Households sharing a connection
If a video call coincides with streaming, work or study, check whether the difficulty occurs throughout the home or only over Wi-Fi. Ofcom notes that more devices using Wi-Fi can reduce the speed available to each.
Who needs to assess their connection?
Homes with hard-to-reach rooms
Calls that falter upstairs or behind substantial walls call for a closer look at router placement and coverage. Ofcom identifies distance, obstacles and interference as factors that can affect Wi-Fi.
People working or studying at a fixed desk
If the important computer stays in one place, a direct cable connection is worth testing before replacing wireless equipment. Which? advises using a computer connected directly to the router by Ethernet when testing broadband speed.
What should you check before buying?
For a household using calls, work, study and entertainment at the same time, locate the problem first: compare a wired connection with Wi-Fi in the rooms and at the times that matter.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage across rooms | Note where calls fail and whether placement improves the signal. For mesh, check the pack size and the exact model’s expansion and wired-backhaul options. | When calls break up in distant rooms or across floors, I need coverage where I actually use the connection. About 33% of consumers would put room-to-room coverage first. |
| Broadband-line capacity | Test at busy times, including over Ethernet where possible. If considering a change, check predicted download and upload availability at your address. | If several people are calling, uploading or streaming and the wired connection also struggles, I need to assess the service reaching the home. Roughly 27% of consumers would make line capacity their primary concern. |
| A reliable fixed desk | Check the computer’s Ethernet connection or adapter compatibility, the router’s available LAN ports and a safe cable route. | For a work or study computer that stays at one desk, I would rather test a cable than change Wi-Fi throughout the house. About 20% of consumers would prioritise that fixed-device connection. |
| Compatibility and setup | Identify your service type, supplied hub and any modem or optical network terminal. Confirm whether the proposed device replaces the hub or connects behind it. | If my provider’s hub also handles parts of the service, I need to know how new equipment connects before ordering. Approximately 20% of consumers would put a manageable, compatible setup first. |
Mistakes that can lead to the wrong purchase
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Changing broadband before checking a Wi-Fi dead zone
A faster service will not, by itself, remove an obstruction or poor router placement inside the home. Ofcom distinguishes Wi-Fi conditions from the broadband service that supplies it.
Compare a direct Ethernet test with Wi-Fi in the problem rooms before deciding which part needs attention.
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Treating a coverage figure as a promise for every room
Walls, floors, materials and node positions can change the result in your home; a manufacturer’s coverage figure does not settle where your calls will work.
Map the problem rooms, then check the chosen system’s pack size and expansion options. Consider where additional nodes could go if needed.
Extending coverage may also require another node or a cable run.
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Replacing the provider hub without checking how it connects
Ofcom warns that independently bought routers can be harder to set up and may affect provider troubleshooting. BT’s fibre guidance illustrates why compatibility must be checked for the particular service.
Confirm the service type, supplied equipment and required connection method; find out whether the new system replaces the hub or operates behind it.
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Assuming every mesh link works like a cable
TP-Link explains that Ethernet backhaul connects supported Deco units by cable instead of using a wireless node-to-node link. That does not establish the same wiring options for every mesh model.
If cabling between nodes is practical, check documented Ethernet-backhaul support and the required wiring arrangement for the exact system.
Using wired backhaul may involve routing cables or adding a switch.
Mesh brands to consider
These ranges are relevant to different home layouts and setup preferences; check the features of the particular model and pack rather than treating a brand name as a specification.
TP-Link
The Deco range includes whole-home mesh systems in different Wi-Fi generations and pack sizes, making it relevant when coverage beyond one router is the issue.
- TP-Link documents Ethernet backhaul for compatible Deco setups.
- Ports, pack contents, expansion and coverage claims depend on the exact Deco model.
eero
The eero range may suit a household interested in app-guided mesh setup and expansion within that range.
- Amazon/eero describes app-guided setup and compatible expansion for eero 6+.
- Amazon/eero states that some security and network-management tools require a separate subscription; check which features you would use.
ASUS
ZenWiFi and AiMesh are relevant when expandable mesh and a choice of node connections matter.
- ASUS describes wireless or Ethernet backhaul options and adding AiMesh-compatible nodes for ZenWiFi XT9.
- Check the exact model, client-device compatibility and applicable regional restrictions before relying on advertised Wi-Fi features.
Joybuy products for coverage or a wired desk
These mesh packs are options to assess for persistent multi-room Wi-Fi gaps; the Ethernet adapter addresses a different need: connecting a compatible computer at a fixed desk. Check your broadband setup and the rooms or device involved before choosing between them.
Image unavailableNETGEAR Orbi 370 RBE373 WiFi 7 mesh system, 3-pack
Consider this three-unit mesh pack if coverage is poor in several rooms. Its product name specifies dual-band BE3600 and 2.5Gbps Ethernet; the listing says an existing modem or gateway is required. Confirm how it would connect to your provider’s equipment and plan node positions around the rooms that need coverage.
Image unavailableTP-Link Deco BE22 BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, 3-pack
This three-unit pack is relevant when weak Wi-Fi spans multiple rooms. If you intend to cable the units or connect a fixed device, confirm the exact Ethernet and operating-mode arrangements for your setup. Its product name identifies the BE3600 variant; that designation does not establish call quality in your home.
Image unavailableTP-Link Deco BE25 Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, 3-pack
Consider the BE25 three-pack for coverage problems across several rooms, subject to suitable node placement. Before buying for a wired desk or inter-node cabling, check the exact port and backhaul arrangement alongside compatibility with your supplied broadband equipment.
Image unavailableTP-Link Deco BE65 BE9300 tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, 3-pack
This three-unit mesh pack is relevant to a multi-room coverage problem. Its name identifies a tri-band BE9300 variant, but that designation alone does not establish performance during your household’s calls and streaming. If wired backhaul matters, check this pack’s ports and wiring options, as well as how it connects to your broadband service.
Image unavailableHOCO HB42 4-in-1 USB Gigabit Ethernet adapter, 0.2 m, black
For a computer kept at one desk, this adapter offers an RJ45 LAN connection alongside three USB 3.0 ports. Check its connection and operating-system compatibility with your computer, and allow for an Ethernet cable and an available router LAN port. It will not extend Wi-Fi coverage to other rooms.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell whether Wi-Fi or broadband is causing poor calls?
Compare Wi-Fi in the problem rooms with a computer connected directly to the router by Ethernet, ideally when the household is busy. If the wired connection works well but distant rooms do not, investigate Wi-Fi placement or coverage; if the wired connection also struggles, assess the broadband service. Ofcom distinguishes in-home Wi-Fi conditions from the underlying broadband connection, and Which? recommends Ethernet for a direct speed test.
When should I consider mesh rather than one new router?
Consider mesh when coverage remains poor across several rooms or floors after checking router placement. A standalone replacement is worth assessing when problems centre on the existing router or the main living area. Neither choice increases the speed supplied by an inadequate broadband line.
Will a third-party router or mesh system work with my broadband?
Confirm the connection method for your provider, service type and supplied equipment before ordering. Find out whether the new system replaces the hub or connects behind it, and whether any provider features depend on that hub. Ofcom cautions that independently bought routers can complicate setup and provider support; BT’s fibre guidance likewise makes compatibility specific to the equipment and service.
Should I check my address before changing broadband package?
Yes. Ofcom’s availability checker can show predicted broadband options and upload and download speeds for a location, but actual availability and speeds at a property may differ. Confirm the service and installation details with the provider before making a change.