We hope you're having a great time with your new Wi-Fi connection. To help you get the most out of your TalkTalk service, we've compiled some handy tips that can help you achieve the optimum setup for your router and network.
WHAT'S YOUR ROUTER?
To get you started, we've split our tips up based on which router you've got at home. Select the button below the image of which router you've got at home so we can point you in the right direction.
Wi-Fi Hub
Great! Here's our top tips for getting the most out of your Wi-Fi Hub.
If you've received a Wi-Fi Hub, have a look at our setup guide to help you switch over from your previous router.
The location of your router is critical as your router needs room to breathe. Keeping your router on a flat, open surface (ideally halfway between the ceiling and floor) and facing out into the room will give you the best results. You also need to keep your router powered on to ensure it receives essential updates to continue performing at its peak.
Placing your router in a confined space like a cupboard or behind furniture will block the signal from getting where it needs to be. Similarly, keeping it away from other large electricals (TVs, microwaves, etc.) may further improve its performance. You may not have much choice over your Wi-Fi Hub's location based on where your fibre connection box is — experiment with a few locations if the length of your Ethernet and power supply cables allow.
It's become the norm to quickly connect to your router via a wireless connection. We don't blame you — it's become really effortless to get your devices hooked up quickly and easily! However, for those really heavy-duty jobs, a wired connection will allow for superior performance.
Connecting devices to your router directly via an Ethernet cable will allow you to get to top speed without worrying about signals getting crossed. Setting up with a wired connection will depend on your home setup — if your router and fibre connection box are far away from your device(s), you will need to buy longer Ethernet cables to facilitate this, and you may need to invest in a Network Switch if you want to connect multiple devices to the same router.
Your broadband speed is shared amongst all connected devices. If everyone in your household is using the internet at the same time, you may get slower speeds. Downloading, streaming, video calling, gaming and other online activities that use a lot of bandwidth may also take a toll on your speed if you're doing them all at the same time.
The larger your house, the less likely it is that you’ll get a strong Wi-Fi signal in every room. If you can, try to have your router in as central a location as possible to give the best chance of getting signal throughout your home. If you're struggling to get your Wi-Fi signal to stretch far enough, it might be worth taking a look at a Wi-Fi Booster. This system uses multiple devices to create a network, ensuring that your wireless signal can stretch as far as necessary to cover the entire footprint of your home. You'll see the most benefit with this upgrade if your house is spread over several (3 or more) floors, or if you need the signal to travel longer distances (for example, into the garden or if your home footprint is wider).
eero
Super! Here's our top tips for getting the most out of your eero. If you need more information, our eero Hub page contains more articles to help you achieve Total Home Wi-Fi.
If you've received an eero, have a look at our setup guide to help you switch over from your previous router. Setup is quick and easy, and you can even keep your current Wi-Fi network name and password to ensure all your existing devices stay connected even after you've switched your router over. If you have multiple eeros, make sure you set them up in the same room initially so that they connect to each other and establish a network immediately.
When multiple devices are fighting to use the same signal simultaneously, you might experience drops in speed. With the eero app, you can pinpoint exactly which devices are on your network at any time (and which are using the most bandwidth). Kids streaming or gaming instead of studying? Putting a temporary block on their profile will help them concentrate, and give you enough speed to finish off the last episode of the latest Netflix series.
The location of your eero is critical as your router needs room to breathe. Keeping your eero on a flat, open surface (ideally halfway between the ceiling and floor) and facing out into the room will give you the best results. You also need to keep your eero powered on, to ensure it receives essential updates to continue performing at its peak.
Placing your eero in a confined space like a cupboard or behind furniture will block the signal from getting where it needs to be. Similarly, keeping it away from other large electricals (TVs, microwaves, etc.) may further improve its performance. You may not have much choice over your eero's location based on where your fibre connection box is — experiment with a few locations if the length of your Ethernet and power supply cables allow.
The fewer obstacles surrounding your eero, the better. We’re talking televisions, microwaves, ovens, cordless phones, other large electronic devices, and even dense objects like a boiler or fish tank. All of these can interfere with your connection to varying degrees.
You might also find that the materials used to build your home like brick, plaster, cement, stone, metal and double-glazed glass can block some of the signals. Some newer homes may even have plasterboard walls that are backed with aluminium foil, which can act as a barrier to Wi-Fi. The best thing to do is experiment with the position of your eero, if possible — moving the eero to an alternative location with less blockages might be more beneficial.
If you're using multiple eeros — for example, with our Fibre 900 plan — or Total Home Wi-Fi, the mesh system they create pushes Wi-Fi into every corner, blanketing your home so you can move around with fewer drop offs. If you want to know more, we've got more information on our Total Home Wi-Fi page.
Keeping your eeros in talking distance will help in spreading a strong Wi-Fi signal evenly throughout your home. Try to keep your routers within 50 feet of each other so they can keep in touch and help improve the spread of signal into weaker areas of your home. Do feel free to spread them over different floors to cover any spots where the signal isn't getting to as easily.
Here's our top tips for getting the most out of your eero. If you need more information, our eero Hub page contains more articles to help you achieve Total Home Wi-Fi.
If you've received an eero, have a look at our setup guide to help you switch over from your previous router. Setup is quick and easy, and you can even keep your current Wi-Fi network name and password to ensure all your existing devices stay connected even after you've switched your router over. If you have multiple eeros, make sure you set them up in the same room initially so that they connect to each other and establish a network immediately.
When multiple devices are fighting to use the same signal simultaneously, you might experience drops in speed. With the eero app, you can pinpoint exactly which devices are on your network at any time (and which are using the most bandwidth). Kids streaming or gaming instead of studying? Putting a temporary block on their profile will help them concentrate, and give you enough speed to finish off the last episode of the latest Netflix series.
The location of your eero is critical as your router needs room to breathe. Keeping your eero on a flat, open surface (ideally halfway between the ceiling and floor) and facing out into the room will give you the best results. You also need to keep your eero powered on, to ensure it receives essential updates to continue performing at its peak.
Placing your eero in a confined space like a cupboard or behind furniture will block the signal from getting where it needs to be. Similarly, keeping it away from other large electricals (TVs, microwaves, etc.) may further improve its performance. You may not have much choice over your eero's location based on where your fibre connection box is — experiment with a few locations if the length of your Ethernet and power supply cables allow.
The fewer obstacles surrounding your eero, the better. We’re talking televisions, microwaves, ovens, cordless phones, other large electronic devices, and even dense objects like a boiler or fish tank. All of these can interfere with your connection to varying degrees.
You might also find that the materials used to build your home like brick, plaster, cement, stone, metal and double-glazed glass can block some of the signals. Some newer homes may even have plasterboard walls that are backed with aluminium foil, which can act as a barrier to Wi-Fi. The best thing to do is experiment with the position of your eero, if possible — moving the eero to an alternative location with less blockages might be more beneficial.
If you're using multiple eeros, the mesh system they create pushes Wi-Fi into every corner, blanketing your home so you can move around with fewer drop offs. If you want to know more, we've got more information on our Total Home Wi-Fi page.
Keeping your eeros in talking distance will help in spreading a strong Wi-Fi signal evenly throughout your home. Try to keep your routers within 50 feet of each other so they can keep in touch and help improve the spread of signal into weaker areas of your home. Do feel free to spread them over different floors to cover any spots where the signal isn't getting to as easily.
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