All households urged to do 30 second Wi-Fi trick to avoid Christmas ‘congestion’ nightmare

THERE'S sure to be at least one internet-enabled gadget under the Christmas tree this year and the last thing anyone wants is for it to perform at a snail's pace.

Fortunately, Virgin Media O2 has warned people of a constantly overlooked trick that could be a surprising help.

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Our Wi-Fi router has to deal with loads of devices these days, what with smartphones, consoles, smart TVs to name a few.

And then there's other Wi-Fi routers from neighbours that can cause disruption too.

To avoid congestion disaster on Christmas Day there's a very simple hack you might want to try.

And that hack is to literally switch it on and off again.

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Yes, this may sound like an old bit of IT advice but according to Virgin Media it really works.

"Wi-Fi modems remain static on a single channel setting, which can become congested," the firm explains.

"If another gadget nearby is also using one of the same channels (for example, your neighbour’s router), the two devices could be competing for airtime.

"You can solve this by turning your Hub off and on again.

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"When you reboot, the Hub’s channel switching mode instantly kicks in.

"It will automatically pick up the best channel to operate on."

Don't forget disruptive decorations too

Virgin Media O2 recently warned all broadband users of Christmas decorations that can disrupt signals too.

Firstly, don't have your fairy lights too close to your router.

And secondly, don't decorate your router in tinsel - not only is this a potential fire hazard, the sparkly reflection of it can distort the signal.

Little-known objects that can disrupt your Wi-Fi

People don't realise how many objects around the home can impact their Wi-Fi signal and slow things down. Here are some you may have missed.

• Microwaves (when they're running)
• Baby monitors
• Fish tanks
• Mirrors
• Bluetooth devices
• Cordless phones