Broadband Guide

Wireless Broadband

Monday 2 May, 2012

By Duncan Heaney

By taking your broadband wireless, you can access the internet on multiple computers, tablets, phones, games consoles, and more from anywhere in your home.

Anyone with a home broadband connection can go wireless. Wireless broadband is not a different type of broadband - you just need the right kind of router, which most ISPs provide, to rid your home of a spaghetti junction of wires and ethernet cables.

Wireless broadband providers

There’s no such thing as a “wireless broadband provider” since all home broadband connections can be made wireless by connecting a Wi-Fi router to your modem.

All the major broadband providers offer free wireless routers with their packages. These can either be separate devices, which you connect to the modem with an ethernet cable, or increasingly commonly, an all in one device that contains the modem and the wireless router in a single gadget, such as the Virgin Media Super Hub or BT Home Hub 3.

What are the advantages of wireless broadband?

A wireless broadband connection lets you move around the house with your laptop, games console or desktop PC, all the while staying connected to the internet. These days, lots of devices take advantage of wireless broadband connection. For example, you could also connect smartphones, tablet computers like the iPad, videogames consoles, and even some TVs to your home Wi-Fi network.

It also means that if you want to connect to your office from home on your laptop, and the kids want to check their Facebook accounts on the family PC, you won’t have to fight them for the internet - everyone can connect at the same time.

Are there any disadvantages?

You need to make sure that you have the correct level of security set up to protect your wireless network and ensure that hackers, or just neighbours and passers by can’t use your internet without your permission.

Fortunately, it’s easy to set up a secure connection. Providers will walk you how to set up a password-protected network to keep your data safe when you set up your wireless network. Alternatively, you can check out our guide to wireless security.

How does wireless broadband differ from mobile broadband?

Wireless broadband (Wi-Fi) is not the same as mobile broadband. A mobile broadband connection can be used anywhere that you get a mobile phone signal, while a home wifi connection has about 100m radius in which you can use it before then signal becomes too weak.

While a connection that can be used anywhere might seem like the best option, mobile broadband download allowances are still very low compared to home broadband connections, so if you want to make the most of the internet, a home Wi-Fi connection is the more sensible choice.

Wireless broadband limitations

While Wi-Fi is great, you should be aware of some common factors that can lead to dropped connections or slowed download speeds

If your Wi-Fi compatible device is a long way away from your router, or if there are lots of walls and doors between your router and laptop, the signal could become degraded and your internet will be slower.

The location of your router in relation to the faceplate where your broadband line enters your house can also make a difference. Try to have it as close as possible to where you’ll be using it, to ensure the maximum strength signal.

It is possible to improve the range and quality of a wireless connection if necessary. Check out our guide to boosting your Wi-Fi signal for more information.

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