Help! How do I achieve acceptable broadband speeds?

[RobClark58]

Please help! I have an NR5103E V2 router which I have placed on the windowsill in our lounge away from any other electrical devices as per Three’s setup recommendations. However I am only receiving either ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ signal at best according to the app. According to the Three 5g coverage checker we are only able to receive 4g indoors in my area. I am seeing wildly varying download speeds anywhere from 8 (!) to 200+ mbps depending on the time of day etc but I guess it’s averaging around 15 mbps most of the time. The signal upstairs is pitiful despite adding a WiFi booster from Amazon, making it impossible to stream Netflix etc. Am I doing something stupid or is Three broadband just inherently useless? Unfortunately I still have over a year left on my contract before I can go back to Virgin or other fibre provider! Thanks in advance for your help/comments.

 

[PeteG]

Hello, Rob. 

That's disappointing to hear. 

Have you tried placing the router at the other side of the house? Placing it away from other electronics and near a window is indeed best for optimising the experience, however it is possible that the mast your Hub is trying to connect to is on the opposite side of your home, and that would mean the signal is having to travel through your home. 

It might be worth trying a window on each side of the house in order to determine which side picks up the strongest signal. The stronger the signal, the more reliable the connection should be, and the speeds should generally be higher too. 

Pete.