If Wi-Fi works well in some parts of the house and feels bad in others, you’re probably dealing with Wi-Fi dead zones. Yes, they can still be a thing Next to your router under the wrong circumstances.
Before purchasing Wi-Fi extenders or mesh Wi-Fi systems, or even a linkYou can solve the problem for free with one of these three golden rules.
Place the router where the signal should actually go
An ISP’s cable hotspot is rarely the best Wi-Fi hotspot
A router’s standard home is usually wherever an internet connection enters the home, plus it’s not an eyesore, no matter how long the cable runs. But that’s often not where the Wi-Fi signal will do its best.
I’ve kept my routers on the far side of the living room, in a closet, on a shelf behind some books, etc. I rarely wondered why my Wi-Fi signal was so weak; I assumed you were getting what you see on routers. In my case, I kept my router where it was convenient for me instead of trying to optimize its placement, and the resulting poor performance prompted me to change my ways.
If most of your devices are far from your router, it’s a good idea to replace it. Instead of sitting where you first set up your Wi-Fi, your router should be pointed to the places you actually use it.
Think of it less like hiding a box and more like aiming for coverage. A router near an outside wall wastes some of its range outside, while one tucked into a corner has to pass through more walls before the signal reaches the rooms you actually use. Even moving it in a few feet can help, and if the modem needs to stay in place, a longer Ethernet cable can allow the router to move to a better location without changing your entire setup.
-
- Brand
-
Unifi
- Range
-
1,750 square feet
- Wi-Fi Groups
-
2.4/5/6GHz
- Ethernet Ports
-
4 2.5G
- USB Ports
-
None of them
- MU-MIMO
-
2×2 MU-MIMO
Unifi Dream Router 7 NVR capabilities, fully managed switching, built-in firewall, VLANs and more. is a full-fledged network device that offers With four 2.5G Ethernet ports (one with PoE+) and a 10G SFP+ port, the Unifi Dream Router 7 also has dual WAN capabilities when you have two ISP connections. It includes a 64GB microSD card for IP camera storage, but can be upgraded for more storage if needed. With Wi-Fi 7, you’ll be able to reach a theoretical network speed of 5.7 Gbps when using the 10G SFP+ port, or 2.5 Gbps when using Ethernet.
Keep the router in a high, visible and open place
Closets, floors and neat hiding places are impossible
The second rule is simple but annoying: your router should probably not be hidden. I’m a charmer because a lot of routers aren’t exactly pretty. (I don’t know what’s worse, the sad, flimsy boxes ISPs provide, or the monstrous gaming routers.) And routers are only part of the puzzle, as cable congestion also suffers.
But putting your router in a closet, behind the TV, under your desk, or on the ground is a great way to make it difficult. Before the signal has a fair chance to reach the rest of the house, it has to fight its way through furniture, electronics, walls, and everything else that surrounds it.
A better place is open, raised and practical. Consider a shelf, a small table, the top of a cabinet, or a wall-mounted position with space around it. You don’t need to show it off as a trophy, but don’t bury it either.
Keep it away from signal blockers and sources of interference
Walls, metal appliances and water are red flags of a dead zone
The third and final rule is to stop treating your router like some kind of magical device that can fight anything. Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s still a radio signal, and some parts of your home destroy it better than others.
Thick walls, brick, concrete, metal shelves, mirrors, large appliances, and even aquariums can attenuate or reflect the signal, creating strange dead spots.
Other electronics can also add to this mess. Especially if you rely on the 2.4GHz band. Microwave ovens, baby monitors, old cordless phones, Bluetooth devices and neighboring Wi-Fi networks can all add noise to an already difficult connection.
The right place is the cheapest Wi-Fi upgrade
Finding a good location for your router is not easy. Worse, it’s a nuisance. No one likes cables running through the house, and a router is rarely a decorative piece that brightens up your living room. But instead spending money on pointless upgradestry to solve the dead zone problem first. You might be surprised how well it works in the end.
