A Good Home Office Network Makes Everything Easier
Whether you work from home full-time or occasionally, a reliable network connection is the foundation everything else depends on. Video calls that freeze, files that take forever to upload, and dropped connections mid-meeting are almost always network problems — and most are fixable with the right setup.
1. Wired vs Wi-Fi — Which Should You Use?
For a home office, wired ethernet is always preferable to Wi-Fi for your main work computer or laptop. A wired connection is faster, more reliable, lower latency and not affected by interference from neighbouring Wi-Fi networks. If your router is in a different room, a powerline adapter (which sends ethernet over your house's electrical wiring) or a long ethernet cable run is well worth the small investment.
2. Router Placement Matters More Than You Think
If you're relying on Wi-Fi, position your router as centrally as possible in your home, elevated and away from thick walls. Routers supplied by broadband providers are typically basic models positioned wherever the phone line enters the house — often in the hallway or a corner — which is rarely ideal for whole-home coverage.
3. Consider a Mesh Wi-Fi System
If your home office is far from the router, or you have thick walls causing poor signal, a mesh Wi-Fi system (like Eero, Google Nest or TP-Link Deco) adds satellite access points around your home that all work seamlessly together. This gives you reliable signal everywhere, unlike traditional Wi-Fi extenders which can cause their own connection problems.
4. Separate Work and Personal Traffic
If your router supports it, create a separate Wi-Fi network (SSID) for your work devices. This keeps work traffic separate from smart TVs, phones and other home devices competing for bandwidth, and reduces security risks if a personal device is compromised. Many modern routers and all business-grade access points support this natively.
5. Secure Your Network
Change your router's admin password from the default, use WPA3 or WPA2 Wi-Fi encryption, and make sure your router firmware is up to date. If you access your company's systems from home, check whether your employer requires you to use a VPN — and if you're self-employed, using one is worth considering.
6. Video Call Essentials
For reliable video calls, aim for at least 10Mbps upload speed (run a test at fast.com). If calls frequently freeze or drop, try connecting via ethernet rather than Wi-Fi, closing other applications and browser tabs, and reducing the video quality setting in your video call app to reduce the bandwidth required.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What internet speed do I need to work from home?
For one person, 25Mbps download and 5Mbps upload is generally sufficient. If multiple people work from home simultaneously or you transfer large files regularly, 50-100Mbps is more comfortable.
Should I use wired ethernet or Wi-Fi for my home office?
Wired ethernet is always preferable for your main work computer — it's faster, more reliable and not affected by interference. If your router is in another room, a powerline adapter is a practical alternative to running a long cable.
Do I need a VPN to work from home?
If you access your employer's internal systems, they will usually provide a VPN. If you're self-employed, a VPN adds a useful layer of security on shared or public networks but isn't essential on your own home broadband.
Why do my video calls keep freezing?
Video calls freezing are usually caused by insufficient upload speed, a poor Wi-Fi connection, or other devices using bandwidth at the same time. Try connecting via ethernet, closing other applications, and reducing your video call quality setting.
Do I need a separate work network for my home office?
Not essential, but creating a separate Wi-Fi network for work devices keeps work traffic separate from home devices and reduces security risks. Most business-grade routers support multiple SSIDs.