In today's apartments it is important that the Wi-Fi signal reaches every corner of the house, not only to keep the smartphone connected but above all to keep connected various network devices such as Smart TV, IP camera or other "smart" devices. Depending on the layout of a room, how the building and furnishings are constructed, the signal may be more or less weak or even worse in some rooms if the router is distant or if there is interference along the way.
To increase the Wi-Fi signal reception, today very little is needed!
In this guide we will show you how to increase the reception of Wi-Fi coming from the home modem .
With a few simple steps plus some small additional expenses we will be able to improve network coverage and thus serve all the rooms of our apartment.
READ ALSO: 10 ways to amplify the home Wi-fi
1) Position the router / modem correctly
If the modem is too far from the room where the Wi-Fi is weak or absent, the first option is to move it to a more central position in the house, so as to cover all the rooms.
Regarding the position of the router / modem it is important that it has space around it, that it is not closed in a piece of furniture or between two walls (so let's avoid putting it in a corner), that it is not placed on the ground (the higher it is positioned, the better it is coverage) and that it is not near sources of interference such as the cordless phone or a microwave oven.
If the router has external antennas, it is possible to orient them in different directions and positions so as to have more signal diffusion (each centimeter of antenna moved can vary the range of the Wi-Fi signal by 1-2 meters, so we orient the antennas well).
If the router has internal antennas instead, we try to position it in a higher position (we can also hang it as a picture almost against the wall that acts as a roof) or rotate it, so that we can orient the antennas in the right direction.
2) Configure the router on the least used wireless channel
A wireless network works on frequency channels which are automatically chosen by the router; pity that the other routers in the surroundings or in the building will do the same, "clogging" the electromagnetic field!
That's why it is possible to change channels manually, so as to choose a low channel that is as free from interference as possible .
We explained in another guide how to change the Wifi channel, using programs like WifiInfoView, so as to find out on which channel the wireless networks around us are present.
To change channels, you must find the relevant option in the router configuration panel (see how to access the router settings) and choose one of the channel numbers offered (for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks the channel numbers are from 1 to 12).
In summary: we choose a low channel (between 1 and 6) that is not overly crowded (maximum 2 networks on the same channel) and test the signal reception; avoid high channels if possible (from 7 to 12), because they are not very good at covering the peripheral areas of the wireless field.
In another article we saw the guide to avoid wifi interference, which we recommend everyone to read to deepen the discussion on Wi-Fi channels and frequencies.
3) Use 5 GHz wireless networks for devices close to the router
Two wireless networks can be activated on all new routers on the market: one at 2.4 GHz, one at 5 GHz.
In short, the differences between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks are simple: on 5 GHz there is more bandwidth and the signal is less subject to interference but the coverage is considerably lower (any wall is enough to cut the signal).
If in the same room as the router we have devices that support 5 GHz, it is better to connect them to this type of network, so as to have more free bandwidth for distant devices (which will only be reached by the 2.4 GHz network).
In summary: the less devices we connect to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, the more bandwidth we will have for devices far from the router.
4) Buy a Wi-Fi repeater
Wireless repeaters are the simplest solution to improve signal reception in an environment as vast as a villa or to have a full signal at any point in the house.
The repeater is nothing more than a device to be connected to the electrical network in a point distant from the router, but where the signal still takes rather well; at the end of the configuration we will have a new expanded network connected to the main one, with which we can connect even if we are far from the router!
The configuration is almost completely automatic and only requires you to use the configuration panel to access the main router's wifi network (following the instructions in the package).
We have seen in another article how wifi repeaters work and which one to buy; the best for value for money are listed below:
- dodocool WiFi repeater (19 €)
- TP-Link RE200 Wireless WiFi Repeater (28 €)
- Netgear Wireless WiFi Repeater (31 €)
5) Create a Wifi Mesh network
The latest rediscovered in terms of wireless technology is the Wifi Mesh network, which is a network in which the access nodes share data and bandwidth in a distributed manner, trying to make the data travel the fastest and most interference-free path.
These solutions are ideal for large houses, they are much more effective than repeaters but, as a downside, the prices are very high (especially if compared to the costs of the repeaters).
The best Wi-Fi Mesh network technologies currently on the market are:
- Nova MW3 tent (94 €)
- TP-Link Deco M5 (202 €)
- NETGEAR Orbi Wifi Mesh (€ 338)
- Google Wifi, Wifi Mesh System (€ 359)
6) Buy a new router
If we have an old router, one that is very cheap or one received on loan for use with the operator, we can improve the reception of the signal in an environment by buying a new router, with all the features required to act on the network settings Wi-Fi and thus increase the coverage.
In another article we have seen the best wifi routers to buy and below we have collected which we can buy immediately (almost all of them are just routers so they must be cascaded to the modem provided by the operator).
- TP-Link Archer C60 (34 €)
- Netgear WiFi router (€ 50)
- D-Link DIR-882 (€ 89)
- AVM FRITZ! Box 3490 (€ 119 with modem)
7) Connect PCs via cable or Powerline
Fixed computers can be connected directly via Ethernet cable, without further clogging the bandwidth of the Wi-Fi network (as mentioned, the less devices there are the more coverage will be effective).
If the PC is close enough, we can hide the Ethernet cables on the skirting boards or in the cable channels, which can be easily pulled up to 15 meters.
A good Ethernet cable is the one offered by AmazonBasics and available in various sizes (from 1 up to 15 meters).
If, on the other hand, the computer is too far from the router, we can rely on Powerline technology, so as to connect the devices using the home's electrical cables and Ethernet cables, with the possibility of also functioning as a Wi-Fi access point (the signal comes via electrical outlets and create a new Wi-Fi network for the room or area of the house furthest away).
For further information, please refer to our guide How the Powerline works while below we have collected the best Wi-Fi Powerline Kits that we can use at home:
- PW201A tent Powerline WiFi kit (38 €)
- TP-Link TL-WPA7510 WiFi Powerline Kit (67 €)
- Netgear PLW1000-100PES (79 €)
READ ALSO: Great Guide on LAN computer networks, internet and wifi
