Nowadays, most households have a wireless broadband connection. But what exactly is wireless broadband? Below, we tell you everything you need to know, as well as show you the best deals, from the UK’s biggest providers.
Let’s take a look…
What is WiFi?
To be honest, the clue is in the name - wireless broadband, or WiFi, is really just broadband without the wires.
You see, whereas standard, ADSL broadband offers internet through cables like your phone line, to get a wireless connection, you just need to plug a WiFi router into your broadband connection to establish a signal.
As we say, it’s pretty straightforward and, if cable broadband in your area isn’t very good, or you want to get online straight away, wireless broadband is worth a look.
Moreover, it’s also great for anyone with a phone, tablet or smartphone as these days, most households have one or more device. To that end, wireless broadband is pretty much everywhere and for everyone.
WiFi deals with unlimited data
Thankfully, most big providers offer WiFi deals with unlimited data, though will likely have to pay extra.
To find a deal that suits you, hit the button below.
WiFi and TV deals
Nowadays, bundling TV and broadband is a great way to save money. Plus, getting them together will save you a lot of stress in the long-run, as you’ll have one bill rather than two to worry about.
To that end, there are four major providers who specialise in both TV and broadband deals - Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and BT.
WiFi and landline deals
Moreover, most providers also offer competitive wireless broadband and phone deals, too. If you like to chat, a package with anytime calls will be the best option for you.
Conversely, if you do most of your talking on the mobile, we suggest opting for a package with evening and weekend calls. Luckily, there are plenty of great deals out there for WiFi and landline. To find one that best suits you, click on the button below.
How can I get a WiFi router?
As we say, a wireless broadband connection isn’t worth a whole lot if you can’t connect to it. Fortunately, most all of the UK’s major broadband providers offer routers:
TalkTalk
TalkTalk provide a super router with one of its broadband deals. Each device has a decent dual-band connectivity and has been built to last. It comes with wireless AC, dual-band WiFi and four ethernet ports.
BT Wireless
With BT broadband, you get to choose between two routers - the BT Home Hub 4 if you get standard ADSL broadband, or the impressive BT Smart Hub 2 if you take out a fibre package.
Indeed, the Smart Hub is an impressive router indeed - and its packaged with some seriously impressive tech. Plus, if you have a broadband Hub 2, you'll also get the option to add BT Complete WiFi, too.
Virgin Media wireless broadband router
Each package from Virgin Media comes with a Hub 3.0. And, we have to say, considering Virgin Media’s superfast speeds, we’re not surprised the Hub 3.0 is an impressive router.
Plus, if you’ve opted for one of the provider’s broadband deals, the router will support landline free VoIP, too. And, Virgin Media also offer great perks like its Intelligent WiFi, too.
Sky wireless broadband router
Sky broadband customers will get the standard Sky Hub, although you can also upgrade to the even more impressive Sky Q hub for an extra fee.
To be honest, if you’re set on wireless broadband, we recommend you upgrade to the Q version. To find out more, hit the button below.
Plusnet wireless router
Plusnet broadband packages come with the a Plusnet Hub One as standard. And, we have to say, it’s an impressive bit of kit - it uses the latest wireless AC standard, dual-band WiFi and boasts four 1GB speed ethernet ports, too.
How do I set up WiFi?
Thankfully, setting up a broadband connection is pretty straightforward. In fact, most providers supply wireless equipment that simply involves plugging in your router and downloading some wireless broadband software. Simple.
So, with all that in mind, let’s summarise what’s good and bad about wireless broadband.
What’s good about WiFi?
- It’s convenient - you can use your laptop, etc.
- It’ll connect to most rooms in your house
- It’s automated. Once you’ve set up WiFi on your devices, it’ll remember the password, and reconnect - saving you the hassle of setting it up all over again.
- You can set it up as soon as you get your router - there is no need for an engineer to visit.
- You don’t need a phone line.
What’s bad about WiFi?
- To be honest, wireless broadband isn’t as reliable as a standard broadband connection, unfortunately.
- A wireless connection isn’t secure as a wired connection.
- Download aren’t as fast as broadband.
- Thick walls, fire doors and tall buildings can affect your signal. It’s worth thinking about this before you opt for wireless broadband.
