Your broadband. Is it actually working hard enough for you?

We pay for it every month, but we barely think about it until it stops working. And when it does stop working — usually at the worst possible moment — most of us restart the router and hope for the best.

But broadband is the foundation of almost everything digital in your home. How much do you actually know about what you are paying for — and whether you are getting it?

WHAT THE NUMBERS ACTUALLY MEAN

Your broadband package will advertise a speed — typically something like 67Mbps or 100Mbps or 1Gbps. These numbers refer to how quickly data can travel into your home. The higher the number, the faster your connection in theory.

But the speed you actually experience depends on several things: how far you are from the exchange, what kind of connection you have, how many devices are using the internet at once, and where your router is positioned in your home.

A speed of 30Mbps is generally enough for one person to stream video, browse, and video call comfortably. If you have several people using devices simultaneously — or if you stream a lot of high-definition or 4K video — you will benefit from a faster package.

You can test your actual current speed right now for free at fast.com or speedtest.net. Run it on your phone or laptop while connected to your home WiFi. Compare what you get to what you are paying for.

WHERE YOUR ROUTER SITS MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK

A router tucked behind a television, inside a cupboard, or in a hallway far from where you actually use the internet will give you a weaker signal than one positioned centrally and in the open. Walls — especially thick stone or older walls — absorb WiFi signal significantly.

If you find the signal weak in parts of your home, a WiFi extender — a small device that costs between twenty and forty pounds — can repeat and extend the signal to rooms that currently receive it poorly. Many people find this solves what they assumed was a broadband problem entirely.

ARE YOU ON THE BEST DEAL?

Broadband contracts typically run for eighteen to twenty-four months. When they end, most providers move you onto a higher-priced out-of-contract rate automatically — and many customers stay on it for years without realising.

Check when your contract ends. If it has expired or is approaching expiry, use a comparison site — uswitch.com or comparethemarket.com — to see what is available. Loyalty to a provider is rarely rewarded. New customers almost always get better rates.

One more thing worth knowing. If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, every major broadband provider now offers a social tariff — a significantly discounted package that most eligible households are not aware of. Ask your provider directly or search social tariff broadband on the Ofgem website.

If broadband is causing you problems and you would like some practical help working out what to do, email tech@lovepoundbury.org with the subject line Broadband Help. We will do our best to point you in the right direction.

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