People are just realizing Wi-Fi speed is improved by moving router away from 12 objects – the first isn’t in your house
YOUR Wi-Fi router works best when it’s not being interfered with by common devices a lot of us have at home.
We’ve rounded up a list of eleven objects to consider when thinking about your router’s placement.
YOUR NEIGHBOR’S ROUTER
If you share a wall with your neighbor, make sure they don’t interfere with your Wi-Fi speed.
Your neighbor might have their router too close to yours on the other side of the wall.
This can lead to signal interference and slow speed.
If you’re close to them, you can ask where they position their router.
MICROWAVE
Microwaves can give out electromagnetic radiation.
This interferes with your router’s signals and can slow down your connection.
THE TV
TVs can cause interference with your Wi-Fi signal.
They’re also made of metal, which can absorb the signals that your router is emitting.
FRIDGE
The refrigerator is another speed-sucking culprit for this reason.
That’s because routers emit electromagnetic radio waves that are easily absorbed by large metal objects.
MIRROR
Even mirrors contain a layer of metal.
It’s worth considering this if you have a large one near your router.
FISH TANK
Water easily absorbs the radiation sent out by your router.
That can leave a black hole with no signal around a fish tank or even every large vase.
VACUUM CLEANER
If you use a vacuum cleaner near a Wi-Fi router, you might disrupt its speed.
Some interference is possible due to the electric motor in vacuums and the radiation they can emit.
BABY MONITORS
Some baby monitors release signals that can interfere with your Wi-Fi router.
This especially applies if you’re using a 2.4GHz monitor and a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi router.
You can invest in baby monitors that are less likely to interfere with your home internet speed.
BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS
Bluetooth speakers and Wi-Fi routers use similar radio frequencies.
This can result in disruption to either of them.
CORDLESS PHONES
The same can apply to cordless phones if you’re using those as your landline.
Interference can also occur in the other direction so if you want clear phone calls, move your Wi-Fi router away.
THE WINDOW
It’s worth keeping your Wi-Fi router away from the window.
An exception to this is if you’d like to send signals outside into a garden.