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PROBLEM OF THE FORTNIGHT Can I switch off my Wi-Fi?
Q I only use the internet for a short time most days and then I turn off my Wi-Fi router. I assume that when the existing copper landline is switched off I will have to keep the replacement fibre router on all the time? I suffer from electrical sensitivities, so keeping it on will be a big problem for me as I avoid prolonged use of Wi-Fi in the house. For historical reasons, currently I have my landline from BT and my broadband from Sky. I assume that I will have to use a single provider for both in the future, but I don’t think that either BT or Sky provides routers where the Wi-Fi can be easily switched on and off? I love your helpful and informative magazine – thank you.
Mrs R Bayne
A Let’s work backwards. We know we’ll find ourselves repeating this often before the planned switch-off of the copper-based phone network in 2025, but there’s no requirement to have a landline. So, yes, while future ‘landlines’ will come via a fibre router, typically from the same provider as your broadband, the service is optional. If you’re happy getting by with a mobile phone, then you can do that. Indeed, we think that for many people this will be the most cost-effective option.
We say all this first because, yes, if you switch off a fibre router at the mains, as you’re currently doing, then any fibre-based landline will go down with it, because in this setup the phone service is reliant on the router.
However, if it’s just the Wi-Fi signals that you consider problematic then you should know that you almost certainly don’t need to switch off the router in order to disable the wireless radios, now or in the future. Most routers have an option to manually disable their Wi-Fi networks. The exact method depends on the specific router, and it can sometimes be a bit of a faff, but if you dig through the settings you should be able to find a software switch to turn off the Wi-Fi radios (plural because there’s usually at least 2.4 and 5GHz networks operating; going forward, the 6GHz band will become more common, too).
On a BT Smart Hub, for example, such as the one pictured below left, begin by logging into your router’s administration page. Open a web browser, then type 192.168.1.254 into the address bar ( 1 in our screenshot above) and press Enter. On the Hub Manager page that appears, click ‘Advanced settings’ 2 followed by Wireless, and then the ‘Change settings’ button. If asked, enter the router’s administration
