When the family starts watching videos, the voice in online meetings cuts out. It's comfortable in the living room, but when moving to the bedroom, the loading never finishes.

In such situations, the first thought that comes to mind might be, "Should we switch to a faster connection?" However, it is necessary to separately check the communication coming from outside the house and the communication reaching the devices inside the house.

On September 30, 2026, the Australian newspaper The Age published an article titled "Simple ways to help improve your home Wi-Fi," which highlighted this oversight. It suggested that depending on the router's location and the condition of the equipment, usability could be improved without changing the contract plan.

Note that this article is an advertorial by nbn, which is responsible for Australia's communication network. It is not a report concluded by independent research stating "the cause of slow communication lies within the household." Keeping this in mind, let's interpret the suggested measures as steps to investigate the cause.

Even though the number of home appliances has increased, the router remains the same

According to the original article, households using broadband in Australia have an average of 25 connected devices. This includes not only smartphones and computers but also TVs, game consoles, and security cameras. Additionally, nbn's survey indicated that 51% of users had not changed their home network equipment or installation environment in the past two years.

However, the article did not specify the number of survey participants or detailed methods. These figures should not be directly applied to the average Japanese household.

Still, the question "Even though the number of devices using communication has increased, have the devices supporting communication been reviewed?" is relatable. Even if you have replaced your TV, increased work computers, or your child has started online gaming, the router might still be operating in the same place as it was a few years ago.

The number of connected devices does not solely determine comfort, but it is meaningful to check if the home environment matches current usage.

The first measure is not to "hide" the router

Routers tend to be tucked away behind TVs or deep inside storage shelves because of visible wiring. However, the placement chosen for aesthetic reasons can sometimes be disadvantageous for signal transmission.

nbn recommends placing the router centrally in the house, in an open area, and higher than the floor. Ideally, it should be at waist height. It is preferable to have a configuration with few walls or large objects between the router and the device.

Things to check include the position of shelf doors, metal furniture, large appliances, mirrors, and aquariums. Water, metal, and building structures affect how signals travel, and devices like microwaves can also be sources of interference.

The important point here is that the same position is not the correct answer for every household. Even if it's central in the house, if it's on the other side of a thick wall, it might not reach the study room adequately.

First, move the router outside of storage, onto a shelf from the floor, or away from behind the TV, within the limits of the wiring. Then, observe changes in places where you usually have trouble. The original article suggests that even a few meters of movement can make a difference, but it does not guarantee the extent of improvement.

A single speed test in the living room is not enough

Even if you measure the internet speed and feel "it's not as fast as expected," it's hard to choose a countermeasure based on that alone.

The original article suggests measuring near the router and then in rooms where you feel the speed is slow. By comparing places you usually use, like your work desk, bedroom, or children's room, you can see how problems manifest.

If you actually try this, it's easier to organize if you use the same device, the same measurement service, and compare at times as close as possible. By recording before and after changes, you can avoid judging based on just "it feels better."

If it's slow everywhere in the house, connect a computer to the router with a LAN cable and measure again. If the speed approaches what you expect with a wired connection, it can be a clue to investigate the reach of Wi-Fi, interference, and the performance of wireless devices.

On the other hand, if it's slow even with a wired connection, you should convey the measurement results to your provider and consult them. However, this alone does not definitively indicate a line-side issue. You need to check cables, devices, and the router as well.

The purpose of troubleshooting is not to assign responsibility but to determine what to investigate next.

"More than 5 years" is not a replacement order but a signal to check

Even if you replace your smartphone, there are people who don't remember the model or purchase date of their router.

The original article recommends checking with your service provider if your current plan is suitable if you've been using it for more than 5 years. However, it does not mean that it will definitely become slow or reach the end of its life after 5 years.

What you want to check are the supported Wi-Fi standards, the performance required for current use, and the availability of updates from the manufacturer. It's good to check the model number on the label of the device and look up the manufacturer's product page or support information.

Even if you change your line plan to a faster one, your home devices may not be able to fully utilize it. Conversely, if your current devices can handle the necessary communication stably, there's no need to buy the latest products just because they are "old."

When considering a replacement, first specify the places and uses where dissatisfaction arises. "Videos stop in the bedroom" and "everyone is slow when the family uses it simultaneously" require different points to investigate.

