Having a strong and reliable WiFi signal in your home is important for enjoying fast internet speeds and connectivity on all your devices. Here are some tips for improving your home WiFi coverage.
Check Your Router Placement
Where you place your WiFi router in your home can significantly impact your wireless coverage. Ideally, you’ll want to position your router in a central location. This allows the signal to radiate outwards, covering a larger area.
- A central location on the main floor is best. Avoid placing the router in a corner, or hiding it away in a closet. This can block the signal.
- Elevate the router if possible, such as placing it on a shelf or table. Wireless signals spread and attenuate more when coming from a higher vantage point.
- Keep the router away from interference. Appliances like microwaves, baby monitors, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices can all disrupt WiFi signals. Maintain several feet of distance between these and your router.
Upgrade to a Mesh WiFi System
Mesh WiFi systems use multiple access points to create one large seamless network. This dramatically improves coverage, as mesh access points work together to blanket your home with strong signal.
- A mesh system has dedicated backhaul connectivity between nodes. This keeps your network fast, even in weak areas.
- Leading mesh brands like eero, Orbi, Google Nest Wifi provide excellent whole home coverage. I’d recommend mesh WiFi if your single router struggles to reach certain rooms.
Optimize Antenna Orientation
WiFi routers have internal or external antennas that radiate the wireless signal. Their positioning matters.
- External antennas can be manually adjusted. Angle them outward to spread the signal into different directions for wider coverage.
- For internal antennas, optimize the router’s orientation. Stand it vertically to push the signal up and down, or lay it horizontally to spread sideways.
Experiment with antenna orientation to see if it improves your router’s reach. Download a WiFi analyzer app on your phone to visualize the differences.
Change Your Wireless Channel
The more WiFi networks in range using the same channel, the more congestion and interference for everyone.
- Use a WiFi analyzer to view channels in use near you. Pick an unused or less crowded channel for your network. This reduces competition for airtime.
- Both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands have a range of available channels to choose from. Steer devices onto 5GHz for additional channel options.
Aim for the cleanest channels to reduce contention and improve your home’s wireless performance.
Upgrade to a Stronger Router
If your router’s hardware is several years old, it may struggle providing sufficient WiFi range throughout your home.
- Newer 802.11ac and WiFi 6 routers support faster speeds and have improved wireless radios and antennas. Their signals reach farther and maintain strength better over distance.
- Dual or tri-band routers allow you to split 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, reducing congestion and interference. More spacial streams (3×3, 4×4) also boost range.
- Mesh systems with dedicated wireless backhaul are ideal for whole home coverage. Pick a robust mesh product from a reputable brand.
Investing in a newer, higher-end router or mesh system can greatly improve your home’s WiFi connectivity.
Switch to 5GHz Frequency
5GHz WiFi is less crowded and suffers from less interference than older 2.4GHz networks. Using 5GHz for your devices gives you more available wireless channels and faster speeds.
- All modern routers broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Make sure devices connect to the 5GHz network by default for better performance.
- Be aware 5GHz has shorter range than 2.4GHz. But with the right router and placement, it can sufficiently blanket most homes.
- For expanded 5GHz coverage, install WiFi repeaters or upgrade to a mesh system.
Leverage 5GHz connectivity for a faster and more reliable wireless experience throughout your home.
Add Wireless Extenders
WiFi extenders plug into wall outlets to pick up and rebroadcast your router’s wireless signal farther into your home. They’re an easy way to expand your coverage.
- Position extenders in WiFi dead zones, equidistant from your main router. Avoid too much overlap.
- Extenders cut your speed in half. But they provide a strong, consistent signal where you otherwise had none.
- For best performance, match your extender’s specs and brands to your main router. Create a unified network.
Adding an extender or two to targeted weak spots can greatly improve your home’s overall WiFi experience.
With some tweaking of your router placement, settings and equipment, you can enjoy fuller WiFi coverage throughout your home, fewer dead zones, faster speeds and greater wireless reliability. Invest time upfront optimizing for your needs and space.
