Router put in shit place by provider and broadband shit?

[lurchersrule]

Does anyone have any experience of this?

I'm with Virgin and switched a year ago - mainly to get faster broadband. There were all sorts of problems with installation - delays and customer service was non-existent. I ended up being without wifi for a week, which was shit but at least it was pre-lockdowns. I ended up asking ex to be in the house with the dc to get it installed as the only slot they had was when I couldn't get off work - it was a nightmare.

They put the router next to the TV. I thought nothing of it and it's been fine as far as I know but not amazing and kids keep complaining that certain rooms are no good, but I can't say I notice anything. However, since ds2 has had a computer in his room he is complaining it is 'laggy'. My room is near and I've never noticed but then only MN in there! His pc has no wifi and he's tethering his phone atm so I don't know if that's it.

But I've tried looking into it and seen several articles saying never put a router next to a TV, which is what the Virgin guy has done and it can't be moved. It's also next to a wall which is also a no-no apparently. I'm pissed off. I get that it wouldn't affect the speed but could affect reliability. On the other hand, ds1 has a bedroom in the attic, so much further away, and he says it's fine. Both dc have moaned about it in the playroom, which s actually near the router.

Oh, I don't know - although it's not AIBU , aibu to be pissed off with Virgin (again) and does anyone have any ideas as to what we can do? Virgin app thing says it's going at 189mb, but, in the last week I have had the poor connection thing come up on TEAMs a few times.

Set up a mesh network and turn the wifi off on your router. This one is good TP-Link Deco S4(3-pack) AC1200 Whole-Home Mesh Wi-Fi System, Qualcomm CPU, 867Mbps at 5GHz+300Mbps at 2.4GHz, MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Works with Amazon Echo/Alexa [Amazon Exclusive] amazon.co.uk/dp/B0851D6MXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_V4GaGbEJ31QEM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1]]

This one is better TP-LINK Deco P9 Whole Home Powerline Mesh Wi-Fi System, Up To 6000 Sq ft coverage, Thick Wall, Works with Amazon Echo/Alexa, Wi-Fi Booster, Parental Controls, Pack of 3 amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XSBGP7G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_T5GaGbH0KWSFF]]

Has transformed our Internet at home. If it still doesn’t reach the attic buy another one and add it to the system.

Can second a mesh system. Has made such a difference with us using so many internet devices at home atm.

Can you buy a longer phone cable so you can move the router into the hallway?
That's what I did with mine. Master socket was in a downstairs room.

Another vote for mesh

@lurchersrule I could have written your post word for word. Virgin have done exactly the same so I'm following to see what the best advice is!

I've got the same problem. I'm in a council flat & the master socket is in the living room, ds room is at the other end of the flat & gets no signal, it's impossible to have the master socket moved as the hall is surrounded by rooms & opens in to the communal stairway, some of the walls in the flat are a foot thick & the signal just won't go through them. I've moved the router as far away from the master socket as I can & as high as I can but no improvement, tried boosters as well. He can't use mobile signal either, we are lucky to get 2 bars inside no matter which mobile company we use.

We run ethernet cables from router to pcs in other rooms. No lag and no depending on WiFi.
Newer laptops tend not to have Ethernet ports but you can get adapters for the cables