How to Fix Your Virgin Media Broadband Wi Fi Signal
Is your Virgin Media Broadband WiFi slow? Are you struggling to connect to the WiFi network of your Virgin Media Broadband internet connection? Let’s see How to Fix Your Virgin Media Broadband Wi Fi Signal.
Having weak WiFi signal is unbearable for most people, but don’t worry because we have got some solutions to fix this annoying issue. Be sure to check out our blog post on Virgin WiFi boosters and powerline adapters for some relatively cheap devices to help improve your internet coverage in your home or office.
You might be surprised to find out that your WiFi signal can actually be improved without having to replace anything. In this article, we will discuss the various things you can do to boost your WiFi signal and improve its performance. If you are a Virgin Media customer, then these tips will come in handy.
If you are in a rush then use our table below to go through some solutions. If your internet is cutting out intermittently then be sure the check out our full article on fixing Virgin Media cutting out issues right here.
You can continue reading below for some quick win advice on your WiFi network below.
Table of Contents
- How can I improve my WiFi signal?
- Location Location Location
- Range Matters
- Device Competition
- External WiFi as a Source of Interference
- What makes my Virgin Media Broadband WiFi signals weak?
-
Basic Troubleshooting Techniques for weak Virgin Media Broadband WiFi signal
- Let your Virgin Media Broadband router breathe
- Clear a path for your Virgin Media Broadband router
- Placement and positioning of your Virgin Media Broadband router
- Software updates for your Virgin Media Broadband router
- Secure your WiFi password for your Virgin Media Broadband connection
- Scan your WiFi channels
- Buy a WiFi booster
- Upgrade to a Mesh WiFi setup
- Conclusion
- FAQ
How can I improve my WiFi signal?
The key factor is signal strength or signal when in relation to your proximity to or distance from your WiFi router.
If you notice that your signal gets worse and weaker as you get further away from it, then you have a signal strength issue. This could be due to a number of factors, so we’ll go through some solutions below.
On the other hand, if your WiFi works when you are in the same room as your modem but signal strength decreases when you move to a different room within your home then this is due to interference and proximity.
There are several key factors that will affect your overall WiFi experience which we will list below.
Location Location Location
If your WiFi signal has to pass through difficult objects like walls, ceilings or floors then you are going to experience signal drop off and weakness.
Other large objects that may cause issues for your WiFi signal include room partitions, furniture, mirrors or any other large surface covers that impede WiFi signal flow.
The best thing to do is to place your WiFi router in an open area that faces the rest of your home. This is generally a central location.
Range Matters
Many people find success with using different types of range extenders. These can come as standard WiFi repeater stations that use a cable to connect to your WiFi router and duplicate the same data transmissions over an Ethernet cable.
These signals are then regenerated over the WiFi repeater to your devices. Other devices include power line adapters, which use the copper wires that run through your home as data cables, and then broadcast a wireless signal from another power adapter in your home.
Mesh WiFi is another method that can help to increase the WiFi signal footprint in your home without running cables to every device.
This WiFi solution uses a combination of WiFi and Ethernet cables to distribute the signal at different distances from your router.
If you are experiencing intermittent problems with your WiFi, it could be due to interference caused by other electronics in your home or nearby, which we will look at below.
Device Competition
All of your devices want to connect to the internet to perform various tasks, and without proper coordination it can turn into a free-for-all. But not all devices that affect your WiFi speed are necessarily WiFi enabled.
Many other wireless technologies can interfere with your WiFi signal if they intrude upon the wireless signal spectrum that your 2.4GHz and 5GHz devices operate on.
If you have something electronic next to your router (or any other device that transmits a wireless signal in the same way) can cause interference.
This is why it’s a good idea for devices such as security cameras and baby monitors, which also operate on these frequencies, to be located away from where your WiFi network needs to work best.
Other devices like wireless doorbells, cameras, cordless phones, or even some Bluetooth devices nearby then you need to move them away from your router and then test for any improvements.
Other items such as baby monitors, microwave ovens and cordless phones may affect your WiFi as they may work on the same frequency as your wireless modem, this can result in a loss of signal, so try where possible not to have them in close proximity to one another.
External WiFi as a Source of Interference
You may not realize it, but there are tons of other WiFi networks around you if you live in close proximity to other households.
To combat this incursion into your WiFi space you will need to change the channel of your router so that it occupies a less saturated band of the spectrum.
