Getting friends and family round over the Christmas is one of the best parts of the holidays but such a full house can put a strain on your internet connection. There are more pitfalls to watch out for when it comes to Wi-Fi than you might think over the festive period.

To make sure you don’t come across Wi-Fi woe when you’re just about to stream the King’s speech on Christmas Day, you might want to take heed of advice from Hyperoptic, one of the UK’s broadband companies taking the fight to incumbent providers such as BT and Sky.

According to Lutfu Kitapci, Chief Customer Officer at Hyperoptic, it’s all about where you place your router that makes a difference at this time of year.

“With Christmas decorations going up and living rooms being reorganised in the process, many people will move their router which can lead to connectivity issues, as the router won’t perform at its best in certain areas,” he said.

“While it’s easy to overlook, tucking your router behind the Christmas tree or crowding it with baubles and fairy lights could spell disaster for your Wi-Fi connection – just when you need it most.”

Hyperoptic recommends you don’t put your router in the kitchen as metallic appliances such as freezers and microwaves can affect and weaken your signal.

It’s also good to know that Wi-Fi signals can travel downwards, not just forwards and sideways, so don’t place your router on the floor.

“We recommend a shelf, which will achieve a higher coverage and stronger signal, keeping everyone in the house happy,” Hyperoptic says on its website.

Kitapci even shared a handy list of festive Wi-Fi router dos and don’ts with Express.co.uk to help you get the most out of your home broadband this Christmas.

Placement dos:

• Do place your router in a high, central location for the best signal across your home.
• Do keep it away from dense decorations, such as the Christmas tree or ornaments.
• Do consider relocating your router if signal issues arise.

Placement don’ts: