Check whether calls are disrupted by the broadband connection or by Wi-Fi within the flat before replacing the router: Ofcom notes that Wi-Fi cannot outperform the broadband service. A centrally placed Wi-Fi 6 router is worth considering where several devices share a good signal; consider mesh when the call room has a persistent coverage gap, or model-specific traffic controls when competing activity disrupts calls.
If calls deteriorate when others stream or download, check whether the shared broadband connection or the in-flat Wi-Fi is the constraint. Ofcom advises checking what others are doing on the connection; Zoom also publishes bandwidth requirements for group calls.
If the connection works near the router but falters where you take calls, placement and coverage deserve attention. Ofcom notes that walls and household materials can weaken Wi-Fi; a mesh system may be relevant if repositioning the router does not reach the room.
Before buying, confirm how the broadband service connects to the existing equipment, including any full-fibre optical network terminal. Ofcom cautions that third-party routers can be harder to set up and may limit the help a provider can give with a fault.
Consider it when: The flat is compact enough for a central, elevated router to give the call room a dependable signal.
Trade-off: Multi-device Wi-Fi features do not remove coverage obstacles or increase the broadband connection’s capacity.
Consider it when: The call room remains a weak-signal area because of its distance from the main router or the flat’s layout.
Trade-off: Nodes need suitable positions, and wider Wi-Fi coverage will not fix an inadequate incoming broadband connection.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Calls during shared use | Check busy-period broadband upload performance against your conferencing app’s requirements. For competing household traffic, check the exact router model for Wi-Fi 6 multi-device features or configurable traffic controls. | If my call breaks up when flatmates start streaming or downloading, keeping the live call usable is my priority. Around 42% of consumers put call stability during shared use first. |
| Signal in the call room | Check whether central router placement reaches the room. If it does not, assess where mesh nodes could receive and extend a usable signal. | When my connection works beside the router but not at my desk, reaching that room matters more than a higher advertised Wi-Fi speed. For around 33% of consumers, room coverage is the primary concern. |
| Replacement and upkeep | Confirm compatibility with the broadband connection and existing termination equipment. Check the exact model’s setup method and manufacturer update information. | I want to replace the existing router without losing the connection or taking on a setup I cannot maintain. Compatibility and ongoing support come first for around 25% of consumers. |
A faster-rated wireless connection cannot make the flat’s broadband service faster. According to Ofcom, heavy use by others or a broadband fault can still disrupt calls.
Check the connection near the router during a busy period and compare its upload performance with your conferencing app’s requirements before replacing hardware.
Walls, metal, water and nearby electrical equipment can weaken or interfere with Wi-Fi, so the router’s rating alone does not tell you whether it will reach the call room.
Try a central, elevated position clear of obstructions. If the call room still has weak coverage, assess a mesh setup.
Mesh addresses in-home Wi-Fi coverage, not the capacity of the incoming connection. Adding nodes will not resolve a broadband bottleneck.
Choose mesh for a persistent coverage gap; investigate the broadband service if calls also struggle close to the main router.
QoS and bandwidth-management functions vary by model. NETGEAR describes Dynamic QoS for specified routers, while ASUS advises checking each model’s features.
Read the exact model’s specification and setup instructions if prioritising call traffic is important to you.
Relevant when comparing Wi-Fi 6 routers for a flat with many connected devices.
Relevant when coverage across bedrooms is the main difficulty and an app-guided mesh setup appeals.
Relevant when considering a standalone Wi-Fi 6 router with model-specific multi-device or traffic-prioritisation features.
Relevant to buyers prepared to check and configure QoS or bandwidth controls on a particular model.
No. Ofcom notes that Wi-Fi cannot outperform the broadband service. Check for a provider fault and heavy household use first; if calls work near the router but not in one room, focus on placement or coverage.
Zoom lists 2.6 Mbps upload and 1.8 Mbps download for a 720p group HD call, and 3.8 Mbps upload and 3.0 Mbps download for 1080p. These are connection requirements, not router Wi-Fi speed ratings; other activity in the flat also uses the shared connection.
Place the main router centrally and off the floor where practical, away from obstructions and sources of interference. If the call room still needs a mesh node, position that node where it can receive a usable signal rather than at the edge of the weak area.
You may be able to use a third-party router, but first confirm its WAN connection and configuration requirements against your service and existing equipment, including any full-fibre optical network terminal. Ofcom cautions that third-party equipment can be harder to set up and that your provider may not be able to help with every problem.
Check the exact model’s manufacturer support and published update information before buying. Also confirm how you will manage the router after setup; a feature advertised for one model does not establish what support another model will receive.