Let’s talk about WiFi performance. Wait, let’s talk about the elephant on the table. Your Internet is much worse than it should be.
If you’re like most people, you set up your router with the same meticulous care as a young kid unwrapping birthday gifts – you placed the router “somewhere” and called it a day. Years ago, I did the same thing. In fact, I’m guilty of numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 below. Oh my.
Because WiFi is essentially radio waves, the place where you put your router influences your experience. Yet, time and again, I see people sabotaging their own Internet connection due to many of the choices below. Don’t worry, I’ll share a few fixes.
1. You Put It in a Closet (Because You Think It’s Ugly)
🚫 Why it’s bad: WiFi signals hate walls. They don’t like squeezing through doors, shelves, or your hangers and winter coats.
✅ Better idea: Treat your router like an honored guest. Give it space to breathe!
2. It’s in the Basement (Because That’s Where the Other Internet Provider Installed It)
🚫 Why it’s bad: WiFi signals struggle to defy the laws of physics. Your floors and walls? They might as well be lead-lined bunkers.
✅ Better idea: Move it upstairs where the signal can reach the people using it.
3. You Stuck It by a Window (So the Neighborhood Can Enjoy Your WiFi, Too?)
🚫 Why it’s bad: Your WiFi is now politely beaming itself into the garden or sidewalk instead of your living room.
✅ Better idea: Keep it central. Your sidewalk doesn’t need high-speed Internet.
4. It’s Next to the Microwave (Because why not?)
🚫 Why it’s bad: Microwaves operate on 2.4 GHz, the same frequency as your WiFi. So whenever you heat up leftover pizza, your Internet takes a nosedive.
✅ Better idea: Give the router a safe distance from kitchen appliances.
5. It’s Behind the TV (It Looks Neat and Tidy There)
🚫 Why it’s bad: TVs eat WiFi for breakfast. The signal gets absorbed, and suddenly Netflix has decided that buffering is its new hobby.
✅ Better idea: Put it in front of or above the TV, not tucked behind like a forgotten remote control.
6. You Plopped It on the Floor (Because You Just Didn’t Think About It)
🚫 Why it’s bad: WiFi radiates outward. So, if your router is on the floor, your carpet is getting better WiFi than you are.
✅ Better idea: Elevate it on a table or shelf where it can do its job correctly.
7. It’s Next to Other Gadgets (Who Knew Wireless Interference Was a Thing?)
🚫 Why it’s bad: Baby monitors, Bluetooth speakers, cordless phones – they all love to mess with your WiFi.
✅ Better idea: Give your router some personal space. Social distancing rules apply to technology, too.
8. It’s in a Corner (Because That’s Where the Outlet Was)
🚫 Why it’s bad: Half your WiFi signal is now dedicated to providing high-speed Internet to the spiders living in your walls.
✅ Better idea: Put it somewhere central, so the signal reaches the rooms where you use it.
9. It’s Stuffed Inside a Bookshelf (It’s a WiFi Novel No One Reads)
🚫 Why it’s bad: Your books are absorbing the WiFi. You may as well wrap your router in a lead blanket.
✅ Better idea: Let it breathe! Keep it on top of the shelf, not inside it.
So, What’s the Fix?
If you’re struggling with WiFi, moving your router is the cheapest upgrade you’ll ever make. But if your Internet still isn’t cutting it, then it might be time for:
✅ A newer, more powerful router
✅ A WiFi mesh system
✅ Contacting your Internet Service Provider
Want help getting the best Internet for your home? Give CL Tel a call (641-357-2111). We know a thing or two about router placement and Whole-Home WiFi.
