Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.
ZDNET Highlights
- Proper router location is essential; Larger homes require mesh Wi-Fi.
- Place your router in a central and elevated location for optimal Wi-Fi signal.
- Avoid placing your router near a microwave or other disruptive electronics.
Almost every part of modern life depends on our connection to the Internet. When my provider experiences an outage, everything stops – working remotely via VPN, streaming music on Spotify, and even using smart home devices.
It’s a stark reminder of how much we rely on the invisible network that keeps us connected. Almost every aspect of modern life is influenced by our connectivity to the web.
Also: Is Your Roku TV Spying on You? Possibly, but here’s how to end it
The entire outage seems completely unacceptable. But an incomplete connection plagued with lag and buffering can be even more frustrating. If you are confident that your signal is strong but you are still experiencing problems, the problem may be caused by the location of your router.
1. Location is important, but accessibility matters
It is always true that location is important. But your router’s effectiveness is also affected by the size of your home and how far the router’s signal can reach.
One wireless access point should be sufficient for most apartments and small homes (1,500 square feet or less). Large, multi-story homes present a different challenge that is best met by upgrading to a mesh network. Mesh networks consist of one main access point and additional nodes that can be placed throughout your space to ensure consistent coverage.
Long-range routers and Wi-Fi extenders are also options to maximize router efficiency. Still, no matter how many digital transmitters you have, the location of your primary access point is critical to overall performance.
2. A central location is best, ideally on a shelf
Common sense suggests placing your router in a central area of your home to get the most even distribution of Wi-Fi coverage. However, sometimes it is not that simple. Your provider’s technician probably originally installed the router close to where the signal is fed into your building. If you have the option of running an Ethernet cable from your modem to a more central room, your router can provide a significant increase in coverage in your living space.
Also: Mesh Router vs. Wi-Fi Router: What’s Best for Your Home Office?
What is less commonly known is that elevating your router increases its range. Placing it higher off the floor helps reduce signal interference from everything from furniture to people. If a tall bookshelf isn’t available—and wall-mounting or installing a dedicated shelf for your router is impractical—consider placing it on top of a tall dresser or a cupboard.
A central location helps ensure consistent speeds and increases network security as neighbors’ routers are less likely to exploit the signal.
3. Other electronics may interfere with the signal
My Spectrum router was originally installed behind my 48-inch TV. This was great for my TV, but it caused problems for my home office setup, which is only 17 feet away. By moving it from behind the screen to a small table next to it, my computer and the Google Hub device now maintain a stronger, more consistent signal.
Too: The best Wi-Fi routers you can buy
Of all the common household appliances, the microwave oven presents the greatest risk of electronic interference to your router. This is because the radiation from the microwave emits a signal very close to the router’s operative band (about 2.4GHz). Although I don’t expect many people to have a router in their kitchen, microwave proximity can sometimes be unavoidable in large city apartments and homes with limited space.
If possible, avoid areas where your router may be affected by Wi-Fi-reliant devices, even if that means moving it away from your home office printer.
Pay attention to your antennas – if you have them
All Wi-Fi routers have antennas, whether they’re smoothly integrated into the device or sticking out like rabbit ears on an ancient TV. However, articulating antennas do not indicate antiquity, and in fact, they may help provide more uniform coverage.
Also: The Fastest VPNs of 2025: Great Speeds and Secure Connections Anywhere
Whether your router has two or eight antennas, you can adjust these to optimize delivery. Antennas emit signals in all directions, traveling in a donut-shaped wave perpendicular to the antenna. This means that a smaller or single-level home may benefit more from aiming them skyward because the signal blasts outward from its vertical position. The same applies to horizontally positioned antennas, which can provide better access to higher or lower level areas.
The main solution is to experiment with your antenna orientation while keeping these limitations of physics in mind.
