Where to Place Your Wi-Fi Router for the Best Coverage

Many "slow internet" complaints have nothing to do with the plan. The fiber delivers full speed to the router, but walls, furniture and distance eat up the Wi-Fi signal before it reaches your phone.

Go central and go high

Wi-Fi spreads outwards in every direction. A router tucked in a corner near the main door wastes half its signal outside your home. Place it as close to the centre of the house as the fiber point allows, and lift it to at least shoulder height on a shelf or wall mount.

Avoid the usual signal killers

• Concrete and brick walls, especially load-bearing ones
• Metal — almirahs, refrigerators, steel doors and mirrors
• Water — aquariums and water tanks absorb Wi-Fi
• Other electronics — microwaves and cordless phones can interfere with 2.4 GHz

Use both bands wisely

Dual-band routers broadcast 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz band is much faster but travels shorter distances; 2.4 GHz reaches further but is more crowded. Keep smart TVs and laptops near the router on 5 GHz and let far-away smart plugs use 2.4 GHz.

Test, move, test again

Run a speed test in each room on your phone, move the router a metre or two, and test again. Small changes often make a big difference.

When placement is not enough

In large flats, duplexes and independent houses, one router simply cannot cover every room. A mesh Wi-Fi system with a second or third node gives seamless coverage. Wiring a TV or work desk with an Ethernet cable is the most reliable option of all.

The bottom line

Before upgrading your plan, upgrade your router's position. It costs nothing and often fixes the dead zones that frustrate everyone at home.

Learn more about Home Broadband from UbiFi, or talk to our team.