We’ve all encountered that agonizing moment of poor Wi-Fi connectivity when the connection drops out unexpectedly. Many a times our signal gets interrupted right when we are in the middle of something important. The signal and the speed we get depend on multiple factors and it is imperative to be mindful of those factors while a new connection is getting installed.
The factors like the capacity of the router you have and the reliability of the service provider matter big time. However, a small hidden hack, that not many pay attention to, can make a big amount of difference and that is the placement of router in the house. The signals you receive can be a lot better if the router is placed in the right spot.
10 Tips to Get Stronger WiFi Signal:
1. Place The Router in A Central Location:
The location of your Wi-Fi router is the key to getting the best connectivity. Wi-Fi signals travel from the router to the entire house in about one-millionth of a second. The Wi-Fi signals are transmitted Omni directionally (in all directions) spontaneously and hence, placing the Wi-Fi router in a central location will ensure proper distribution of the signal.
2. Set it up High:
Wi-Fi signals are radio waves which spread out and down from their source. Placing the router on a high shelf can give you a better signal strength. Also, another way to improve the signal strength is by moving the antenna of the router in a vertical position.
3. Avoid Keeping The Router Nearby Electrical Appliances:
Electronic equipments such as microwave ovens and cordless phones emit wireless signals with the same frequency range as the router, and consequently block the Wi-Fi signal when in use. Keeping the router at least 3 feet away from your electronic appliances would ensure the smooth running of your Wi-Fi connection since it won’t get hampered by the radiation of these electronic devices.
4. Avoid Metallic Objects Near Your Wi-Fi Router:
It is always better to keep your Wi-Fi router on a glass shelf, away from metallic objects which act as a hurdle to Wi-Fi signals. Metal objects reflect and absorb radio waves, hence deteriorate the signal that you receive. So, it is best to keep your router at a place which has less metallic interference.
5. Avoid Reflective Surfaces Whenever Possible:
Some Wi-Fi signals literally bounce off windows, mirrors, ceramics, and stainless steel countertops, reducing both network range & performance. Radio waves also get absorbed by concrete walls & lose significant strength when traveling through them.
6. Do Not Place the Router in Closed Spaces:
Avoid placing the routers in tight spots such as cabinets. The signal can bounce within the closed space, which can hinder the performance of your Wi-Fi Router. Also closed spaces act as a barrier keeping the signals from transmitting freely.
7. Do Not Place The Router Near Water:
Like metals, water also absorbs radio waves. Keeping your Wi-Fi router near a fish tank or any other water body can reduce the signal strength to a great extent. You may notice at times the Wi-Fi signal dwindles with the presence of a lot of people in the same room. This is because humans constitute mostly of water and water is a good absorbent of radio waves which is what your Wi-Fi router emits.
8. Set Up A Wireless Range Extender:
All routers are only capable of broadcasting signals up to a certain distance. Go further, and the signal drops. If your wireless network covers a large area, you need a wireless range extender—also known as a wireless repeater or a Wi-Fi expander—to help boost your signal. This is also a good idea if there are thick walls or other physical structures that may block signals.
9. Set-up Your Router To Reboot on A Schedule:
If you keep rebooting your Wi-Fi every time your connection drops, there’s a solution. Firstly, you can make sure that the problem isn’t recurring because of heat, old firmware (software), or excess downloading. An easy way to solve this issue would be to automatically reboot the router once in a day. It is also a good practice to switch off your router before you go off to sleep at night. This’ll help to make your Wi-Fi faster, more reliable, and more secure than ever.
10. Keep Your Wi-Fi Password Protected:
A password protected Wi-Fi can be quite easily hacked. There are easy ways to know if someone’s been on your Wi-Fi but the best option would be to just lock them out with better security. You can set WPA2 password on your router to protect your Wi-Fi from being used by others, thus resulting in a stronger signal.
Despite taking these precautions, you may sometimes find that you can’t find a spot in your house that is central, near to where you do your web-surfing, away from the kitchen and out of reach of your neighbour’s Wi-Fi.
In this case, you can experiment with a couple of different locations throughout your house and see where you get the optimal Wi-Fi signal for all your needs. However, being mindful of above-mentioned factors can well improve the quality of signals you receive on your Wi-Fi router.
