Wi-Fi technologies

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ROUTER PLACEMENT: DO’S AND DON’TS

So, you may have gotten your brand new WiFi router, but it isn’t providing you with the levels of speed and signal strength as advertised? It surely is frustrating to have gotten something new and expensive that doesn’t live up to your expectations right? Especially when it comes to the internet speeds, we all have been there feeling extremely frustrated by the sudden drop in connections or slower speeds without any possible issues to the router. 

Well there might just be one simple problem to all of these factors, that is router placement. Yes you heard it right! You just may be facing a simple problem which can be solved by correcting the placement of your WiFi router. 

In this guide, we will help you out on where to place wireless routers to get you that ideal speed you’ve been waiting for! Let’s dive in!

The Do’s of a Router Placement

These are all the major recommended things you should be looking out for while placing your WiFi router in your homes and offices:

Place it at a central location

This simple step can ease all your signal issues. Many times we place routers at locations from where the router cannot cover all of the areas at your place. This can cause disruptions and slower speeds where the router signals are unable to reach. To avoid getting into this problem, you should put it in a centralized area from where it can cover all rooms at your place with minimum signal loss.

Put it on an elevated surface

Again, it might look like a pretty simple step, yet it can have a big impact on your router’s performance. When you place your router at an elevated area, it can help it to throw the WiFi signals further more easily as placing it on the ground on lower areas will cause obstructions for it. Such is the impact of a simple router placement.

Reduce obstructions

This is a major point that causes hindrance in your router’s performance and signal strength. When you place your router at a location where there are multiple large objects or instructions, it won’t allow the WiFi signals to travel further, causing weak signal strengths and eventually slower WiFi speeds. Try placing your router where there is ample open space in its surrounding for optimal performance.

Keep away from other electronics

When you place your WiFi router near electronic items like microwave ovens, cordless phones etc. It can interfere with the router’s signals and affect its performance negatively, especially if the other electronics devices operate at the same frequency as the router. 

Keep it cool

Keeping your router cooled will have a positive impact on its performance. Routers can, like other electronic devices overheat if not kept in well -ventilated areas. This overheating will cause its performance to reduce everytime. Therefore, try keeping it at places where its temperature remains within safe limits.

Use range extenders if needed

If you happen to have a bigger place, then router placement might just not be enough. You will need additional support even after you follow all of the steps mentioned for best results. You can consider using WiFi extenders, mesh systems, or reliable network solutions like Wavenet to expand your router’s existing signal strength. This ensures your WiFi reaches to every area of your home/office without needing to invest in an additional router.

The Don’ts of a Router Placement

Here are all the don’ts about where to place wireless router:

Avoid placing it on corners

If you put your routers at a corner, you are already blocking its signal strength as thick walls won’t let your WiFi signals penetrate through them. Therefore, place your router away from corners or walls so that your router can perform at its full strength without any obstructions.

Avoid putting it near metal objects

We all know metals can interfere with signal strengths. Therefore it is not ideal to place your WiFi router near large metal objects like a metal cabinet, metal shelves, refrigerator etc. If you do so, it will interfere with your router’s signals. Hence it is better to place your router as far away from metal objects as possible as this will help in increasing the signal strength of your router.

Don’t keep it hidden

Many people keep their router’s inside a cabinet or enclosed in a shelf. This can easily cause your router to heat. The enclosed area will weaken your router’s range and you will have more frequent disruptions while using your internet. Therefore, you should always place your router’s at open spaces where there is minimal to no obstructions for best results.

Avoid Interference from other devices

If you have multiple routers at your place, or you live or work in an area where there are other routers in close proximity, it is bound to interfere with your router’s signals and affect your speeds. If it is feasible for you, you may consider placing your router at a location where there is minimal interference from other devices that are operating at the same frequency. This will significantly boost your router’s overall performance.

Avoid placing near water

While this reason might sound weird, water does have the capacity to hinder your router’s signal strength. Avoid placing your WifI routers near water tanks, fish tanks and the likes of it to avoid hindrance in the WiFi signals.

Conclusion

If you were wondering about where to place wireless router, now you know about it all! You can easily make sure all of the above mentioned instructions are being followed as they don’t require that much of an effort or even any money for that matter. With these simple steps, not only will your router’s performance boost, but it will help increase the lifespan of your router in the longer run. 

Who knew router placement could have such a huge impact on its speed and signal strength! Now you can enjoy your internet connection to its full potential. Next time your friends or family members complain of a similar problem, you know the magic trick!. Happy surfing!

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