While your average router normally offers ample reach to pack your small house or apartment with Wi-Fi, it may not have enough range to extend coverage in a bigger home. As a result, dead spots are common in larger homes. These prevent you from relaxing while streaming your favorite shows, playing online video games, listening to your most-loved songs, working from home, or video-chatting with your loved ones.
But you can fill in these gaps by using a Wi-Fi range extender, which takes existing wireless signals from your router and rebroadcast fresh signals and direct them to disconnected crannies and corners. Wireless extenders have now become affordable and simple to use, but setting up them can sometimes be tricky. They demand planning and careful consideration and some trial and error to get the desired results.
Don’t worry though, we are to guide you where you could place your extender to improve your Wi-Fi network coverage and reach. So, let’s dig in!
Find The Perfect Place For The Extender
First things first, where you position your range extender is the pathway to success. Keep both your eyes and mind open before searching for a perfect place for your device. Do not feel disappointed if you are unable to receive the desired results – move around your home until you find the perfect spot.
Try to get a map sketch or a floorplan. Mark the router’s location and respective dead zones. Search for a power outlet that is hardly halfway away from both the router and the place where you want your wireless signals to reach. Just plug in the Wi-Fi extender and link it with your router (follow the given instructions). Once it starts functioning, visit the dead zone area and check if it has been revitalized with Wi-Fi.
Fix The Antennas
Another thing you can do is check if the antennas on your extender are adjustable so you can reposition them to obtain the best signals. If your wireless extender has removable antennas, then it is even better – you can swap them for amplified antennas or higher gain to improve their sensitivity.
Another useful approach is to get a Wi-Fi reflector or use aluminum foil to make one yourself. It helps Wi-Fi signals reach where they are required.
Downstairs, Upstairs: Quick Fix For Multistory Homes
If you live in a single-floor apartment or a farmhouse, you must be home-free. In alternate cases, establishing a Wi-Fi booster for one floor above or below your home router demand you to consider multiple factors. For example, if you want signals to reach in your garret or basement, you must take into account the height and all the plaster, steel, and wood in your ceilings and floor – construction material that can soak up part of your Wi-Fi signal.
To resolve this issue, move your extender near to your router, more than you would have if both devices were on one floor. Another thing that works great for double story houses is if you place your extender and router roughly below or above each other.
Name Your Network For Convenience
One thing that you must decide while setting up the range extender is whether to go with the existing encryption passcode and network name or change it to a new one. By keeping the same log-in credentials, you can roam freely between your extender and router without connecting or re-logging in with storage drivers and networked printers. But, this gives rise to issues in the areas where signals from your extender and router overlap. If you face this problem, try to change your network name to get an extended segment.
Bottom Line
We hope these easy-to-follow tips and tricks help you in accurately setting up your wireless range extender to enjoy the best Wi-Fi signals throughout your home. Keep in mind that the prerequisite to video chatting with your closed ones and playing online games is to get access to a good internet connection. Get a good internet service provider like Wave Internet offers plans designed specially to meet all your speed needs.