Slow or Patchy WiFi at Home? How to Fix Dead Spots and Dropouts

Few things are as frustrating as a video call that freezes in the back bedroom, or a TV that buffers every evening just as the show gets good. The good news is that most home WiFi problems come down to a handful of causes, and many can be checked in about 15 minutes.

This guide walks through how to find the real problem, the quick fixes worth trying first, and what to do when your home simply needs better coverage.

First, work out whether it is your WiFi or your internet

Your internet connection, usually the NBN, brings data to your home. Your WiFi carries it around the house. They are different problems with different fixes, so it pays to test before you spend money.

1. Test next to the router. Stand beside it with your phone or laptop and run a speed test, either in your provider's app or on a reputable speed test website.
2. Test in the problem room. Run the same test where the WiFi is poor.
3. Compare the results.

• Slow everywhere, even right next to the router: the problem is more likely your internet connection or plan. Check your provider's app for outages, then call them.
• Fast near the router, slow further away: you have a coverage problem, and the rest of this guide is for you.
• Fine during the day, poor in the evening: this can be busy times on the network, or simply too many devices at home competing at once.

Quick fixes worth trying first

1. Restart the modem and router properly. Switch them off at the wall, wait 30 seconds, then switch them back on. It is not a cure-all, but it clears temporary faults.
2. Move the router. WiFi spreads out like light from a lamp. Put the router somewhere central, up off the floor and out in the open. Avoid cupboards, the back of the TV unit, fish tanks, mirrors and the microwave.
3. Check the router's age. A router more than about five years old may not support newer, faster WiFi standards, and may no longer receive security updates. The basic modems supplied by some providers are often the weak link.
4. Use the right band. Most routers broadcast two kinds of signal. The 2.4GHz band travels further through walls but is slower. The 5GHz band is faster but has a shorter range. Many routers combine both under one network name and choose for you, which is usually fine.
5. Count your devices. Phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, smart speakers, cameras and video doorbells all share the same WiFi. A household can easily have 30 or more.

Why some homes are harder to cover

The router often ends up wherever the NBN equipment was installed, which is frequently at one end of the house. Combine that with solid walls and the signal struggles to reach the far rooms.

In the eastern suburbs we often see older double-brick homes in Kew, Camberwell and Balwyn, long single-level homes with extensions at the back, and two-storey homes with concrete between floors. Each of these blocks WiFi in its own way. Foil insulation, metal-framed windows and thick internal walls all play a part too.

The fix for dead spots: mesh WiFi, not just a range extender

• Range extenders are cheap and easy, but they repeat the signal, which can cut speeds significantly. They often create a second network name, and devices tend to cling to a weak signal instead of switching.
• Mesh systems use two or three units that work together as one network. Your phone or laptop moves between them without you noticing. For most larger homes, this is the better option.
• A cabled connection gives the best result of all. If your home has data points, or a cable can be run between units, connecting mesh units by cable keeps speeds high in every room. Powerline adapters, which send data through the power points, work well in some homes and poorly in others.

A common mistake is putting a mesh unit in the dead spot itself. It works best roughly halfway between the router and the problem area, where it can still hear a strong signal.

Keep your WiFi secure while you are at it

• Change the router's default admin password. Many people never do.
• Use WPA2 or WPA3 security with a strong WiFi password.
• Set up a guest network for visitors and smart devices, so they stay separate from your computers.
• Keep the router's software updated, or turn on automatic updates if it offers them.

Our guide on how to secure your passwords has simple tips for creating a WiFi password you can actually remember.

When to call a technician

It is worth getting help when:

• You have tried the basics and the WiFi is still unreliable.
• You have a large, two-storey or solid-brick home and want mesh or cabling planned properly.
• Someone works from home and relies on video calls.
• You run a business from home or a small office. See our small business IT support.
• An older relative just needs it to work without fuss. Our computer help for seniors service is patient and jargon-free.

Quick answers

Will a faster NBN plan fix slow WiFi?

Only if your connection is the bottleneck. If speeds are good next to the router but poor in other rooms, a faster plan will not help those rooms.

Is mesh WiFi better than a range extender?

For most homes larger than a small unit, yes. Mesh gives you one network that covers the whole house, and devices move between units automatically.

How often should I replace my router?

As a rough guide, every five years or so, or sooner if it no longer receives security updates.

Book a home WiFi check

Our WiFi and home network service starts with a walk through your home to measure the signal in every room. We then fix what can be fixed, recommend equipment only if you need it, and set it up so every device connects properly.

We come to homes across Doncaster, Templestowe, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley and the surrounding eastern suburbs. Call 0400 771 828 or send a message to book.