HOUSEHOLDS have been warned that their Christmas decorations could be inadvertently wreaking havoc on their Wi-Fi connection.

All sorts of everyday objects can interfere with the signal, such as microwaves and even fish tanks.

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But this month could be more problematic due to Christmas decoration-related obstructions, experts have revealed.

Fairy lights

According to Uswitch.com, fairy lights are one top culprit this time of year.

This is because they can emit a weak electromagnetic field which may interfere with radio waves from your Wi-Fi router.

Obviously, the more fairy lights you have, the more of an issue it could be.

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So if you've noticed your speeds have gone down recently you might want to move them.

Tinsel

Tinsel may look nice but it too can have an impact of your broadband hub.

You may have heard that mirrors can bounce Wi-Fi signals about.

Well, the same could happen with that sparkly bit of tinsel, depending on where you put it.

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So don't wrap any around your router that's for sure - it's also a fire hazard too.

Christmas tree

People love to hide their Wi-Fi router but sadly having it tucked away can block it from doing its job.

The same goes for your Christmas tree.

Having it right in front of your hub could disrupt the signal strength.

Ideally, it needs to have some space to breathe.

A good test to determine whether the placement of your router is adequate is by seeing whether you have a line of vision with it.

If you can see it, great - if not, it's probably too hidden away.

"It’s surely not the festive season without streaming your favourite Christmas film, so it’s good to be aware of the impact a piece of tinsel or fairy lights can have on your broadband," said Richard Dowden, broadband expert at Uswitch.com.

"Pretty as they may be, the lights and tinsel could potentially slow down your connection speeds. You should keep them and other electronics such as lamps, speakers, TVs and monitors as far away from the router as possible."

Easy tips to boost your Wi-Fi

HOUSEHOLDS have an increasing number of internet-connected devices these days so it's no wonder people want their Wi-Fi to be at the top of its game.

Find out some useful tips to boost your broadband.

• Turn your old router into an extender
• Why the kitchen is the worst place for your router
• The three weirdest places people have put their Wi-Fi hub
• How to tell if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi
• What flashing symbols really mean on your router
• Secret code to boost your Wi-Fi speed
• Common cable mistakes
• Can bad weather affect Wi-Fi?

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