Even for those of us who grew up without the internet, it’s hard to imagine life sans the WWW anymore. So imagine what it’s like for digital natives when the WiFi is wonky, slow, or simply doesn’t work. Not to be dramatic, but it really feels like life cannot go on.
But honestly, we all just want the internet to work━and work fast━without having to deal with all the boring bits like setting it up, and deciphering jargon such as GigaHertz and Mesh. We asked StarHub’s broadband experts, AKA Hub Troopers, and here are four ways to optimise your internet connection at home.
1. Get the right internet speed for your home
Image credit: The Smart Local
First, and quite importantly, you need the right broadband plan for your home and household size to ensure smooth connectivity. One easy way out of this is to use StarHub’s set-up assistant, which is only 3 questions long. In summary:
| Broadband speed | Who’s it good for? |
| 3Gbps | 2 heavy users, moderate streaming |
| 5Gbps | Smart homes, remote work, 4K streaming |
| 10Gbps | Gamers, cloud storage, large families |
Also, and this is a big also━you have to also consider the size and layout of your home━which brings us to the next question we had for the Hub Troopers: where should you put your router?
2. Put your router in an open area
Image credit: The Smart Local
The number 1 rule for routers, as shared by StarHub’s Hub Troopers: never put your router in a corner. Your WiFi router needs to be able to send out its signal, and backing it into a corner will disrupt the transmissions of its coverage, leaving you with spotty and weak internet.
Simply put, walls obstruct the router’s signals; there’s no such thing as reflecting or bouncing signals off walls.
On that same note, putting your router behind the TV or inside cabinets blocks your WiFi signals from being transmitted throughout the house. Yes, you might still get a connection, but it won’t be at its best.
So, with that in mind, you’re looking to position your WiFi router in an open, central part of the house, far away from walls and large furniture. That’s not all━it also should be an elevated spot on a high shelf or table, since that top third of the house is generally free of obstructions.
One easy way to figure out where to put your router is: put it where, or close to, the room where you would need to use the WiFi most frequently.
How do I avoid dead spots in the house?
Sometimes where you can put the router might not be where you should put the router. You might end up with your router in a far corner of the house, and no internet in the room that’s furthest away.
If that’s you, or you live in a multi-storey house, you might want to consider a mesh WiFi system, which StarHub’s Hub Troopers can help with recommending. Think of mesh WiFi as a hive mind, with the main router being the point of connection to the modem, which provides the internet connection.
Then, you have the various mesh WiFi devices throughout the house, which become secondary distribution points and broadcast that router’s internet connection. Again, you can skip having to worry about how many you’ll need, because a Hub Trooper would be able to assess your home layout and recommend the optimal number of mesh nodes for your needs.
Why do I need a mesh WiFi system?
As mentioned, having a mesh WiFi system is great for multi-storey or bigger houses, so you needn’t have different routers and networks. If you happen to stay in an apartment with lots of thick walls, or your router is stuck in a utility box, you might want to consider having a mesh system as well. It expands your router’s coverage, so you won’t find yourself losing connection even in previously dead spots.
It’s also useful if you have a large household with many smart devices, streaming devices, and heavy internet users. Having a mesh WiFi network reduces the strain on a single router, instead distributing the load over the various mesh nodes in the network.
3. Pick the right router
Image credit: The Smart Local
When you sign up for StarHub’s all-inclusive broadband plans, they will come with a compatible WiFi router. Right now, the best ones on the market are what’s known as WiFi 6 and WiFi 7, which hit the market last year. What’s the lowdown on these, and which should you get?
| Item | WiFi 6 | WiFi 7 |
| Year introduced | 2019 | 2024 |
| Maximum WiFi data rate | 9.6Gbps | 46Gbps |
| Bands | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz | |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | No | Yes |
| Multi-RU Puncturing | No | Yes |
Word of advice from the experts: it’s a good idea to future-proof your home with a WiFi 7 router, since it offers greater speed, capacity, and efficiency. As with internet speed, it’s always better to over-cater than under-cater for your needs.
TL;DR: StarHub includes a WiFI 7 router with its all-inclusive broadband plans, so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your router is fully compatible with the plan you sign up for.
4. Replace your router every 3-5 years
The TP-Link EB810v WiFi 7 router.
Image credit: TP Link
Then comes the next question: how often should I replace my router? According to the experts, you should consider upgrading it every 3-5 years depending on your needs and usage.
Why do you need to replace your router? Simple━to keep up with technological advancements. New routers come with improved performance, speed, and security, and are able to keep up with the latest technology, be it broadband, mobile, or even laptops and streaming devices, on the market.
There’s no point upgrading your plan to a higher speed when your router can’t keep up. This is why routers usually come packaged together with broadband plans so you know for sure that they can keep pace.
Let StarHub take care of your home broadband
Well done, if you’ve made it this far through the article without your eyes glazing over. If you, like me, wished that you didn’t have to understand all of this, you’re in luck, because one of the best things about signing up for StarHub’s broadband services is their end-to-end support. Find out which broadband plan is best for you online with their set-up assistant, or at any StarHub shop, and leave the rest to them.
Whether it’s the 24/7 customer support or the dedicated team of Hub Troopers who will find the best spot to install your router, fix it up for you, advise you on a mesh WiFi setup and how many nodes you’ll need, you can rest assured that StarHub has gotchu.
And when they say “affordable” and “all-inclusive”, they really mean it, ‘cause their UltraSpeed broadband plans come complete with compatible routers too, with prices from $39.91/month for 3Gbps broadband connectivity.
Find the best StarHub broadband plan for your home
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