For one troublesome desk, test the connection first. A wired Ethernet cable may solve the problem more cheaply than buying several routers to cover the whole home.
Treat $100 as a repair budget, not a shopping target
If video calls break up at your desk, the best upgrade may be a cable—or no purchase at all. Broadband brings internet access into the home; Wi-Fi connects devices wirelessly inside it. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, stresses that improving Wi-Fi cannot overcome a slower broadband service.
Our recommendation remains to diagnose one troublesome desk before buying equipment for the whole house. A higher monthly internet bill is an expensive experiment if the real problem is a weak signal through two walls. Equally, a new router cannot fix an outage upstream.
Compare the desk, the router and another device
Try the same laptop at the desk and beside the router, using the same task. Then compare another laptop or phone on the same network. Microsoft recommends the second-device check because a connection that works elsewhere can point to a problem with the original computer. Confirm Wi-Fi is enabled and airplane mode is off before deeper troubleshooting.
If possible, repeat the test using Ethernet connected to a LAN port on your router. The point is a comparison, not a record speed: does the call stop dropping when the wireless link is removed? Note the location, connection type and whether other household devices were busy. Do not declare the problem solved from a single fast download.
Interpret the result before changing settings
Good performance near the router but poor performance at the desk makes coverage a sensible first suspect. Poor performance on multiple devices, including a suitable wired connection, is a reason to ask the internet provider about service problems. Google also notes that large downloads and streaming compete for available bandwidth, so pause nonessential transfers and retest before paying for a faster plan.
If only the Windows laptop struggles, start with Microsoft’s Network and Internet troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Check for system updates and restart after saving your work. Avoid beginning with a full network reset: Microsoft treats that as a last step and warns that it can require reinstalling networking software such as a VPN. For a work-managed computer, involve IT rather than altering required security settings.
Try the free placement fix
Ofcom recommends putting the router centrally and above floor level rather than in a cupboard. Keep it away from metal objects, fish tanks and other barriers where practical. Thick walls can obstruct a seemingly short wireless route. Move it only as far as the existing connection and a safe cable route allow.
Google’s guidance also highlights interference and the importance of distance between mesh units. A mesh node is another Wi-Fi unit that helps extend coverage; it still needs a good connection back toward the main router. Putting one in the very spot where the signal already fails may not produce the improvement you want. Check the system’s placement or mesh test instead of guessing.
Spend first on a reliable connection to a fixed desk
For a stationary workstation, our first purchase would still be a correctly sized Ethernet cable. WIRED’s networking guide identifies a wired connection as a practical way to avoid wireless interference, while acknowledging the inconvenience of routing it. Keep the cable out of walkways and away from places where doors will pinch it; do not turn a connection fix into a trip hazard.
Google recommends Cat 5e or Cat 6 cabling for internet connections above 100 Mbps and checking every relevant port’s speed rating. If the laptop has no Ethernet socket, verify a USB adapter’s connector, operating-system compatibility and network speed before ordering. An adapter cannot make a slower upstream port faster.
An illustrative budget—not a live price claim
Use spending caps of $25 for the cable and safe cable management, $35 for a compatible adapter if one is needed, and $40 left in reserve. These amounts are U.S. dollars before tax, are planning allowances rather than checked retail offers, and exclude professional installation. A long or difficult cable route may not fit them.
Buy only the parts your diagnosis requires. If you already have an adapter or suitable cable, reuse it for the test. If the free placement change works, keep the money. A successful repair means dependable work at the desk, not spending the entire allowance or achieving the largest number on a speed test.
When whole-home equipment deserves a separate plan
If several rooms remain unreliable, consider a compatible mesh system or a wired access point rather than treating this as one desk’s problem. Ofcom cautions that powerline adapters depend on a home’s electrical wiring. WIRED’s independent guide also questions the value of buying a simple repeater without comparing the alternatives. None of those categories is an automatic cure for every floor plan.
Check what your internet provider can supply before replacing its router. Account for the complete system, return terms and any optional subscription—not just one unit’s advertised price. This guide does not recommend a particular model or promise whole-home coverage within $100.
Keep security intact while fixing reliability
The Federal Trade Commission recommends WPA3 Personal or WPA2 Personal encryption, unique Wi-Fi and administrator passwords, current router software and an enabled firewall. The administrator password controls settings; it is not necessarily the password used to join the wireless network. Check whether an ISP-supplied router receives updates automatically.
Do not remove the network password or disable the firewall to make troubleshooting easier. If a router only offers obsolete WEP or original WPA even after checking for updates, the FTC advises considering replacement. That is a security reason to reassess the budget, separate from whether a cable makes today’s meeting more stable.
Sources & research
Research-based troubleshooting guidance, not a hands-on product test. The spending caps are illustrative U.S. dollar allowances before tax, not current retail prices or a guaranteed installation cost. Sources checked October 26, 2026; the guide was expanded with diagnostic, security and whole-home planning advice.