Where To Place Your Router For Faster WiFi [Best Guide]

Fast internet depends upon a lot of factors, among which, better placing of your router is one. Just because you are paying for the fastest connection doesn’t mean you will get better speed. Ideal conditions are needed for the internet to work fast.

We will provide you some tricks which can boost up your internet speed. Finding a proper location for placing your router is the most important task in this respect.

Choose the Proper Equipment

Find a proper router. Every router is unique and speed of the internet depends on the type of router you choose. For small homes and offices, a single wireless access point will serve the purpose. 

For bigger homes and offices, a mesh network is generally recommended for constant coverage of the entire area. If you are not aware of the router technologies and what you should choose, it is important to do research or ask someone who has knowledge about it. 

If you are using an older version of the router you should think of upgrading the router to the latest versions. Upgradations make your internet faster. 

However, whether it’s a single point router or a mesh network, placing the router in the correct position is important. 

Does Router Placement Matter?

Yes, router placement matters because Wifi signals travel long distances. If you place the router in a corner which is obstructed by bookshelves or walls, the traveling speed and the distance travelled gets affected and connection becomes poor resulting in bad internet connection. 

Whenever you feel the connection is slow, check the WiFi signal strength and channel interference.

Where Should a Router be Placed?

As mentioned, choosing the right place to keep your router is important. If you want to enjoy faster, uninterrupted WiFi, you need to select an optimum position to place your router.

Choose the Location

Routers actually send signals to every direction, therefore you should put the router in the central location. If you have placed the router at any corner of the room it is actually sending a significant amount of signal outside the room. 

Yes, keeping in mind the design of your house, you should be choosing the central location of the house where you can keep the router.

Reduce Obstacles

Metals are the main obstacles for your WiFi signal to reach your device. A concrete glass or cardboard does not create any issues with the signal. But, appliances like a refrigerator or a water heater will absorb all the signals and thus create a dead zone. If you have placed the router next to something metal and blaming your internet provider for slow connection, think twice and take a wise decision by moving it to the central location of the house. 

And yes, water is a bad conductor of the WiFi signals. Therefore, move the router away from the aquarium. 

Try to Avoid Interference and Noise  

All the devices share the same 2.4-GHz wireless band that your router does. From cordless cell phones, Bluetooth speakers, etc. share this segment of airwaves, thus, creating a crowd. A congested neighborhood can also be the reason for internet speed issues even though you have recharged with the highest data speed package. Choose a router that offers 5-GHz coverage that will not entangle itself in the web of airwaves. 

Always keep your router away from electronic devices.

Place Your Router High

A router emits signal downward. So, if you keep your router at the ground level, a major portion of the signal is being wasted. It’s thus better to place your router high, like on the ceiling or on top of something high to fully utilize the signal coming from it which will make for better connections.

Separate Router from Your Modem

It’s not necessary to keep your modem and your router entangled to each other or keep one beside the other. You can use an ethernet cable to connect the modem and the router. 

It’s important to use a router that has a 5-GHz channel if you are not using one. When you need coverage everywhere in the home and your home is a big one, try using Wifi range extenders or mesh Wifi system. In a mesh connection, the Wifi source moves from one router to another while you move from one room to another. 

Re-adjust the Antennas

Positioning the antennas of the router matters a lot. The antennas transmit signals to different directions, therefore it is necessary that you position them correctly. 

If there are more that one antenna, place them away from each other and facing different directions inside the house. Don’t just keep them horizontally, try placing one or some of them vertically.

Commonly Asked Questions

Some commonly asked questions by the users or new router buyers are discussed below.

Can a Router Work Without A Modem?

Yes, because a router works with the internet signals, not a modem. If you connect your router with a broadband connection it will not need a modem to work.  

How Long Does Router Last?

A router according to use generally lasts up to 2.5 to 5 years. 

Wrapping Up

If you have bought a new router and confused where to fix it for a better connection, refer to this guide. If you think the tips given here helped you, please do not forget to share this post. 

Do comment and suggest if anything needs to be included.

Mario C. Morrissey
Mario C. Morrissey
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