You’ve probably had a moment like this: you’re deep in a match, perfectly positioned for a headshot, when suddenly your character is moving around the map and you’re ready to move your mouse across the monitor. We tend to blame “the internet” for things like this. Here’s the reality: sometimes the real culprit isn’t your plan, but your home setup.
As ISPs begin to offer accelerated nbn speeds, delivering up to five times faster wholesale download speeds on qualifying HFC and FTTP plans, now is the perfect time to ask a basic question: is your Wi-Fi network holding you back? Here are five signs that it might be time to optimize your setup and save your hardware from lag rage.
Your Wi-Fi router is in witness protection
Why are you so ashamed of your router? If your Wi-Fi router is shoved into a cabinet, hidden behind the TV, or collecting dust under your desk, you’ll be sabotaging your own connection. Wi-Fi works best when you have clear visibility, and any obstacle between your device and the router is another wall for the signal to pass through.
The solution is basic: Wi-Fi routers should be located in an open space, in an neat place, preferably in a central place where the signal can spread evenly. Elevating it on a shelf or table at waist height makes a noticeable difference, while placing it near high-interference electronics like microwaves, cordless phones, or even a giant aquarium is a recipe for signal chaos.
This Wi-Fi router is older than your Steam account
Routers are not immortal. If your game has been around longer than, say, you’ve been waiting for Half-Life 3, it may not be able to keep up with your current internet demands. A good rule of thumb: if it’s more than five years ancient, it’s worth considering whether it’s still suitable for your needs.
Older routers typically do not support newer Wi-Fi standards that can support higher speeds. They can suffer under the pressure of multiple devices, provide slower speeds, and offer inconsistent coverage. Modern Wi-Fi routers offer the latest Wi-Fi standards and are better suited to supporting more demanding Internet applications across dozens of devices.
Combined with the faster speeds that nbn made available on its FTTP and HFC networks in September 2025 and a very ancient router, it’s akin to connecting a 4K-capable console to a CRT TV. It still works, but you may not get the full experience.
Your dead zones are actually black holes
We all have that one room where the Wi-Fi mysteriously disappears. Maybe it’s the back bedroom where your streams are constantly buffering, or the upstairs den where your games love to stop mid-match. These dead zones are not only irritating, but they are proof that your range is not limiting it.
Larger or multi-story homes or homes built of hefty brick, concrete, or even some types of glass make it arduous to cover every corner with a single Wi-Fi router. If you’re constantly moving around to find a “good room” to play in, it’s a sign that your hardware may need some facilitate.
This is where Wi-Fi mesh systems come in handy. By creating multiple access points throughout your home, mesh setups facilitate eliminate feeble spots and ensure stable speeds everywhere.
Every device in your home competes for bandwidth
You’re gaming online while someone else is streaming Netflix in 4K, someone else is on a work video call, and your console is silently downloading a 50GB update in the background. Sound familiar? This may be a classic case of too many devices competing for the same bit of bandwidth.
Older Wi-Fi routers in particular can have problems with this kind of load, which is why your ping increases as soon as someone presses play on a video. Upgrading to a state-of-the-art multi-connection router and making sure it’s placed correctly gives every device a fair chance.
You never actually checked your configuration
Look, honestly, most of us don’t think about a Wi-Fi router until something goes pear-shaped. We upgrade our consoles, upgrade GPUs, and strive for higher frame rates, but we rarely question whether our Wi-Fi setup is keeping up.
If you’ve never checked where your Wi-Fi router is, how ancient it is, or whether your home needs a mesh system, you may already be limiting your connection capabilities.
In other words, don’t wait until the next time you stop getting mad about the delay. A few quick checks now can save you endless frustration in the future.
Are you having difficulty maintaining a stable connection while playing online games? Here are a few basic ways to improve your Wi-Fi Today.
Time to level up
nbn’s accelerated speed upgrade isn’t just a technical milestone for eligible venues, it’s a chance for punters to finally put lags and tardy downloads behind them. However, the update doesn’t fix problems caused by needy placement, aging hardware, or spotty coverage in your home.
By recognizing the signs – a hidden Wi-Fi router, an obsolete router model, feeble spots or dead zones in your home, congested connections, or a setup you haven’t even thought about – you can take basic steps to optimize your Wi-Fi and unlock the performance you’ve been missing. No player should waste a round on their own internet connection.
When was the last time you wondered what speeds you could achieve? Check your address to see what’s available to you.
