Introduction
In this article, we’ll be looking at how to create a home network that is efficient and makes the most of the bandwidth which you’re entitled to. We’ll be looking at how by taking into account simple safety guidelines and considerations you can ensure the smooth running of said network; all of which are tips which in a busy household, whether inhabited by a family or group of students, can fall by the wayside. It can mean the difference between happily browsing the internet and a long-winded, wasted call to your internet provider’s tech support trying to fix a small hiccup. This should be seen more a checklist to keep in mind that, though small, can affect your connection.

Turning It On and Off
The first rule for any faulty equipment which usually can be applied to everything from computers to televisions. When you do so, turn everything off, unplug all the wires making sure to keep them near where they go so you can put them back in easily, and wait. Usually, I wait 20 seconds to make sure everything has time to cool down or reset, usually choosing to count in “mississippi’s” though everyone has their own metric. Refrain from resetting via the reset button as the first port of call, as it can be one step too far and require you to re-enter details that might not be at hand.

Frayed and Pulled-On Wires
Wires can be bent and pulled on by curious animals and children so it’s always best to keep them out of sight, like behind furniture. You can buy a nifty gadget which you feed wires through so they aren’t sprawled around, with the facility to release the wire as you need it like the wire for a vacuum which extends as you move. Loose wires, like AV cables, are a hazard and as well as hurting yourself, tripping on them will pull on them in an unnecessarily harsh way so the wiring inside becomes frayed (like when you can only hear out of one earphone). This can also occur when you move your laptop or other device around frequently and it pulls on the wire. Get in the habit of keeping your laptop or device in one place or ensuring the adapter wire is slack and not taut, as well as refraining from dragging things along the floor (pick up and carry them instead). Problems can arise and require you to having to constantly twist your wire where it plugs into your laptop to allow a current through which can be very annoying.

Plug Socket
In some instances, it has been known for furniture which can revolve or recline to push down on a socket or plug if it protruding from a wall and obstruct the current from passing through properly. Don’t assume anything; make sure you can see everything and account for where it plugs into. Like all electrical appliances, make sure you don’t have too many plug extensions in one socket and that wiring is up to standard, with none of the copper of the wire showing (especially around the holiday periods when decorations will add to what is already being plugged into an outlet) . This may require hunting around the room to find alternative outlets, but can be a positive in terms of alternative workspace ideas.

Keeping Devices Cool
Ensure that devices are kept out of the sun to prevent overheating. When a router is plugged in all day long, it can get very hot (especially in summer or in an office with a lot of computers and machines on all the time). Keep devices away from windows which might be open and let rain come in contact with them (additionally, the glass will heat up sunlight as it comes in). Some believe that having a router closer to the window, for instance, will be better for signal strength which is a misnomer. Keeping a laptop or device that is mobile, on a fabric-surface, tends to be a bad ideas as it conducts heat and can also get very hot. Though it can be comfy for sitting in bed and working, one of the worst scenarios is a laptop overheating because it is placed on a duvet, and turning itself off (complications like work being lost or damage to the battery arise).

Because of the isolated area he lives in, Paul has had to ensure that his home network is at it’s optimum rate and most efficient through tips like those featured in the article. This has come as a result of several interactions with technicians from various companies. As someone who has moved around quite regularly in the last few years, he has seen how many different factors, according to the house he is living in and the setup available, affect things like signal strength and performance.