After you change the channel then you need to reboot your router and the devices on your network.
The Virgin Media WiFi modem has a built-in channel scan feature, so it will automatically switch to the least crowded wireless network.
This means that if there are lots of other networks in your area on the same channel then you may find your signal will have interference.
Not sure how to do it? Read on and we will cover the steps that you need to follow for your Virgin Media router.
If you are still having issues then take a look at our table of contents and try out our in-depth solutions to see if we can help you sort out your WiFi once and for all!
What makes my Virgin Media Broadband WiFi signals weak?
You may not realize it but there are many things that negatively affect the way your WiFi works on your Virgin Media broadband connection.
Items like solid walls, fish tanks, metallic structures, appliances and even other wireless devices can all affect how strong or weak your WiFi signal is.
Right off the bat you can try to move your router to another location in the room, as often times this is all it takes to boost your signal.
If you have already tried that and you are still having issues then we have put together a few things for you to try out, and things for you to avoid.
If you still have problems after following all this advice then we can recommend some products that you can try as a last resort.
Basic Troubleshooting Techniques for weak Virgin Media Broadband WiFi signal
We want to start off with the basics, so bear with us if it seems like we are going into extremely pedantic territory.
The old saying, “You can’t say you’ve tried everything until you’ve tried everything.” applies here, so hang in there and we’ll help you figure this out.
Let’s Jump in!
Let your Virgin Media Broadband router breathe
We know that your home decor and sense of aesthetics are important, so it is no surprise that so many people try to hide their electronic devices away.
Common places include:
- In a cupboard
- Behind a display cabinet
- Underneath the TV cabinet
- Behind the TV or entertainment system
These are excellent places to hide away a router if you don’t want to see it, but unfortunately there are some issues with this.
Your WiFi radio inside the router does not have the strength, or ‘gain’ to blast its way through obstacles in its way.
This means that you need to help your router with its WiFi transmission as much as you can, and the easiest way to do this is to ensure that it is not kept cooped up in a cabinet, cupboard or closet.
You need to have your Virgin Media Broadband router out in the open, and have it facing into the center of the room and towards the rest of your house, flat or apartment where you expect to be using WiFi devices like smart phones, tablets and laptops or MacBooks.
Clear a path for your Virgin Media Broadband router
A WiFi router generally does not like to compete with other wireless devices. If you have other appliances that transmit wireless signals such as Smart Home hubs, Baby monitors, radio transmitters or anything else then you need to make some space for your router.
High voltage can also cause interference, so if you have mounted the router next to any electrical boxes or high voltage wires then you must move the router as soon as possible.
The general rule of thumb is that you must make sure that there is at least one metre of space between your router and any other electronic device.
This includes you TV, sound bar, blue tooth speakers, gaming consoles, and cordless phones.
Even if your other devices do not explicitly have WiFi enabled transmission channels that operate in the 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz spectrum they can still cause interference.
If you purchase a product from a gray market that has no official broadcasting body that overseas transmission standards then you might have a product that is interfering with your WiFi.
Placement and positioning of your Virgin Media Broadband router
Another important part of your WiFi setup is the orientation of your router. It needs to stand upright, and not on its side.
The placement of the WiFi radio inside the router means that when it lies on its side then the signal will beam into the floor or ceiling.
Placing the router upright does limit your options about where you can place it, but you need to ensure that it is in the optimal operating position if you want to improve your WiFi in your home.
Software updates for your Virgin Media Broadband router
It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally there are instances where a firmware upgrade on your router can help with the WiFi radio and settings.
These settings can help you to fine tune the way that your router sends and receives WiFi signal.
It also helps you to close any loopholes that are open on your router from a security perspective, so be sure to log into your router and look for any pending updates that need to be run on your router.
Secure your WiFi password for your Virgin Media Broadband connection
Remembering complicated WiFi passwords is no one’s idea of a good time. If your current password is a generic or easy to guess password then you might need to think about changing it to be more secure.
It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally you might find that you have unwanted guests on your WiFi network.
This doesn’t necessarily affect your signal strength, but it will definitely affect your internet speeds.
This is especially true if the person or people that have connected to your WiFi are downloading large files or streaming videos in 4K or HD video quality.
Scan your WiFi channels
Not many people know about WiFi channels on their home routers. 2.4Ghz WiFi has 11 separate channels that allows the WiFi signals to avoid potential conflicts and signal interference.
