I upgraded my broadband, so why is the Wi-Fi still slow?

The video call works in the living room. You move to the bedroom, close the door and the picture starts freezing. It is a familiar situation that can be puzzling after a broadband upgrade. Understanding it means looking at the entire route, from the provider’s connection to the device you are using.

The Which? guide published in July 2026 explains several factors that can limit performance at home. Package speed is one; router placement and capabilities matter too. That distinction provides a useful starting point for comparisons, before blaming a company or a piece of equipment. [1]

What reaches the router and what reaches your room

Your provider brings the connection into your home. The router shares that connection between devices, by cable or over Wi-Fi. Several functions may be integrated into one box, but they remain different parts of the route.

A service upgrade can increase the capacity available to the router while leaving weak coverage on the other side of a wall. Wi-Fi uses radio: distance, materials and other signals affect how it works. TP-Link includes these factors in its coverage guide revised in April 2026. [3]

The package figure does not describe every device either. Its capabilities and, for wired tests, the port and cable used can introduce other limits. The checks below help narrow down the possibilities; they do not replace a technical diagnosis or guarantee a particular result. [2]

Compare using the same device and record the conditions

Use Speedtest or another speed tester. Connect the device to your home or office Wi-Fi and check that it is not using mobile data. Test beside the router first, then at each point where you need a connection: for example, the living room, bedroom, desk or meeting room. Use the same device and tester, pause downloads and note the place, time, download speed and upload speed. Repeat the route under similar conditions to check whether the same areas keep struggling. [1][2][7]

These tests measure connection performance at that point; they do not directly measure radio signal strength. If results improve nearby and drop in certain areas, coverage deserves attention. If it struggles in both places, several possible causes remain. Repeat at another time and note the time, location and device. Comparing two screenshots taken under very different conditions can create confusion rather than clarify the problem.

If you have a compatible computer and an Ethernet cable, add a wired measurement: connect it to a LAN port on the router and switch off its Wi-Fi. This checks that route without the device’s wireless link. Which? recommends a wired comparison; TP-Link also separates Ethernet and wireless diagnosis in its current Deco guide. The latter includes settings specific to that system, which should not automatically be applied to every router. [1][2]

If you cannot test by cable, comparing near and far is still useful, but leaves more uncertainty about the provider’s part of the connection. If the wired test is slow too, check what the device, cable and port support before concluding that the line is at fault.

Placement is part of how the technology works

A router hidden in a cupboard may suit the room’s appearance while leaving the signal poorly placed. Try an open, raised position, as central as possible to the areas you need to cover. Work within the cables’ length and follow the manufacturer’s installation advice. Then repeat the measurement in the original problem spot. [3]

Metal obstacles, walls and some sources of interference can affect the link. Moving the router changes those conditions; it does not guarantee that every interruption will disappear. Observe normal use as well: a large download or backup can compete with a video call. Compare with those tasks paused and then active, without confusing an idle household with its usual operation. [1][3]

Why 2.4 and 5 GHz can give different results

These are Wi-Fi frequency bands. Under comparable conditions, 2.4 GHz generally offers greater reach; 5 GHz can allow higher speeds near the router, but loses range more readily when obstacles intervene. Interference and both devices’ capabilities affect what you actually get. [6]

You do not need to change advanced settings for the initial comparison. Some routers use a single network name and manage the bands automatically. Available options depend on the model and devices. Avoid treating one band as a universal answer: the one working well beside the router may behave differently in the room furthest away. [6]

If only one device struggles, investigate that case

ASUS distinguishes general connection problems from disconnections affecting certain devices while others work normally. Compare another device in the same location. Check updates for the affected device and its manufacturer’s guidance before changing the entire network. [4]

You can also check whether several services are slow or only one application. This is a diagnostic suggestion: if only one app struggles, it deserves a separate check. It does not prove that the provider, router or application is responsible.

What an extender can offer and when to ask for help

An extender or mesh system can expand coverage. A mesh network uses several coordinated units to cover different areas. For a wireless repeater, the link to the router remains crucial: it needs a suitable incoming signal to retransmit. Placing it where the connection has already disappeared may leave that part unresolved. TP-Link’s coverage guidance and ASUS’s repeater guidance explain this dependency. [3][5]

If poor coverage persists in parts of your home or office after checking placement, the measurements help you decide where to extend the network. An extender may help one problem area, provided it receives a good signal from the router. Mesh distributes coverage through several units. An Ethernet-connected access point brings Wi-Fi to another area using the cable as its link to the network. Some compatible routers can be reused in access point mode, following that model’s instructions. [3][5][8]

An Ethernet hub or switch adds wired connections; it does not itself transmit or extend Wi-Fi. It can be part of the installation connecting an access point, but the access point provides the wireless coverage. Choose according to the layout and whether you can run a cable to the problem area. The measurements inform that choice; they do not automatically mean you need to buy equipment. [8][9]

Extending coverage does not itself increase the capacity of your broadband package. The decision depends on what your tests suggest and the layout of your home. If wired tests repeatedly struggle too, contact your provider with a record of the time, place, device and connection type. If the issue is concentrated further from the router, start with placement and coverage. If it affects just one device, check that device. These are routes for investigation, rather than a verdict based on a single measurement. [1][2][4]

Save the guide and use it to record the next interruption. For more content, visit: https://redes-jdonascimento.pages.dev/en/