Here’s why you shouldn’t use your microwave while on video calls when working from home

Millions of UK residents are currently working from home amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But, conducting video meetings can be hard for people whose homes have slow broadband speeds.

Internet regulator, Ofcom, has created a list of tips to help people improve their internet connections.

These tricks might come in handy for boosting your home wifi signal or the quality of your video calls on your mobile devices.

Use your landline for calls

With so many people conducting business calls over their mobiles, the high demand can result in poor sound quality and an unreliable connection. Ofcom recommends using your landline to make calls, where possible.

For homes that might not have a landline phone anymore, people can turn on ‘wifi calling’ in their smartphone’s settings. Many mobile packages allow customers to make calls over the broadband.

You can also make voice calls using a broadband connection, with apps like Facetime, Skype, and Whatsapp.

Move your router away from other devices

Ofcom advises people to keep their internet router away from other devices, especially ones that work wirelessly. Examples include:

- Cordless phones- Baby monitors- Halogen lamps- Dimmer switches- Computer speakers- TVs- Microwaves

All these devices can reduce wifi signals, so do not use them while you are doing something online which requires a lot of signal, like watching videos or making Skype calls.