Part of our ‘Working from home‘ Series
With advice and regulations from the government for us to social-distance as much as possible, many employees are finding themselves having to work from home and adjust to a remote working set-up. However, if you are in this position for the foreseeable future, it doesn’t mean that you need to be compromising your internet connection. Here are a few tips that we’ve compiled for you to make the most out of your connection and boost your productivity.
1. Using your mobile phone’s data
If you suffer from a patchy, slow or non-existent Wi-Fi connection, why not try sharing your mobile network with your PC through a personal hotspot. Tethering your phone is easy to do and can be connected to your PC in 3 ways, depending on your requirements. Firstly, and most commonly, you can share your hotspot just like a Wi-Fi Connection and connect it to your PC just like you would any normal Wi-Fi network. You can also do so through your Bluetooth connection when your devices are close to each other, to maintain a more private connection. Alternatively, if you only need a connection for one device, you can connect your phone to your PC via a USB and use it as a modem for a singular computer.
If you don’t see the option for Personal Hotspot, contact your network provider to make sure that you can use Personal Hotspot with your plan.
Samsung (Android):
- Open your phone’s Settings app.
- Go to Network and Internet > Hotspot and tethering > Wi-Fi hotspot.
- Turn on Wi-Fi hotspot.
- To see or change a hotspot setting, such as the name or password, tap it.
For more details visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00079036/
iPhone:
- Open Settings on the device that you want to connect to,
- Go to Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot or Settings > Personal Hotspot
- Tap Personal Hotspot, then tap the slider to turn it on.
For more details visit: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204023
2. Controlling your spending
If you’re using your mobile network, then you’ll want to be mindful of the amount of data you’re using so that you don’t go over your limit. Depending on your contract the amount of data available to you during the month will differ. You can easily keep track of your data usage either through phone settings or through your mobile network’s website (most networks also offer a dedicated application for viewing your current plan and details). You can also set yourself an alert for when you are close to your data limit to avoid overspending.
3. Try a portable, mobile broadband Wi-Fi device
if you need an extra boost, why not consider a portable Wi-Fi device such as Vodafone’s Gigacube. The GigaCube is a lightweight, portable, wireless router that transforms 4G and 5G networks into a Wi-Fi connection that you can then use wherever you are, on up to 64 devices. With super-fast speeds and flexible contracts at a fixed monthly cost, you can enjoy uninterrupted working easily, rather than having to rely on an unstable local telephone line.
4. Wi-Fi Calling
You may have limited phone signal in your home, and that may mean that you have trouble making calls on your personal phone, and business phone if supplied by your employer. But, if you already have an existing stong Wi-Fi connection at home, then why not make the most of it and boost your mobile connection through your Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi calling is a feature in most modern devices that, quite simply, allows you to make phone calls over a wireless internet network rather than over the 3G or 4G used to make calls – you can also send text messages through the same connection and use your phone even in those areas of patchy signal.
5. Boost your router
Staying connected is crucial, not just for accessing key documents but also for staying n contact with colleagues and customers. But what if your Wi-Fi connection isn’t performing as well as it should?
Whilst it may be tempting to hide your router out of sight, this could actually be affecting the signal you’re getting. Try placing it instead on a high place such as a bookcase or shelf; this way, the signal will not only be able to reach most parts of your home but it can also help to overcome obstacles such as household objects that can block this signal (e.g. thick walls and metal objects usually affect the signal).
Got a pet? Putting your router up high will stop your furry friends from nestling on top of it and stop their bodies from insulating the signal.
6. Turn your TV into a second screen
On an alternate note, why not try a boost in your productivity. Most people will have a second (or even third) monitor at work for them to be able to multitask on, but you may not be fortunate enough to have one at home. However, if you have a TV, then you can easily turn this into your second monitor. If your TV has an HDMI port, then a simple wired connection will automatically connect your PC to the TV and display your screen. There are also options to connect to your TV wirelessly. Own an Apple TV or Google Chromecast? Why not cast your PC screen onto your TV with ease.
