starlink planning next?

Next on the cards for Starlink is the SpaceX launch of its third generation (V3) Starlink satellites. These are due to be launched by SpaceX’s upcoming launch vehicle, Starship.  

Each launch of a new V3 satellite is estimated to add 60 terabits (Tbps) of capacity to the Starlink network. This would significantly outpace the 3 Tbps capacity provided by SpaceX Falcon 9 launches. 

Despite the Starship launch vehicle still undergoing tests in the development stages, it is widely expected to revolutionise satellite deployment. Starship will enable SpaceX to deploy more advanced satellites, providing a larger payload capacity. This in turn means a 10 fold increase in bandwidth and reduced latency for Starlink satellite broadband users. 

Why does it matter about Starlink?

Through the growth of Starlink, especially the rapid growth we’ve seen recently over the past 7 months, we see the potential to reshape internet connectivity on a global scale. Starlink achieved cash-flow breakeven by the end of 2023, showing the world the increasing profitability of satellite broadband. 

It is the belief of Gwynne Shotwell, COO at SpaceX, that the introduction of the new launch vehicle Starship will “position SpaceX as one of the world’s most valuable companies.”

Starlink appears to be going from strength to strength, providing a much needed digital bridge to those in remote, underserved locations and communities. Not only do they deliver a high-speed internet connection to those who otherwise struggle to access broadband, but they are also making it affordable.

The V3 satellites set to launch with the emergence of Starship will likely see Starlink become even more of a fundamental part of connectivity across the globe. 

Fast Wi-Fi Hire for Events with Starlink via Geekabit

If you’re looking to hire Starlink Internet for your next event, we can provide a managed expert service.

Have you been let down before by traditional internet suppliers? Our expertly managed Wi-Fi hire service will allow you to have a fast, stable and speedy Wi-Fi network in areas that other suppliers have previously struggled. 

Our Starlink event kit for Wi-Fi hire can be deployed very quickly for even the most last-minute of events, especially helpful in situations where you’ve been let down by another provider. 

Our fleet of Starlink routers and dishes are available to support any event where resilient and fast internet needs to be deployed at short notice. If your event is being held in London, Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset or Wiltshire and you’re interested in reliable event internet then get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts today.  You can find out more here. 

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Broadband Broadband Speed ISP Opensignal Report
How Does Your Broadband ISP Rank by Quality and Speed? 

Internet benchmarking firm Opensignal, the internet benchmarking firm, has published their “definitive” 2024 Fixed Broadband Experience report this December. The report looks at various UK internet service providers and then separately across 12 of its regions (inc. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), judging them in terms of performance indicators.

With people all over the country potentially relying on a strong, reliable broadband service to connect with family and friends this Christmas – Which broadband provider came out on top for 2024? This latest Opensignal report found Virgin Media to have the top performance scores on a national level. 

However, when looking at individual regions, the results differed.

How do Opensignal collect their performance data?

The data used in December’s Opensignal round-up of 2024 report uses crowdsourced data collected via their benchmarking app and services by end-users. It was collected between the 1st July and 28th September 2024. 

It’s worth noting that the following things could also affect any testing of broadband performance:

  • Poor home wiring (ADSL and FTTC lines)
  • The end-user’s choice of package (e.g. 1Gbps could be available, but people may pick a slower option)
  • Local network congestion 
  • Slow home Wi-Fi 

Interestingly, the report also includes data from some mobile broadband providers and satellite broadband services, providing notable comparisons between the more traditional broadband providers and the alternatives for places where they don’t work so well. For example, the report has data from users utilising Three UK and Starlink mobile and satellite broadband services. 

How does the Opensignal report on UK broadband categorise user experiences? 

The report categorises user experience of broadband performance based on different measurements:

  • Consistent Quality
  • Download Speed
  • Upload Speed
  • Video Experience 
  • Reliability Experience

Which ISP’s have provided the best broadband this year?

As we said at the start of this article, Virgin Media came top overall, rating the best user experiences across all 5 of the above categories. 

In simple terms, out of all of the UK’s broadband providers, users with Virgin Media during the last quarter of 2024 had:

  • The best available experience when streaming video
  • The fastest average download and upload speeds
  • The most reliable connection
  • The most consistent fixed broadband experience

If we take a look at 2 of the categories that are perhaps most of interest – Consistent Quality and Download Speeds – We can compare and rank the UK ISP’s. 

Consistent Quality
Virgin Media90.4
Vodafone88.4
Plusnet87.1
BT86.6
EE83.1
TalkTalk82.6
Sky Broadband76.9
Three UK72.3
Download Speeds Mbps
Virgin Media157.4
Vodafone77.5
BT62
Three UK54.8
Sky Broadband52.5
Plusnet52.4
TalkTalk48.8
EE45.9

It’s worth pointing out that almost all of the customer base of Virgin Media are in urban areas and are on broadband lines of 100Mbps or faster, which helps massively in this type of study. 

At the opposite end of this, providers that have connections from varied broadband technologies (ADSL, FTTC, FTTP) with a mixture of slower and faster lines are going to be at a bit of a disadvantage. 

What do Virgin Media have to say about being awarded ‘best’ ISP for 2024 by Opensignal? 

Their Director of Connectivity, Gareth Lister, said:

“We’re committed to providing our customers with fast and reliable connectivity, so being recognised by Opensignal as the best performing provider across all five categories is fantastic news. It is testament to our ongoing investment and hard work to give our customers the best broadband experience possible.”

Regional data shows smaller ISP success

When looking at the data with a more regional focus, we start to see more of the smaller UK internet service providers and alternative networks securing wins across the different categories we mentioned earlier. 

