Speed and Coverage Guide

At GoFibre, we’re dedicated to delivering ultra-fast, ultra-reliable broadband with exceptional customer service from our friendly local teams.

This handy guide will help you:

• Learn about what can impact your in-home Wi-Fi coverage and speed
• Get tips to boost your speed and improve your Wi-Fi coverage
• Understand what additional GoFibre services are available to enhance your broadband experience

Whether you're streaming, gaming, working from home, or just browsing, we want you to get the most out of your GoFibre broadband.

Speed

Result! You’re connected to GoFibre’s ultra- fast broadband. Our full fibre connection delivers a seamless online experience for your home, meaning you can book your next holiday, stream the latest boxset, and game to your heart’s content with peace of mind.

To make sure you’re getting the most out of your GoFibre broadband, it’s helpful to know there’s a few things that can impact your online experience that you might not be aware of.

Wired vs Wireless: How to get the best speed?

Connecting to your GoFibre broadband wirelessly is the most common and convenient option - perfect for smartphones, tablets, and laptops throughout your home.

However, for the fastest and most stable connection, we recommend using a wired (LAN/Ethernet) connection wherever possible.

Why use a wired connection?

• Faster speeds with no risk of wireless interference
• More stable performance for streaming, gaming, and video calls
• Ideal for devices like TVs, Sky Q boxes and gaming consoles

The images below show the LAN Ethernet ports on your GoFibre router that you can use for a wired connection with your devices.

Wireless Connection (Wi-Fi)

Not all your home devices support an Ethernet port, and for good reason. Could you imagine carrying a smart phone around all day with an Ethernet port - it would be like going back to the days of the brick phones of the early 2000s.

Thankfully as your smart devices have got slimmer and slicker, the Wi-Fi technology in them has improved drastically too.

Connecting through Wi-Fi gives you the freedom and portability to move around your home, meaning you can enjoy your online experience without being strung to a cable.

Connecting a device through Wi-Fi will still provide ultra-fast speeds but they won't be as fast as a wired connection because there's more room for interference or signal loss over Wi-Fi. Not all devices are capable of using our ultra-fast speeds over Wi-Fi.

Some older devices, or devices without the latest technology might struggle to achieve the full package speeds our connection offers over Wi-Fi.

Coverage

Our Wi-Fi routers are nifty pieces of kit. Utilising the latest technology and Wi-Fi 6, they can deliver a whole lot of Wi-Fi range throughout your home. As with all broadband routers, there are things that can interfere with your Wi-Fi connection within your home.

Physical Objects

Did you know that your Wi-Fi signal drops by around 25% for every wall it passes through, and sometimes even more for older, thicker walls? For most modern homes, your GoFibre Wi-Fi connection will comfortably let you watch a tutorial of your tastiest kitchen recipe if your router’s in another room, but you won’t be able to get the same speed you can expect right next to your router. Other physical features such as furniture and ceilings can also limit your Wi-Fi speed and range.

Range

Whilst our routers are capable of delivering connectivity throughout your property, you might not be able to achieve full coverage in every room of your home. You should not expect your router to provide a connection to any outbuildings, such as your garden shed or garage, and it’s unlikely to allow your solar powered lawnmower to connect whilst cutting your grass.

Devices

Your GoFibre connection will allow you to connect lots of devices at once - awesome, right? When you have multiple devices connected to the Wi-Fi and being used, it will reduce the speeds available on others. Certain devices and online activities will use more bandwidth than others. For example, if you’re streaming your favourite show in Ultra-HD it will use around 20Mbps, whereas more data intensive activities such as online gaming can use up to 50Mbps.

Interference

We’ve talked about physical obstructions, but we also need to consider digital interference. Things such as underfloor heating, home security systems, microwaves, foil wall insulation and even fish tanks can interfere with the Wi-Fi signal throughout your home and limit the range and speeds available on your network. Anything that presents a barrier other than the air we breathe can impact your Wi-Fi connection.

How can I boost my speed and improve my Wi-Fi coverage?

• Your router should be elevated and not on the floor
• Your router should be in an open and well-ventilated space (not hidden behind a TV, sofa or in a cupboard)
• The more central and visible your router is positioned, the better your Wi-Fi signal will reach throughout your home
• Your router shouldn't be near other equipment that send out radio waves (e.g. house phone, microwave) as this might impact your Wi-Fi coverage
• Reduce the number of devices connected to your router especially if they’re not actively in use. This ensures the fastest speeds are available for your the devices that you use regularly.
• Regularly update the software on your devices
• Wherever possible, connect devices like Sky Q boxes and TVs directly into your router using an Ethernet cable to enjoy the best possible experience

What’s the difference between a 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi‑Fi network?

Your GoFibre router offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, you might be wondering what the difference is and which one you should use. Don’t worry - they both connect you to the internet, but they suit different needs.

This guide explains it in a simple way and helps you choose the best option for your home.

2.4GHz Wi‑Fi: Better for range and coverage

The 2.4GHz network is an older network that is designed for better in-home WiFi coverage.

Benefits:

• Reaches further around your home
• Works better through walls and floors
• Suitable for older devices and smart home equipment (like doorbells and cameras)

Things to be aware of:

• Slower speeds than a 5GHz network
• More likely to be affected by interference from other household devices (e.g. microwaves, baby monitors, Bluetooth devices)

Best used for:

• Devices far from your GoFibre router
• Larger homes
• Smart devices like doorbells, cameras and thermostats
• General browsing and everyday internet use

5GHz Wi‑Fi: Faster speeds but shorter range

The 5GHz network is newer and built for speed and performance.

Benefits:

• Faster Wi‑Fi speeds
• More reliable for high‑demand activities
• Less interference from other devices

Things to be aware of:

• Shorter range than 2.4GHz
• Signal strength can drop further away from the router

Best used for:

• Streaming TV and films
• Online gaming
• Video calls and working from home
• Devices close to your GoFibre router

In summary: a 2.4GHz network is best for distance and coverage and a 5GHz network is best for speed and performance.

How do I set-up a 2.4GHz or 5GHz network for my GoFibre router?

GoFibre customers can use the GoFibre app (download it for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play) to create a new 2.4GHz or 5GHz network. Please follow the steps below.