HomeWire home network lab

About HomeWire

By the HomeWire team Updated 2026 Tested in real UK homes

About HomeWire

HomeWire is an independent UK home-networking publication run by a small editorial team, not a single named figurehead. We write for ordinary households who just want their Wi-Fi to work, not network engineers. Our guidance is built by testing fixes on real consumer routers and kit from the brands UK readers actually use (BT, Sky, Virgin Media, EE, TalkTalk, TP-Link, Netgear), cross-checking against manufacturer documentation, Ofcom and ISP guidance, and recognised networking references, and updating articles when hardware, firmware or rules change (for example the 2024 UK ban on universal default router passwords). We do not invent named experts or fake credentials; where a claim depends on a specific source we cite it, and where something is our own tested opinion we say so. Some gear links may be affiliate links, which never change our recommendations or rankings; pages that contain them say so plainly.

How we research

Every guide is built from primary and recognised sources, planning portals, regulations, manufacturer specs and official data, and we link out rather than hardcode figures that change. We do not invent statistics, named experts or credentials. Where we are unsure we say so, and where a reader points out a mistake we correct it.

Get in touch

Spotted an error, want to suggest a topic, or interested in working with us? Email hello@igen-networks.com.

// more from HomeWire
Why Is My Wi-Fi So Slow? 12 Fixes That Actually Work (UK)
Fix It: Wi-Fi & Network Troubleshooting

Why Is My Wi-Fi So Slow? 12 Fixes That Actually Work (UK)

Why is my Wi-Fi so slow? 12 tested UK fixes, from router placement and 5GHz to channel changes and your Ofcom minimum-speed rights.

Wi-Fi Keeps Dropping or Disconnecting? Step-by-Step Fix
Fix It: Wi-Fi & Network Troubleshooting

Wi-Fi Keeps Dropping or Disconnecting? Step-by-Step Fix

If your wifi keeps dropping, work through these UK fixes in order: restart the router, change the channel, split the bands and check for a line fault.

Ethernet Connected But No Internet? How to Fix It
Fix It: Wi-Fi & Network Troubleshooting

Ethernet Connected But No Internet? How to Fix It

Ethernet connected but no internet? Work through these ordered UK fixes, from a quick router reboot to DHCP, DNS and driver repairs that get you back online.

How to Log Into Your Router at 192.168.1.1 (UK Routers)
Set Up & Get Online

How to Log Into Your Router at 192.168.1.1 (UK Routers)

A step-by-step 192.168.1.1 router login guide for UK routers, plus the correct IP for BT, Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk, EE and Plusnet hubs.

How to Change Your Wi-Fi Channel to Stop Interference
Set Up & Get Online

How to Change Your Wi-Fi Channel to Stop Interference

How to change your Wi-Fi channel to stop interference: best 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels, plus steps for BT, Sky, Virgin and TalkTalk routers.

Mesh Wi-Fi vs Extender vs Powerline: Which Beats Dead Spots?
Gear: Mesh, Extenders & Adapters

Mesh Wi-Fi vs Extender vs Powerline: Which Beats Dead Spots?

Mesh vs extender vs powerline compared for UK homes: which one actually fixes Wi-Fi dead spots, with real speeds, costs and setup tips.

Wi-Fi Channel Finder
Tools

Wi-Fi Channel Finder

Best Wi-Fi channel finder for UK homes: read your phone's Wi-Fi scan and get the least-crowded 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz channel to switch to.

Broadband Speed Calculator: How Much Do You Actually Need?
Tools

Broadband Speed Calculator: How Much Do You Actually Need?

Free broadband speed calculator: tell us your household and we work out how much broadband speed you need, in Mbps, for the UK.

Mesh Node Planner
Tools

Mesh Node Planner

Free UK mesh node planner: answer how many mesh nodes do I need for your home's size, floors and walls, with a printable placement plan.

// stay on the network

Fix one dead zone a week.

Plain-English fixes for British homes: router settings worth changing, mesh kit that actually works, and the speed-test results that matter. One email, no jargon, unsubscribe anytime.

● No spam. Roughly fortnightly. UK-focused.