Google Trends searches for ‘Wi-Fi in garden’ have skyrocketed by 170% within the past week. 

With summer officially beginning this Saturday (21st June), Brits are preparing for warmer spells and, hopefully, more sunshine in the months ahead.

As temperatures rise, more people are choosing to work from their gardens, making the most of the sunshine while staying productive. The surge in search interest suggests this trend is only growing.

In response, Geoff Pestell, CEO at broadband comparison site Fibre Compare, has shared three key tips for working efficiently outdoors, including how to maintain a strong Wi-Fi connection while doing so.

Reliable Wi-Fi in your garden 

Depending on your budget, there are several ways to ensure a reliable Wi-Fi connection in the garden.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are the premium option, offering blanket broadband coverage, including outdoor areas. Compared to standard routers, they provide stronger signal reach, eliminating dead zones around your home.

A mesh setup may include a single router or multiple nodes that extend your Wi-Fi range. These smaller routers (or ‘nodes’) are positioned throughout the house to create a seamless and stable signal, even in harder-to-reach areas like gardens.

Wi-Fi extenders offer a more budget-friendly alternative. These plug into a socket and rebroadcast your existing Wi-Fi signal, essentially creating a secondary network.

Installation tips for both systems:

• Wi-Fi Extender: Plug the extender into a socket about halfway between your router and the garden, ideally in a room facing the outdoor space. Too close or too far from the router, and it won’t provide much extra coverage. The extender may create a new SSID (network name) to connect to, so ensure you’re linked to the correct one.
  
• Mesh System: Place one node in a back room, conservatory or whichever space is closest to your garden wall. Some brands even offer weatherproof nodes, which are ideal for larger gardens or covered outdoor areas. You can also install one in a sheltered spot in the garden, if power is available, but this should be done at your discretion.

Note: Neither system increases your broadband speed. If your base connection is slow, upgrading your broadband service might be necessary.

Screen visibility and device overheating

One common drawback of working outside is screen glare. This usually happens when sunlight reflects off your laptop screen, making it hard to see.

If you want to stay in the sun without sacrificing visibility, try:

• Laptop hoods or sunshades: These block direct sunlight and dramatically improve screen readability.
  
• Adjusting display settings: Increase brightness manually, disable auto-brightness, and switch to dark mode or high-contrast themes.
  
• Anti-glare screen protectors: These reduce reflections and are particularly useful in bright conditions.

Powering your devices outdoors

Not everyone has weatherproof sockets in their garden, although they’re a worthwhile investment, there are affordable workarounds too.

• Weatherproof extension leads: A practical, low-cost addition to your summer setup. Ideal for powering laptops and other devices, especially during garden parties or DIY projects. Look for an IP54 or IP66 rating for proper protection from water and dust (these ratings safeguard both you and your devices from potential damage).
  
• Battery banks: These portable chargers are perfect for phones and tablets. However, make sure your power bank is capable of charging your laptop, check the output wattage and compatibility to avoid performance issues or safety risks.