Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal

You don’t need new hardware to get a better signal — router placement and a few settings changes deliver most of the improvement.

Start with placement; it’s free and makes the biggest difference.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Move the router to a central, elevated, open spot — a shelf beats a floor or cupboard every time.
2. Keep it away from thick walls, metal surfaces, microwaves, and cordless phone bases, which all interfere with Wi-Fi.
3. Point the antennas vertically, and if there are two, angle one horizontally — this covers both flat and standing devices.
4. Switch channels: in your router’s admin page, try channel 1, 6, or 11 on 2.4 GHz to dodge your neighbours’ networks.
5. Keep your router’s firmware updated from its admin page — updates sometimes improve range and stability.
6. For large homes, add a mesh Wi-Fi system rather than boosting power — coverage beats raw strength.

Helpful tips

• A 5 GHz network is faster but shorter-range: use 2.4 GHz for far rooms and 5 GHz nearby.
• Every wall and floor costs signal — the shortest path between you and the router wins.
• Re-check speeds after each change so you know which tweak actually helped.