Setting up a NETGEAR router takes only minutes to complete - but an unoptimized router location can lead to slow streaming, dropped connections and frustration. Read on to find out how to optimize router performance and maximize WiFi network coverage with our router placement tips.
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Today’s smart home networks include dozens of electronic devices competing for strong WiFi signals. Nobody appreciates lag, latency, or buffering when trying to stream, game, or get work done, and the solution for a better internet connection with broader WiFi coverage may be as simple as repositioning your router.
Even the best router will struggle to deliver a strong signal if it is in the wrong position. Long-distances, thick walls, reflective surfaces, furniture, fish tanks, Bluetooth devices, and competing radio signals all impact router performance. Let’s look at some dos and don’ts of router placement.
NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi Systems are changing the WiFi networking landscape across the world. Mesh router systems include the main Mesh router plus one or more mesh satellites strategically positioned around the home. WiFi 7 mesh networks offer significant home network advantages.
Whole-Home Coverage: Orbi Mesh WiFi systems eliminate dead zones by using multiple satellites to blanket your entire home in seamless WiFi.
WiFi 7 Technology: Introduced in 2023, Orbi WiFi 7 is the secret behind 4K/8K streaming, real-time cloud gaming, multi-user conferencing, and the latest virtual reality and AI applications.
Ease of Setup: The Orbi app helps with easy mesh system installation and network management.
Perfect for Large Homes: Coverage extends up to 10,000 sq.ft. in high-end models (or more with additional Satellites.)
NETGEAR Nighthawk Routers are a great alternative to NETGEAR Orbi Mesh Systems. Nighthawk routers are considered among the best gaming routers on the market, offering blazing-fast WiFi speeds for millisecond response times and a winning advantage over the competition.
High-Performance Design: Nighthawk routers are ideal for focussed coverage in smaller homes or specific zones like gaming setups. Models like the RS700S offer up to 19Gbps speeds and advanced WiFi 7 features.
Smart Home Compatibility: Designed to simultaneously handle multiple WiFi devices with zero slowdown.
Customizable Performance:Prioritize devices for tasks like gaming, streaming, or work-from-home setups.
The real world environment for WiFi signals is never going to be perfectly ideal. Just about everything – even the air – affects how WiFi signals move throughout your home. The latest WiFi 7 technology’s go a long way toward smoothing things out and giving devices a reliable connection. There is the potential for superfast multi-gigabit internet speeds and robust WiFi signal strength.
The best router location is a central, open, elevated spot so your WiFi can spread more evenly through the home. Aim for a clear line of sight where possible, and keep the router away from interference sources like large electronics.
The ideal room is the most central area of your home, so the signal has a shorter, more direct path to the rooms that matter. A central placement typically reduces dead zones and improves consistency for streaming, gaming, and work.
For multi-story homes, place the router so coverage is balanced across floors: first floor near the ceiling or second floor near the floor can help. Whichever you choose, keep the router as central as possible for the most even whole-home coverage.
Avoid placing a router in a corner, against a wall, near metal objects/solid surfaces, or inside a closet/cabinet/cupboard—all of these can weaken signal and reduce range. Also keep your router away from common interference sources like microwave ovens, cordless phones, TVs, baby monitors, wireless cameras, and other electronics; enclosed spaces can also contribute to overheating.
Elevating your router can improve range and coverage by reducing nearby obstructions and giving the signal a cleaner path through rooms. A shelf or tabletop usually performs better than placing the router on the floor or behind furniture.
Place an extender or mesh satellite where it can still “hear” a strong signal—not too far away (weak signal) and not too close (can create interference). If you’re solving dead zones in a large home, a mesh system with satellites placed strategically around the home is often the most reliable way to extend coverage.
Solving WiFi dead zones in a home is as easy as upgrading to a Nighthawk router or Orbi mesh system. NETGEAR Orbi Whole-Home WiFi Systems are ideal for large homes and expansive properties. NETGEAR Nighthawk Routers are a savvy choice for performance-focused setups. NETGEAR WiFi 7 routers and mesh systems are perfect for future-proofing smart home WiFi setups and handling the demands of modern connectivity.
