Bad broadband is one of the biggest frustrations of modern life. With millions of us working from home, streaming 4K movies, playing games and even keeping properties secure via internet-connected cameras, having decent speeds is now more vital than ever. If you are struggling to get online, there’s a super simple way to see just how good or bad things really are around your home.

Virgin Media has just issued some helpful new Wi-Fi advice, which includes a hidden test that takes a matter of seconds.

“Want to know if your WiFi is really performing at its best?” Virgin said in an online update.

“Checking your WiFi signal strength is a quick and easy way to see how strong your connection is, and whether it is giving you the speed and stability you are paying for.”

Almost all devices, including MacBook, Windows PCs and Android phones, will quickly show how the Wi-Fi is performing with a reading shown in decibels (dBm).

“Your dBm reading gives you a much more accurate picture of your WiFi or mobile signal,” Virgin added.

“You can find it right on your phone or computer. It’s usually tucked away in your settings, or you can use a handy app to dig up the details. It only takes a minute, and it’s the best way to see whether your connection’s as strong as it should be.”

“For WiFi, a solid connection usually sits between -50dBm and -60dBm, perfect for fast speeds and smooth streaming. Once it dips below -70dBm, you might start to notice the tell-tale signs of a weaker connection, like buffering videos, lagging downloads, or patchy coverage.”

So, how do you perform this test on your devices? Virgin has released a simple guide to help the company show just how easy it is to check the performance of your web connection.

Here’s how to do it on all your devices.

On Android: Head to Settings > WiFi, tap your connected network, and you’ll spot your signal strength listed in dBm.

On Windows: Open the Command Prompt, type netsh wlan show interfaces, and hit Enter. You’ll see a signal value pop up – look for a negative number like -60 dBm.

On Mac: Hold down the Option key and click the WiFi icon in your menu bar. You’ll see a drop-down with all the details, including your signal strength (RSSI) in dBm.

On iPhone: Apple doesn’t show you a dBm value in the settings. Instead, download a WiFi analyser app from the App Store to get the full picture.

If you aren’t getting the best signal, then there are some things to try.

Virgin says that getting closer to the router will always help, along with clearing clutter around the hub.

Not placing routers near things such as microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors can also work wonders, as these gadgets emit signals that can clash.

It’s also a good idea to make sure the router is in a central position within the home and it’s not too old. Anything that you installed over five years ago is probably well past its best.