Common wi-fi mistake means you lose half your signal, BT warns. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Unsubstantiated claims

Presenting specific or strong claims without providing evidence, data, or clear conditions under which they hold.

Headline and lead: "Common wi-fi mistake means you lose half your signal, BT warns" and the quote: "Move your hub away from the window – your hub broadcasts wi-fi in all directions and half of your signal will go outside, rather than your home." The article repeats the precise figure "half" without any supporting data, explanation of testing conditions, or acknowledgment that the exact proportion of signal lost will vary by home layout, router model, and environment. It is presented as a general rule rather than an approximation or illustrative example.

3 suggestions

Qualify the claim with context and uncertainty, e.g.: "BT says that placing your router by a window can significantly reduce the amount of Wi‑Fi signal available inside your home, in some cases by as much as half."

Add a brief explanation or reference to evidence, e.g.: "BT bases this on internal testing of typical UK homes, where routers placed by windows showed substantially weaker indoor coverage compared with central placement."

Clarify that the exact impact varies: "The exact amount of signal lost will depend on your home’s layout, construction materials, and the router you use."

Misleading / over-precise framing (a form of misleading headline)

Using a headline or framing that implies a universal, precise effect where only a rough or situational effect is likely.

Headline: "Common wi-fi mistake means you lose half your signal, BT warns." The wording suggests that this mistake reliably causes a 50% loss of signal in general, which overstates the precision and universality of the effect. In reality, the impact of router placement near a window is context-dependent. The article body repeats the "half" figure without softening or explaining it, reinforcing the impression of a fixed, universal loss.

3 suggestions

Soften the headline to reflect variability, e.g.: "Common wi‑fi mistake could significantly weaken your signal, BT warns" or "…could mean much of your signal is wasted outside, BT warns."

In the body, rephrase: "half of your signal will go outside" to something like: "a substantial portion of your signal may be broadcast outside rather than into your home, reducing indoor coverage."

Add a clarifying sentence after the quote: "BT’s figure is an illustration rather than a precise measurement; the actual impact will vary between homes."

Oversimplification

Reducing a complex technical issue to a few simple causes or solutions, potentially giving readers an incomplete picture.

Examples: - "Customers can make the change in a matter of seconds but enjoy lasting results. Moving the router to a better spot could improve your broadband performance and enable faster speeds." - "If you've moved your router but are still experiencing speed issues, BT suggests that this might be due to the device you're using, especially if it's an older gadget." These passages imply that router placement and device age are the primary or near‑exclusive reasons for poor Wi‑Fi performance. They do not mention other common factors such as network congestion at the ISP level, line quality, interference from neighboring networks, or limitations of the broadband package itself.

3 suggestions

Explicitly acknowledge other factors: "While router placement and device age can have a big impact, speeds can also be affected by factors such as your broadband package, line quality, and congestion on your provider’s network."

Rephrase to avoid implying a near‑guaranteed fix: "Moving the router to a better spot can often improve your Wi‑Fi coverage and may enable faster speeds in some parts of your home."

Add a short balancing note: "If problems persist after trying these steps, issues with the broadband line or service itself may need to be investigated by your provider."

Selective use of sources / Unbalanced reporting

Relying entirely on a single interested party’s perspective without including independent or contrasting viewpoints.

The article exclusively cites BT’s guidance and explanations: router placement, cable quality, device age, and usage patterns are all framed solely through BT’s statements. There are no quotes or references from independent network engineers, consumer groups, or alternative ISPs, and no mention that BT has a commercial interest in encouraging device upgrades and possibly higher‑tier services.

3 suggestions

Include an independent expert comment, e.g. from a network engineer or consumer tech body, confirming or nuancing BT’s advice: "Independent networking experts broadly agree that central placement improves coverage, but note that the exact impact varies."

Add a brief disclosure of interest: "BT, which sells broadband and Wi‑Fi equipment, offers the following guidance to improve performance."

Mention alternative or complementary solutions (e.g., mesh systems, powerline adapters) and note that other ISPs give similar or differing advice, to show that BT’s view is not the only one.

Appeal to authority

Relying on the authority of a source (here, a major ISP) as the main justification for claims, without providing supporting evidence or reasoning.

Throughout the article, statements are justified primarily by "According to BT" or "BT advises" without further technical explanation or evidence. For example: - "According to BT, the mistake happens when people place their router beside a window." - "BT advises that the router should remain connected to the home's master socket." While BT is a relevant authority, the article does not provide independent corroboration or technical reasoning beyond BT’s status as a large provider.

3 suggestions

Add brief technical explanations alongside BT’s advice, e.g.: "Routers broadcast radio waves in all directions, so placing them centrally can reduce the number of walls the signal must pass through."

Cite independent or standard networking principles (e.g., from Wi‑Fi standards bodies or consumer tech organizations) to support or contextualize BT’s claims.

Clarify that these are guidelines rather than absolute rules: "BT recommends…" followed by "These are general best practices; results can vary depending on your home and equipment."