How to Position a Router Optimally
- 1). Experiment with the position of your router. Make a list of places to locate your router and set the router in each of those places temporarily. Connect each desktop or laptop on the router to the Internet at each location. Determine where you receive the strongest signal by comparing the performance. Keep the router in each location for a while to test it during different times of the day, including when other wireless clients are also using their computers.
- 2). Position your wireless router in a central location from your wireless clients. All wireless clients should be as close to the router as possible. Locating your wireless router in the middle of your home will give you the most access to its strong signal.
- 3). Place the router near the location where you consistently use your laptop or desktop. A shorter distance results in stronger signal strength.
- 4). Leave at least 3 feet between your wireless router and other electronics transmitting wireless signals or generating radio frequency noise, particularly in the same frequency range (usually 2.4 GHz) to avoid interference. These items include computer monitors, televisions, garage door openers, mobile phones, Bluetooth-enabled devices, microwave ovens and baby monitors. Use a phone based on a different frequency or use a corded phone. Other products that might interfere with your router include electric fans and fluorescent lighting.
- 5). Choose a location that results in a clear line of sight between the router and your Wi-Fi enabled desktop or laptop. Walls can weaken signals. Other obstacles that can block signals include furnaces, washing machines and dryers. Consider various places where you will be doing computer work.
- 6). Place your router on or near the ceiling. This will allow you to avoid furniture and other barriers.
- 7). Avoid reflective surfaces. Wi-Fi signals bounce off surfaces that reflect, such as windows, mirrors and metal file cabinets. A bouncing signal results in loss of network range and performance.
- 8). Mount your router away from outside walls. The antennas supplied with your router are omni-directional and meant to broadcast in all directions around the router. The router will send half of the wireless signals outside your home if your router is near an outside wall, wasting your router's power.
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