Poor Wi-Fi Coverage Is Extremely Common

Most home routers are designed to cover a small to medium-sized space under ideal conditions — but walls, floors, furniture, and interference from other devices all reduce signal strength significantly. Here is how to improve coverage without necessarily buying a new router.

Step 1: Optimise Your Router's Position

Where you place your router makes an enormous difference:

**Centralise it** — place the router as close to the centre of your home as possible, not tucked in a corner or cupboard

**Elevate it** — a shelf or table performs better than the floor, as signals radiate outward and slightly downward

**Keep it in the open** — avoid enclosed cabinets, behind TVs, or inside entertainment units

**Away from interference** — keep the router away from microwaves, cordless phones, and other 2.4GHz devices

Step 2: Switch Between 2.4GHz and 5GHz Bands

Most modern routers broadcast on two frequency bands:

**2.4GHz:** Slower but travels further and penetrates walls better. Best for distant rooms.

**5GHz:** Much faster but shorter range. Best when you are close to the router.

Connect devices based on their distance from the router. A phone used in the living room next to the router should use 5GHz; a device in a far bedroom should use 2.4GHz.

Step 3: Change Your Wi-Fi Channel

If many neighbours are on the same Wi-Fi channel, your signal quality degrades from interference. Log into your router settings and try manually switching to a less congested channel. For 2.4GHz, channels 1, 6, and 11 do not overlap with each other and are the best choices.

Step 4: Update Your Router Firmware

Router manufacturers regularly release firmware updates that improve stability and performance. Log into your router's admin panel and check for updates.

Step 5: Consider a Mesh Network or Wi-Fi Extender

For larger homes or multi-storey houses, a single router often cannot cover every room adequately. Solutions include:

**Wi-Fi extender / repeater:** Receives the existing Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcasts it. Affordable but can reduce bandwidth.

**Powerline adapters:** Send the network signal through your existing electrical wiring. Reliable for getting a wired connection to a distant room.

**Mesh Wi-Fi system:** Multiple units that create a unified, seamless Wi-Fi network. The most effective solution for large homes or complex layouts. Brands like Eero, Google Nest Wi-Fi, and TP-Link Deco are popular options.

Professional Networking Help in Midland

If you have tried the above and still have dead spots or unreliable coverage, the issue may be with your modem configuration, cable quality, or the placement and type of your hardware.

Midland Computers offers professional [home and business networking services in Midland](/services/networking-issues). We assess your home layout, recommend the right solution, and set everything up correctly — so every room in your house has reliable Wi-Fi.

[Book a networking appointment](/book-repair) or [contact our team](/contact) to discuss your situation.