In private homes as well as in offices and businesses the wireless coverage that depends on a WiFi router can undergo drastic changes in signal quality, strength and range depending on multiple factors.
The configuration of the physical space and possible interference with other electronic devices can alter WiFi signal reception
The configuration of the place itself can be a determining factor: partitions, pillars, wooden or glass surfaces… not to mention the possible interference caused by other devices. But in addition to these factors, there is one factor to take into account that can make a big difference the location of the router itself.
In general, the router is usually placed next to the point where the access provider’s own cable connection reaches the home or office, but this is not always the best place to achieve the best distribution of the wireless signalthe router is usually not too far away from this point due to the length of the cables supplied with the router (the power supply and the network cable).
And that is the first problematic point, especially in homes, since that access point is usually located in the living room, which is usually not located in a central and equidistant point from the rest of the rooms, so there is usually a bedroom, the one furthest away from the living room or the one with more partitions in between, with poor signal reception.
Without going into alternatives such as replacing the modem supplied by the operator, the installation of mesh networks, the purchase of network extenders or the use of PLC type network connections that transfer the signal through the electrical wiring, the following tips for relocating the router itself can achieve in many cases a substantial improvement in the distribution of the WiFi signal.
-Elevate the router: Derived from the location explained above of the fiber optic access point to the home or business premises, usually a short distance from the ground, the router is usually positioned in some low furniture. Since these devices usually send the signal downwards, a first step would be to place the router in an elevated position, so that the signal coverage would be maximized.
-Central position: Although this involves extending the link with the fiber optic connection point to the home or business premises by means of cabling, the ideal would be to place the router in a central position with respect to the rooms to be covered. The diffusion of the WiFi signal is omnidirectional, so placing it at one end of the home or office would mean “wasting” part of the signal while the signal that arrives would lose intensity and would not adequately cover the needs of the farthest rooms.
-Avoid other electronic devices: Electronic devices can cause interference that would affect the operation of the router, so as far as possible it is advisable to place it in a location where it is on its own. It is especially advisable to place it as far away as possible from microwave ovens, as these emit signals in the 2.4 GHz band in which WiFi routers also operate.
-Avoid metal objects and structures: Pillars, master walls and especially large metal objects are obstacles to avoid as they are a source of blocking and distortion of wireless signals.
-Position antennas conveniently: Some WiFI routers have no external antenna at all (therefore, the WiFi signal will be poorer) and others are bristling with them. The antenna is an essential component and due to the aforementioned omnidirectional emission of the WiFi signal in case of having more than one it is advisable to orient them differently, in order to achieve maximum signal distribution. If there are only two antennas, the best configuration is that one of them is located vertically and the other horizontally.
-Mapping the signal: For more complex installations, it may be a good idea to carry out a complete mapping of the WiFi signal reception strength in the different rooms or points from the router. This way you can see where the signal is strong, providing quality coverage, and where it is not. With this valuable information, the location of the router or the orientation of the antennas can be altered.
