7 Router Placement Myths Busted (and What Really Works)

You is perhaps paying for one of the best web plan your ISP affords, however the reality is that your router’s placement could make all of the distinction in how good or dangerous your Wi-Fi performs. That is why I am busting seven frequent router placement myths that can assist you profit from your Wi-Fi’s velocity and high quality.

Delusion 1: You Can Hold the Router within the Nook to Scale back Litter

Whereas tucking your router away within the nook of your lounge or bed room may make your area look tidier, it may severely have an effect on your Wi-Fi sign. Ideally, you must place the router in a central location so it may emit indicators in all instructions. That is the best way to improve your Wi-Fi router’s speed.

When you have a multi-level house, contemplate upgrading to a mesh community for higher and extra constant protection. In fact, there are a number of features you should check when buying a mesh Wi-Fi system. Nevertheless, it’s value investing in in the event you reside in a big sufficient area. On this case, too, you’ll need to make sure that the first node is centrally situated, with others strategically positioned throughout the home to maximise Wi-Fi efficiency.

Delusion 2: You Can Place the Router on the Flooring for Stability

I’ve walked into homes the place the Wi-Fi router was positioned on the ground for stability and quick access to the facility outlet. Whereas it may appear sensible, inserting the router on the ground can restrict the unfold of the Wi-Fi sign. Remember the fact that Wi-Fi indicators journey downward in addition to outward.

In the event you place the router on the ground, the flooring will take in not less than among the sign. To stop this, you need to place your Wi-Fi router at a slight elevation. When you have a bookshelf or desk close by, place the router on one in all these objects to maximise the unfold of the sign.

Delusion 3: You Can Place the Router Close to a Window for Higher Vary

Inserting the router close to a window the place it may broadcast Wi-Fi indicators with fewer obstructions may appear logical. Nevertheless, glass can scatter or replicate Wi-Fi indicators, which could result in poor connectivity inside the home.

Even when the window is open, you danger exposing your router to direct daylight, which might trigger it to warmth excessively and hinder its efficiency. So, as a substitute of inserting the router by the window, you are higher off holding it in a shaded, non-reflective space.

Delusion 4: You Can Stash the Router Close to Different Electronics to Save House

It is perhaps tempting to position your router on a shelf with different electronics and devices to avoid wasting area and maintain the realm extra organized, however this may critically impression the unfold of Wi-Fi indicators.

Many devices, particularly those who function on the identical 2.4 GHz frequency as your Wi-Fi community, can intrude with and weaken the router’s indicators. In the event you’re on the 5 GHz band, as opposed to the 2.4 GHz band, this will not be as a lot of an issue, however you may nonetheless face interference from the metallic parts on different devices, which could replicate the indicators.

To stop this, place your router not less than 5 toes away from different electronics. If this isn’t sensible in your house, attempt to place the router as distant as doable from different devices in your area.

Delusion 5: You Can Disguise the Router Behind Furnishings or Different Objects

Partitions and pillars can have an effect on the router’s efficiency. Cumbersome objects like a sofa or bookshelf across the router can weaken Wi-Fi indicators that journey outward. If you wish to optimize the Wi-Fi reception in your house, do a fast scan for giant objects across the router that could possibly be blocking the sign.

Attempt to transfer these objects away so far as doable so the Wi-Fi sign has a extra open space to journey freely. In the event you can’t transfer your furnishings round, elevate the router so the indicators can bypass obstacles.

Delusion 6: You Can Place the Router within the Basement or Attic for Higher Protection

By now, you’ve doubtless discovered that one of the best location in your router is someplace central and open. This implies the basement and attic are naturally the final locations you must put your router.

Nevertheless, when you have a house workplace within the basement or attic or simply spend a whole lot of time on these flooring, you should still need robust Wi-Fi connectivity in these areas. On this case, you’re greatest off utilizing a mesh Wi-Fi community or a sign extender to spice up your Wi-Fi protection. This manner, you’ll take pleasure in first rate Wi-Fi protection in several components of the house with out having to position your router in an obscure a part of the basement or attic.

Delusion 7: You Can Place the Router Close to Water Sources

Like home windows, water absorbs and weakens Wi-Fi indicators. So, whether or not you’ve by chance positioned your Wi-Fi router beside a fish tank, close to the kitchen sink, or close to the toilet, you’ll need to transfer it away to make sure extra dependable connectivity.

Being conscious of water sources close to the router additionally ensures you will not have to fret about unintentional water splashes that may injury your router over time.

The right way to Actually Optimize Your Wi-Fi Sign

Now that we’ve debunked among the most typical router placement myths, you must have a greater thought of how to find an optimal location in your home to place the router. However remember that location, whereas extraordinarily vital, is barely a part of the answer.

To spice up your Wi-Fi sign even additional, you must replace the router’s firmware sometimes, use wi-fi repeaters or mesh networks as wanted, examine whether or not your present web plan meets your wants, and exchange your antenna with a high-gain model if doable. These modifications, mixed with the optimum placement of the router, will make sure you take pleasure in dependable Wi-Fi all through your own home.