People are just realising their Wi-Fi is instantly faster by making two big changes to their booster

WI-FI boosters – or extender pods – can make existing internet signals from your router reach further into the home and eliminate darkspots.

Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media, Gareth Lister, told The Sun there are two booster tricks folks likely haven’t tried yet – including how to get a free one.

GettyEvery network provider has a speed guarantee they have to adhere to – and if they don’t, you can get either a free Wi-Fi booster, free contract cancellation or money back[/caption]

“Similar to a mobile phone or a hub, avoid putting your pod in direct sunlight,” said Lister.

This means avoiding window sills, especially during the warmer months.

Leaving any bit of tech in the sun puts it at risk of overheating, but especially Wi-Fi routers and boosters which are always switched on.

You should also deter any pets – namely cats – who fancy using the booster as a cosy seat.

Overheating can slow down the efficiency of the device, reduce the speed of Wi-Fi and in the worst cases, stop extending your connection altogether.

The second tip is to “get a guarantee” from your network provider.

Whether your with Virgin Media, or another company, there is a Wi-Fi speed guarantee afforded to each customer.

And in some cases, a provider will gift you a free booster if you’re not getting the speeds that are promised in your package.

“Virgin Media’s market-leading WiFi guarantee service, WiFi Max, promises speeds up to 30Mbps in every room,” Lister explained.

“If customers can’t achieve these speeds, they can claim up to three WiFi pods at no extra cost.

“If the problem persists, they can claim £100 credit back.

“The guarantee is included in Gig 1 broadband and all Volt bundles, and existing customers currently on M50 to M500 Fibre packages (without Volt) can add the guarantee for £8 a month.”

Under Vodafone broadband’s guarantee, they’ll also send you up to three Wi-Fi boosters if you’re struggling with signal darkspots.

Similarly, BT internet’s guarantee includes two free Wi-Fi extending disks to tackle weak connection, or £100 back.

While Sky broadband’s guarantee offers customers their money back if their speed falls below the minimum for at least three consecutive days in a month.

An example of a plug-in Wi-Fi extenderAlamy