Mesh Wi-Fi also has placement issues

When signals have difficulty reaching distant rooms, mesh Wi-Fi becomes a candidate. It uses multiple devices to expand the communication range inside the house.

However, thinking "increasing the number of devices will solve it" can lead to disappointment. Additional devices connected wirelessly also need to be placed where they can communicate well with other devices.

Google's official guide also suggests placing devices midway towards hard-to-reach areas. Simply placing them at the far end of a room where signals barely reach may not relay as expected.

The original article suggests it's worth considering for houses with three or more bedrooms or multi-story homes, but this is not a universal purchase criterion. You should decide while considering the number of rooms, wall materials, and layout.

The confusion seen on social media: "It's still slow even after adding more"

Concerns about home Wi-Fi are also reflected in consultations on social media.

The following is not a direct response to the original article but a summary of related posts publicly available on Reddit. These are personal reports and have not been verified by third parties for measurement conditions or causes.

One post mentioned using an older generation of Google Wifi, where the signal status showed good, but the communication was slow. According to the poster, while wired connections reached about 500Mbps, Wi-Fi was only about 70-80Mbps.

Another post described a problem where the router was in the garage of a new house, and changing the placement of mesh devices did not improve the situation. Although there was LAN wiring connecting the rooms, the specifications and installation conditions of the additional devices prevented optimal use.

These two consultations illustrate the gap between user expectations and the actual communication established within the house. Simply "introducing mesh" or having "good signal indicators" does not guarantee sufficient speed in the desired locations.

Of course, these do not conclude that mesh systems in general are ineffective. The takeaway from individual experiences is the realization that comparative measurements and placement checks are necessary at home as well.

For devices that don't move, there's also the option of cables

The appeal of smartphones and tablets is their portability within the house. On the other hand, TVs, game consoles, and desktop computers rarely move.

The original article recommends considering a wired connection to the router for such devices if stability is a priority. For online gaming, high-definition videos, and large file transfers, there is an advantage in avoiding the impact of the wireless section.

However, not all communications will be faster just because they are wired. Constraints due to the contracted line or the status of the connection destination do not disappear, and the specifications of cables and devices also matter.

nbn recommends CAT6 or higher for new wiring. This is the company's recommendation and not a suggestion to replace all existing cables without checking.

First, try it with one stationary device that you are routinely having trouble with. If it improves, you can choose to leave wired connections only where necessary.

Before changing contracts, check "where it's slow"

The measures in the original article can be tried without changing the line. However, introducing mesh or replacing devices incurs costs. "No need to change plans" and "solving for free" are not the same.

The order of steps is to first check the placement. Then measure the speed in each room and, if possible, compare it with a wired connection. Based on the results, choose whether to update devices, introduce mesh, use wired connections, or consult with the provider.

Some houses may improve by moving the router, while others may need to review the line or devices. The important thing is not to decide what to buy first but to verify the phenomenon causing trouble.

If the video stops tonight, before opening the contract plan screen, take a look at where the router is placed. That small check might be the starting point to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Source URL

1. The Age "Simple ways to help improve your home Wi-Fi" (September 30, 2026). An advertorial provided by nbn. Source of five improvement measures and numbers related to reviewing connection devices and equipment.
   https://www.theage.com.au/technology/simple-ways-to-help-improve-your-home-wi-fi-20260930-p60u27.html

2. nbn "Why your Wi-Fi router matters." Official guidance on placement, speed checks, and reviewing routers.
   https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn/optimisation/what-to-look-for-in-a-wifi-router

3. Google "Where to place your Wifi devices." Reference for the idea of placing mesh devices midway to hard-to-reach areas.
   https://support.google.com/googlehome/answer/7183150?hl=en-CA

4. Reddit・r/wifi "What is the best mesh system for 2 story a 3200 sq ft home?" User consultation on speed differences between wired and Wi-Fi. Summary of publicly available text confirmed through search.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/wifi/comments/1gmymra/

5. Reddit・r/HomeNetworking "How should I solve my slow wifi speeds." Consultation on mesh device placement and utilizing existing LAN wiring in a new house. Summary of publicly available text confirmed through search.
   https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/15t84s4/