If your neighboring devices are operating on the same channel as you, then you might find that you have strange connectivity issues like random disconnects, lag and many other annoying symptoms.
If you are starting out on your troubleshooting journey and you want to check out your current WiFi channel settings then you can do the follow one of the guides below. Follow the guide that matches your Virgin Media Broadband router.
Super Hub 1, 2 or 2ac
- Locate the IP Address of your WiFi router, usually found on the Hub sticker.
- Enter the IP address into a web browser an log into your Virgin Media router
- Click on the Wireless Network Settings option
- Find the Security Settings option, and location the Channel drop down menu. There are options specific to each WiFi frequency channel. This means that there is a different setting for the 2.4GHz segment and the 5GHz segment respectively.
- Select the channel that you would like to change to. It is generally advised that you select channel 1, 6 or 11 as these are the only channels that do not overlap one another.
- After you have made the changes click on Save.
- You may need to reboot your WiFi devices and the router in order to successfully complete the changes.
Below is the menu that you will find on the Super Hub 1:
Below is the menu that you will find on the Super Hub 2 or 2ac:
Super Hub 3 and 4
- Locate the IP Address of your WiFi router, usually found on the Hub sticker.
- Enter the IP address into a web browser an log into your Virgin Media router.
- Click on Advanced Settings
- Click on Wireless
- Click on Wireless Signal
- Tick the Manual box
- You will now be able to select the drop down menu for your WiFi channel selection.
- There are options specific to each WiFi frequency channel. This means that there is a different setting for the 2.4GHz segment and the 5GHz segment respectively.
- Once you have made the changes, select Apply Changes and then close your browser window.
- You may need to reboot your WiFi devices and the router in order to successfully complete the changes.
Buy a WiFi booster
Sometimes you reach a point where no matter how much you reposition and change your router’s settings, you get no increase in the overall signal strength. In these instances you might need to look at a hardware solution.
A WiFi booster can work in several different ways. You can use a WiFi booster as a repeater, which picks up the WiFi data that is being transmitted on your network and then amplifies the signal and sends it out again. These are relatively cheap to buy, and can help with signal strength.
There are 2 main types of WiFi signal booster types: wired and mesh. Not all mesh styled WiFi boosters are compatible with the Virgin Media router that you may have, so you will need to check compatibility before purchasing.
The second option is to purchase a WiFi booster with an Ethernet connection. This allows you to disable the WiFi on your Virgin Media router, and then use you new WiFi router/booster as the primary WiFi. This can produce excellent results if your Virgin Media router is showing poor performance on the the WiFi end of your home network.
Below are some suggestions that you can try.
- TP-LINK RE220 AC750 Universal Dual Band Range Extender (Recommended)
- NETGEAR Wi-Fi Range Extender EX2700
- TP-LINK N300 Universal Wi-Fi Range Extender
Upgrade to a Mesh WiFi setup
If your budget allows for it then upgrading to a mesh network can be a real boost for your internet. We have written an article detailing what they can do for your Virgin Media connection, and how such a setup can enhance your connectivity throughout your home. Be sure to check out the article here.
Conclusion
As we have seen today, it is quite possible to enhance your home internet experience without breaking the bank. Many of our suggestions just require a little rearranging, and a little bit of patience to get it right.
There are not many consolidated sources of information that relate specifically to Virgin Media WiFi woes, so we hope that our blog post has at least helped you in some way.
If you are having issues with your Virgin Media Broadband Internet and VPN settings, or you suspect that you might be having VPN blocking issues, then be sure to check out our related blogs. Configuring your router is very simple, and it can save you a lot of hassle when you learn how to do it yourself.
Good luck!
FAQ
How do I make my WiFi faster?
The best way to improve your WiFi speed is to upgrade your existing WiFi setup, especially if it is quite old. We recommend that you look at a Virgin WiFi booster, or a Virgin Access Point upgrade as the quickest and easiest way to upgrade your WiFi speeds without upgrading your Virgin Media package.
How can I boost my WiFi signal at home?
Yes, you can. The easiest way to do this is by repositioning your WiFi router so that it is not obstructed by anything like thick walls and flooring. A Virgin WiFi Booster will help to increase your overall WiFi footprint in your home if repositioning doesn’t work.
Do WiFi boosters work?
Yes they certainly do. You will notice an immediate reduction in WiFi black spots and dead zones after installing one.
