To get the most out of a router, the adventurous should look at a third-party
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give you access to more advanced networking features, including the ability to
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more complex to set up, but for tech-savvy users, it may be worthwhile.
- ACHIEVE OPTIMAL ROUTER PLACEMENT
Not all homes will distribute Wi-Fi signal equally. The fact is, where you place
the router can hugely affect your wireless coverage. It may seem logical to have
the router inside a cabinet and out of the way or right by the window where the
cable comes in, but that’s not always the case. Rather than relegating it to a far
end of your home, the router should be in the center of your house, if possible,
so its signal can reach to each corner with ease.
In addition, wireless routers need open spaces, away from walls and
obstructions. So while it’s tempting to put that ugly black box in a closet or
behind a bunch of books, you’ll get a better signal when it’s surrounded by open
air (which should prevent the router from overheating, too). Keep it away from
heavy-duty appliances or electronics as well, since running those in close
proximity to your router can impact Wi-Fi performance. If you can eliminate
even one wall between your workspace and the router, you’ll drastically improve
your connectivity.
If your router has external antennas, orient them vertically to bump up
coverage. It even helps to elevate the router—mount it high on the wall or on a
top shelf to get a better signal.
Plenty of tools can help you visualize your network coverage. We like
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spots in your Wi-Fi network. There are lots of mobile apps, too, such as
Netgear’s WiFi Analytics.
- WHAT’S YOUR FREQUENCY?
Take a look at your network’s administrator interface, and make sure you have
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a dual-band router by switching to the 5GHz band instead of using the more
common 2.4GHz band.