Networks like:

For the London area, CommunityFibre is a strong choice for consistent fixed broadband experience. Up in Scotland, the winner of the most performance categories was Hyperoptic broadband. And in the north of England it’s YouFibre that outperforms the other ISP’s. For Wales and Northern Ireland, Virgin Media were once again the most awarded provider. 

As much as we would love to lay out all the results by region for you here, it would take us all day! But you can have a read of the full report here, where you can check out your local region and see which broadband providers are successful in your area. 

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Public Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice
Do You Use Public Wi-Fi? This Might Make You Reconsider

Did you know that connecting to an illegitimate Wi-Fi network could compromise your social media, or worse, your online banking accounts? Nearly half of internet users have admitted they connect to Wi-Fi networks without checking their legitimacy. 

We’ve all come to expect to stay connected while on-the-go. Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, we want to stay connected. Public Wi-Fi is a convenient and free way to do just this – Ensuring we keep a strong network signal even when we’re not at home. But is it safe to use these public Wi-Fi networks?

A survey from last year by All About Cookies found that 1 in 4 internet users who are using public Wi-Fi networks regularly, encounter a security issue. 

Why do these security issues occur? Because unsecured networks leave themselves vulnerable to cyber criminals who can sneak in using free tools and technical know-how to steal sensitive information from users. 

Things like passwords, banking information and other personal data can all be used by cyber criminals for identity theft. 

Despite there being many security warnings out there for using this type of Wi-Fi network, many people deem the potential security risks to be outweighed by the convenience and habit of being connected. 

So what can you do to keep your information safe and secure while out and about and online? 

Is it safe to use public Wi-Fi?

Let’s look at a few of the security issues that come with Public Wi-Fi. 

Lack of Encryption

Public Wi-Fi networks often lack encryption. This means that if you send data from your device using the internet, it is in danger of being intercepted. You should avoid sending sensitive data like passwords, banking information, even personal messages using public Wi-Fi networks. 

At the point of connection, you might see a warning message stating that the Wi-Fi is unsecured, or that it uses deprecated encryption. This means that the network uses standards that are lower than industry standards. Using your device to send personal information and data on this type of weak Wi-Fi connection puts you at risk of having your online security compromised.

Fake Wi-Fi Networks

You’ve probably heard about encryption problems, but what about ‘Evil Twin’ networks? This is when an online attacker sets up a hotspot that mimics a genuine local network, luring people in so that it appears legitimate, thus tricking users into connecting. Think ‘Free Airport Wi-Fi” or something similar. 

Whilst this is not common, if your unprotected device connects to this fake network, the online attacker can steal the data being transmitted – Like passwords, login details, and banking information. 

While you’re unknowingly connected to this rogue network, you can be unwittingly tracked across your online journeys, with the hacker able to intercept session cookies. These are small pieces of information that websites use to remember you after you’ve visited. If a hacker or online attacker gets hold of these session cookies on an unsecured network like theirs, they can use them to impersonate you online on the websites you logged into – Like your social media accounts or online banking.

This leaves you susceptible to identity theft through having your emails or online banking being hacked. If you must connect to an unsecured public Wi-Fi network, avoid using any personal information. This means not accessing your bank account, transferring money, or buying things. All of these transactions use extremely sensitive information. Basically, avoid sending any data that you wouldn’t want to be intercepted. 

Can you spot a fake hotspot?

It’s tricky but there are a couple of red flags to look out for when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks which could signal that it’s not a legitimate network. 

Error messages or certificate warnings – These messages could alert you to ‘Evil Twin’ hotspots, but equally there may be no signs whatsoever. Unfortunately, anyone can set up a Wi-Fi hotspot or network, and if there are no error messages or certificate warnings to report then there’s not really a discernible way you can identify what is safe and what isn’t. 

If you are in a public place like a hotel or a cafe, then always ask a member of staff for the exact name of the Wi-Fi network. That way you will avoid any impersonating networks. 

Also try to use networks that are password protected. These do tend to be safe than open, unsecured networks. It’s not a fail-safe guarantee, but it does help reduce the chances of online attackers and hackers lurking on the network. 

Is There a Safe Way to Browse on Public Wi-Fi Networks?

Use a VPN

If you are insistent on using public Wi-Fi networks, then the best way to stay safe and minimise online security risks is to use a Virtual Private Network, or VPN.  Even if someone was to be monitoring your connection, the VPN stops your information being visible, acting as a secure tunnel which keeps your data private and encrypted when being sent and received. 

USing a VPN means that regardless of how trustworthy the Wi-Fi network that you’re connected to is, your data is on its own virtual private network within that, keeping it hidden and safe. 

When choosing a VPN, make sure you are choosing one that has good reviews and is trustworthy and safe. 

Limit Sharing of Personal Information

Many public Wi-Fi networks want to gather as much information on you as possible and will ask for items of personal information when you try to log on. Things like email address, full name and home address are all things you should try to avoid sharing. Networks don’t actually need this information in order to provide you with the Wi-Fi so try entering alternatives like ‘No Thanks’ as your name and [email protected]’ instead of your real email address. 

Hopefully you’ll still gain access to the network, without putting yourself and your personal details at risk. 

Does Your Business Provide a Public Wi-Fi Network?

If you run a business and provide a Wi-Fi network for your guests, then you may be concerned about the online safety of your customers and service users. If this blog has got you thinking about the potential risks your clients could be facing, then get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts here at Geekabit. 

Using our Geekabit managed Guest Portal Software for your business means you can run a Guest Wi-Fi network for your customers with a bit more security all round. 

Contact us today to find out more. 

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