When you work from home, your broadband becomes part of your job. A connection that is fine for streaming in the evening can struggle with a morning of video calls, large uploads and a VPN to the office, especially when the rest of the household is online too.
The good news is that most home office problems can be fixed with a few sensible changes. This guide covers the connection itself, getting a strong signal to your desk and keeping calls clear.
Start with the right connection
Why upload speed matters for working from home
Most home broadband is sold on its download speed, but working from home uses upload far more than leisure use does. Every video call sends your camera and microphone out. Saving files to cloud storage, sending large attachments and backing up your laptop all use upload.
Older copper based broadband often has a small upload speed. Full fibre, which runs fibre all the way to your home, usually offers much more upload and a steadier connection. Our guide to symmetric and asymmetric broadband explains the difference, and full fibre vs FTTC covers the technology.
Think about the whole household
Your connection is shared by everyone at home. Two people on video calls, a child gaming and someone streaming in the lounge all add up. When choosing a package, think about the busiest time of day, not the average. You can check your address to see which home full fibre packages are available and the estimated speeds for each.
Use a wired connection where you can
The single most effective change for many home workers is plugging the laptop or computer into the router with an Ethernet cable. A wired link avoids interference, walls and competing devices, so it is steadier than WiFi.
- If your desk is near the router, a single cable is the simplest fix.
- If it is further away, a longer flat cable run along the skirting can work well, or an electrician can install network sockets.
- Powerline adapters send the network through your mains wiring. Results vary from home to home depending on the wiring, so they are worth trying but not guaranteed.
- Laptops without an Ethernet port can use a USB or USB C network adapter.
Get the WiFi right in your workspace
Where to put your router
Routers work best in the open, not in a cupboard or behind the television. Try to place yours:
- as centrally as possible in the home, and off the floor;
- away from thick walls, mirrors, fish tanks and large metal objects;
- away from microwaves, baby monitors and cordless phone bases, which can cause interference.
Mesh WiFi for upstairs rooms and larger homes
If your office is upstairs, at the back of the house or behind several walls, one router may not reach well. Mesh WiFi adds extra units that work together as a single network, so your laptop connects to whichever is closest. Our guide to mesh WiFi explains how it works, and you can add mesh units when you order through our WiFi page or checkout.
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
Most routers broadcast on two bands. The 5 GHz band is usually faster but shorter range, while 2.4 GHz reaches further but is slower and more crowded. Many routers pick the best band automatically. If your laptop keeps jumping to a weak signal, a mesh unit closer to your desk usually helps more than changing settings.
Working from a garden office
Garden offices are popular, but WiFi rarely reaches them well because the signal has to pass through external walls and across open space. Common options are:
- A mesh unit near a window or back wall facing the garden, with another inside the office if the signal is strong enough to reach it.
- A cable run to the office using outdoor rated cable, installed properly by a qualified person, with a mesh unit or access point inside.
- A point to point wireless link, which uses a pair of small outdoor units to beam the connection across the garden.
Keep your video calls clear
- Use a wired connection for important calls where you can.
- Close apps that sync or download in the background, such as cloud backups and game updates, during meetings.
- Restart your router occasionally, and keep it updated.
- If calls break up at the same time each day, check what else is happening on the connection at that time.
- Use a headset rather than laptop speakers to reduce echo.
If you are not sure whether your connection or your WiFi is the problem, our guide on how to test your broadband speed properly will help you find out.
VPNs and work devices
Many employers ask staff to use a VPN, which routes your work traffic securely to the office or a cloud service. A VPN can reduce the speed you see, so run speed tests with it off when comparing results. If a work system is slow only when the VPN is on, speak to your IT team, as the bottleneck may be at the other end.
Keep your home network secure
Working from home means work data passes through your home network. A few simple habits help:
- Change the router's default admin password and use a strong WiFi password.
- Install router and device updates when they are offered.
- Use a guest network for visitors and smart home gadgets, keeping them apart from your work laptop.
- Follow your employer's security rules for work devices.
Is it okay to use home broadband for work?
If you work from home for an employer, using your home broadband is normal. If you run your own business from home with several people, heavy uploads or customers relying on you being online, a business connection may be a better fit, with business terms and support. Take a look at our business broadband page to compare.
Have a backup plan
Even the best connection can have an outage. Make sure you can use your mobile phone as a hotspot for urgent calls, and know how to contact your provider if the line goes down.
Ready for a better home office connection?
Check your address to see home full fibre packages and prices, find out how switching works, or contact our team in Sunderland if you would like advice on WiFi for your home office.