10 tips to improve your Wi-Fi and Internet

When using your mobile 'phone, tablet or computer, get as close as you can to your b-box, Internet Box or Wi-Fi Booster, because the further away the Wi-Fi is, the less powerful it becomes.

The quality of your Wi-Fi also depends on any obstacles between your device and the b-box, Internet Box or Wi-Fi Booster because the Wi-Fi signal moves in a straight line. Anything which cuts your device off from the b-box, Internet Box or Wi-Fi Booster will weaken the signal, including things such as concrete, metal, brick or simply insulated walls. The Wi-Fi signal can also be weakened by furniture such as mirrors, shelves, wardrobes, etc.

Where should you put the b-box or Internet Box?

  • The best place to position the b-box or Internet Box is at the centre of your house, in an open space (not inside a cupboard) and more than a metre from the ground. This will give you better Wi-Fi coverage.
  • Always try to keep the b-box, Internet Box or Wi-Fi Booster over a metre away from any other electrical appliances in order to avoid any interference.
  • If your b-box or Internet Box is in the basement or garage, the Wi-Fi signal will be very weak, so it is a better idea to install the b-box or Internet Box on the ground floor using an RJ11 cable (if you have a DSL connection) or ethernet cable (if you have a fiber connection) which is long enough to reach from the socket (or fiber modem) in your basement.
  • If it is too complicated to move your b-box/Internet Box somewhere else, you can either ask our technicians for help or order a Wi-Fi BoosterOpens a new window to extend the Wi-Fi coverage throughout the house.
  • order a Wi-Fi Booster testOpens a new window

How should you position the b-box or Internet Box?

Position your b-box or Internet Box so that the LEDs are facing outwards - they must not be facing the wall or the floor. If the b-box or Internet Box is installed in the basement, position it so that the LEDs are facing upwards in order to make it easier for the Wi-Fi signal to reach the floor above.

Wi-Fi is great, but using an Ethernet cable to connect the b-box/Internet Box to your computer, TV Box or console also has its advantages:

  • You’ll get a faster Internet connection.
  • There'll be no problems with interference from other devices.
  • You won’t run any risk of overloading the Wi-Fi.
  • You can reach places which are too far away for Wi-Fi, as long as you’ve got an Ethernet socket there.

You can buy Ethernet cables at any electronics shop, but if you wish to have Ethernet sockets fitted in your house it is a better idea to contact an electrician or have it done when you’re having renovation work carried out in your home. This is not a service offered by Proximus.

Check that your Ethernet cables aren't too old. It is best to use RJ45 Ethernet cables which are at least cat 6a. Use them to connect as many devices as possible, especially the ones which use the most bandwidth, such as the TV Box, console and Wi-Fi Booster.

If you’ve not already done so, use your MyProximus/Proximus+ applicationOpens a new window to switch on Smart Wi-Fi. Smart Wi-Fi makes sure that your device always connects to the best Wi-Fi frequency, which is pretty useful!

There are two Wi-Fi frequencies on a b-box/Internet Box - one at 5 GHz and the other at 2.4 GHz:

  • 2.4 GHz: this is the most commonly-used Wi-Fi frequency. It usually offers the greatest range and better coverage, although at a lower speed. Signals at this frequency find it easier to make their way through walls and thick objects. Most modems and Wi-Fi compatible devices operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency which can, unfortunately, cause interference and make the Wi-Fi less efficient.
  • 5 GHz : Overall the 5 GHz band offers higher speeds, but the trade-off is that they don’t have such a large range and the coverage isn’t as good. The 5 GHz frequency is less sensitive to interference. Please note: not all devices support 5 GHz. This is indicated in the device documentation.
Turn Smart Wi-Fi onOpens a new window so that your device automatically switches to the best frequency.

There are many electrical appliances which can disrupt your Wi-Fi, such as microwave ovens, alarm systems, security cameras, radiators, doorbells, lighting, baby monitors, etc. There is no miracle solution; you simply have to take this into account when you set things up. So keep away from any electrical appliances which disrupt the Wi-Fi and get as close as you can to the b-box, Internet Box or Wi-Fi Booster. You can avoid most of these interference problems by simply turning Smart Wi-Fi onOpens a new window !

If you have a computer, tablet or mobile telephone that is more than five years old, it’s best not to connect it to your Wi-Fi as it may slow the other devices that are connected down, even the newest ones!

If possible, use at least a cat 6a Ethernet cable to connect them, switch them off or turn off their Wi-Fi when they aren’t being used.

The quality of your Wi-Fi signal also depends on how you use it - downloading very large files (e.g. torrents) or using a number of devices at the same time will affect the quality of your Wi-Fi.

Smart Wi-FiOpens a new window is available via the MyProximus/Proximus+ applicationOpens a new window   and can help you to identify any devices which are overloading your Wi-Fi network.

If your Internet connection is very slow, use another device to compare their speeds with our speedtest on the webOpens a new window . If you’re getting a better connection using another device, your device probably has a problem or else its Wi-Fi is not working as well as it should. Restart your device or use another device to browse the Web using Wi-Fi.

If you live in a house or a large flat, the Wi-Fi signal from the b-box/Internet Box may not be powerful enough to cover all of the rooms. In this case you can use a Wi-Fi Booster to extend your network. 

If your connection is very slow or drops constantly:

  1. Switch the b-box/Internet Box off by pressing the start/stop button on the back.
  2. Wait for around ten seconds
  3. Switch the b-box/Internet Box back on again.

Still having Wi-Fi problems? We help you to improve your Wi-FiOpens a new window step by step.

If you’re having connection problems, check out our advice on Internet problemsOpens a new window .

If you’re having recurrent problems either with connecting at all, or with a slow connection, get in touch with our technical serviceOpens a new window .