Broadband is something most of us use every day, but that doesn’t mean we always know exactly how it works.
Over the years, plenty of myths have stuck around – from believing more Mbps automatically means better broadband to blaming the weather whenever the WiFi has a wobble.
So, it’s time to separate fact from fiction and bust some of the broadband myths you might still believe.
More Mbps always means better broadband
Not necessarily. More Mbps doesn’t automatically mean better broadband, despite what the impressively large number on the advert might have you believe.
A higher Mbps figure simply means your connection can transfer more data each second, but that extra speed is only useful if you actually need it. If you mainly browse the web, stream TV, scroll social media and jump on the occasional video call, a solid mid-range connection may already do the job perfectly well.
Upgrading from 100Mbps to 1Gbps won’t make Netflix ten times more Netflix-y or cause websites to leap onto your screen before you’ve clicked them. Faster speeds really come into their own in busy households with lots of devices, multiple 4K streams or hefty game downloads, while Wi-Fi coverage, reliability and latency can be just as important.
In short, the biggest number isn’t always the best deal – sometimes it’s just more broadband than you know what to do with.
WiFi and broadband are the same thing
This is probably the most common myth as most people don’t even realise there is a difference.
Broadband is the internet connection coming into your home, while WiFi is the wireless signal your router uses to share that connection around the house.
It’s an important distinction to know because if you find that some rooms in your home aren’t getting a strong connection compared to what you’re paying for, chances are it’s the WiFi signal that isn’t strong enough rather than the broadband connection not supplying the promised speeds.
That is to say, if you’re unhappy with the speeds in some parts of your household, changing providers won’t necessarily fix a router hiding behind three walls and a wardrobe.
Speaking of…
The router should be hidden away
Routers aren’t exactly interior-design masterpieces, so people shove them behind TVs, inside cupboards or under/behind furniture.
It’s a seemingly innocuous thing to do but in actuality it can make WiFi performance worse. It may sound silly but the invisible signals being sent out from the router need a clear(ish) line to perform properly.
They’ll already likely have to traverse through walls, floors and up stairs, don’t make them have to fight the curtains too.
Full fibre means WiFi will be perfect everywhere
Full Fibre is the latest widely available standard for home broadband infrastructure. It can deliver speeds of up to 2.2Gbps although it technically could support more.
What it can’t do is ignore the laws of physics.
As it was explained in the myth before, the WiFi signals from the router can and will get caught up if objects, permanent or otherwise, are in the way.
If you’re new to it, Full Fibre can feel as though it works like magic. But, while impressive, it certainly isn’t.
A speed test tells you exactly how fast your broadband is
A speed test is useful, but it only gives you a snapshot of your connection at that moment. Results can change depending on WiFi strength, the device you’re using, network traffic and even where the test server is located.
So, if one test looks suspiciously slow, don’t panic – your broadband hasn’t necessarily decided to take the afternoon off just yet.
You need gigabit broadband for gaming
Here’s the surprising bit: online gaming itself usually doesn’t need enormous broadband speeds.
Most games use relatively little bandwidth while you’re actually playing, so a stable connection with low latency or “ping” is often far more important than having 1Gbps on tap.
Where gigabit speeds do help is with downloading huge games, updates and patches, especially if several people are using the internet at once. So faster broadband can make gaming more convenient, but it won’t automatically make you a better player.
Sadly, you can’t blame every defeat on your Mbps.
Everyone in the house slows the broadband down equally
Not quite. Grandma checking Facebook isn’t necessarily ruining your Call of Duty match. A 4K stream, giant game download, cloud backup or multiple video calls are much more demanding than someone casually browsing.
While more connected devices at one time will make a difference, it’s more about what each user is doing than the general fact that they’re on.
If you’re not getting the speeds you need, rather than pinning the blame on everyone, look for the main culprit of who’s hogging the WiFi. Chances are it’ll actually be yourself…
Switching broadband provider is a massive hassle
Switching broadband might once have meant awkward phone calls, confusing paperwork and the lingering fear that you’d somehow end up without internet for a fortnight.
These days, though, the process is generally much simpler, with your new provider often handling most of the switch for you.
And if you’re already thinking about moving, you may as well see what else is out there – which is where comparing broadband deals on SwitchGenius can come in rather handy.
Shameless plug? Absolutely. Useful one? Also absolutely.
Bad weather makes your WiFi rubbish
It’s easy to blame the Great British weather when your WiFi starts playing up, but a bit of rain outside generally isn’t going to ruin the wireless signal inside your home.
Severe weather can occasionally affect broadband infrastructure, and some wireless or satellite connections may be more vulnerable, but your home WiFi has bigger enemies; thick walls, poor router placement and interference from other devices, just to name a few.
Loyal customers get the best broadband deals
This one hurts to break, because it’s definitely something consumers want to believe. But the unfortunate truth is the opposite.
Staying with the same provider doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be rewarded with its cheapest price, particularly once introductory offers end.
In truth, it’s the potential new customers that providers offer the best deals to. It’s all about getting the people in and hoping you love the service enough to want to stay.
Genius Tip: When your contract is soon to expire, start looking around at other providers in your area to see the best deal you can get. This is how you can keep the bills down if you’re happy chancing your connection with another provider.
Turning the router off and on again is pointless
It’s the oldest bit of tech advice going, but turning your router off and on again can genuinely help. A restart can clear temporary glitches, refresh the connection and give your router a chance to sort itself out.
It won’t magically fix every broadband problem, but sometimes the cliché works for a reason – annoying as that may be.
The advertised speed is the speed I’ll always get
Advertised broadband speeds are a useful guide, but they’re not a promise that you’ll see that exact number every second of the day.
Your actual speed can vary depending on your connection type, network traffic, WiFi setup and even where you’re using your device.
Sadly, broadband doesn’t always read the brochure before getting to work.
