4 "How to place a router" that you want to try if you think Wi-Fi is weak
As you know, the Wi-Fi signal gets weaker as you move away from the router. Of course, many other things affect it. There are various building structures and providers, but the most important thing is where to put the router.
Keep in mind that the signal sent by the router spreads in all directions around the antenna. If your router was placed near the wall between you and the room in the next apartment, that neighbor would receive the signal (of course, your Wi-Fi is your password now, of course. Please check if it is protected by).
There is a little secret about the best place to put the wireless router to make it stronger (receive). Let me introduce it below.
1. 1.Place in the center of the room
The place to put it is the key. Find a place to put your router in your house as close to the center as possible. Don't think it's because of the location of your desktop computer or modem.
For a two-story building, consider mounting your router on the wall or in a corner near the ceiling. This is because radio waves generally spread downward rather than upward. Consider installing a router on the second floor.
2.Avoid obstacles to passage
Radio waves do pass through the wall, but the thicker the wall, the weaker the signal that passes through the wall. And if your house is covered with brick or concrete walls, the signal will be absorbed by the wall and the strength of the signal passing through the wall will be significantly weakened. The same is true for, for example, a huge aquarium. The aquarium is a major obstacle to traffic lights.
Metals and mirrors are also enemies. It is not recommended to place the router behind the TV or in the bathroom as these materials reflect radio waves.
3. 3.Avoid the kitchen
Microwaves are your enemy when it comes to avoiding anything that interferes with your Wi-Fi signal. Microwave ovens and Wi-Fi routers use the same 2.4 GHz band electromagnetic spectrum. When using a microwave, the Wi-Fi signal will literally be interfered with. In addition, metal objects absorb signals, so it's probably best not to put a router in a kitchen with metal refrigerators, stoves, and other kitchen appliances.
The same frequency is also used in cordless phones. So keep your cordless phone base station away from your router.
Four.Devise an antenna
The antenna is part of the router, which sends and receives Wi-Fi. The antenna can usually be moved from side to side and, in some cases, rotated inside the socket. If you want to spread the signal horizontally, it is most effective to make the antenna vertical. If you want to send Wi-Fi to multiple floors in your home or office, level the antenna.
Wi-Fi router antennas are often not removable, so in such cases you can take the router to an electronics store and use a compatible antenna to transmit farther. You can also look for (what is called "high power").
[2016.3.21 Corrected because there was an error in a part of the text]
TEXT BY APRIL GLASER
TRANSLATION BY WIRED.jp_ST