How do you get a stronger wi-fi signal?
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION – that adage definitely applies when it comes to coaxing a stronger Wi-Fi from your router. In fact, all of those things that make your home a house (doors, walls, windows) are impediments for Wi-Fi signals. Here are a few router placement tips to keep those signals moving.
Higher is better. If you live in a two-story house, placing the router on the second floor promotes wider reach. The device’s antennas work something like an umbrella : The higher you put them, the more coverage you get below them. Just remember that floors slow signals down. So you may not want to put the router in the attic-especially if you want strong Wi-Fi in the basement.
Seize the middle ground. Doors and walls are trouble, too. That means the closer the router is to the center of your home, the better off you’ll be. If that requires moving wires, your service provider might be able to help. If the router sits in a room with a closed door, open it. That’s one less barrier to slow down the signal.
Shift the receiver. It’s just as important to think about the placement of the devices receiving Wi-Fi signals. For starters, don’t put the Apple TV in a cabinet behind closed doors. It might even help to move the device a few inches back, forward or to the side.
Remember the rabbit ears. You might find as many as eight antennas on some routers. They’re not there just to make the device look impressive. They really can make a difference. Because Wi-Fi signals bounce around the house, you have to fiddle with the positioning one antenna at a time. Think of the old-school, rabbit-ear TV antenna technique. If shifting the first antenna doesn’t improve the Wi-Fi, move on to the second, then the third… And, just because you don’t see antennas on your router doesn’t mean they’re not there. They may well be inside the device. To redirect them, simply rotate the router or change the orientation.
Pop your corn before the movie. If you’ve got an older router, devices you wouldn’t expect can interfere with the Wi-Fi signal in your home. That includes baby monitors, old cordless phones, anything running Bluetooth, even your microwave. So if you plan to stream a movie, finish popping the popcorn before you turn on the Netflix.
