You've purchased a WiFi extender to solve your coverage problems, but where exactly should you put it? The placement of your extender is arguably the most critical factor in its performance. Position it incorrectly, and you'll get disappointing results regardless of how much you spent. Place it optimally, and even a budget extender can dramatically improve your home network. This guide explains the science behind WiFi signal propagation and provides practical strategies for finding the perfect spot.
Understanding the Goldilocks Zone
The most common mistake people make is placing their extender too far from the router. It seems logical to put it in the room where you need better coverage, but this approach often fails. An extender can only rebroadcast the signal it receives, so if it's placed in an area with weak signal, it will only extend that weak signal.
The ideal placement is in the "Goldilocks zone," roughly halfway between your router and the dead zone you're trying to cover. At this position, the extender still receives a strong signal from the router while being close enough to effectively cover the problem area. Most extenders have signal strength indicators, either LED lights or app-based displays, that help you find this sweet spot.
The Halfway Rule
As a starting point, measure the distance between your router and the dead zone. Place your extender approximately halfway along this path, ensuring it still shows a strong signal from the router. Adjust from there based on performance.
Factors That Affect WiFi Signal
Understanding what blocks or weakens WiFi signals helps you choose better placement locations:
Wall Materials
Different wall materials have vastly different impacts on WiFi signals. Plasterboard walls, common in newer Australian homes, cause minimal signal loss. Brick walls, particularly the double-brick construction found in many older Australian homes, significantly attenuate signals. Concrete walls and those containing metal reinforcement cause the most signal loss and may require extenders on both sides.
Floor and Ceiling Materials
Signals traveling between floors face similar challenges. Timber floors cause less interference than concrete slabs. If you're trying to extend coverage to another level of your home, positioning the extender near the stairwell often provides better results than trying to push the signal through solid flooring.
Household Appliances
Several common household items can interfere with WiFi signals. Microwave ovens operate on the 2.4GHz frequency and can cause significant interference when in use. Cordless phones, baby monitors, and Bluetooth devices also use similar frequencies. Keep your extender away from these devices, and position it at least one to two metres from any large metal appliances like refrigerators.
Avoid These Locations
Never place your extender near microwaves, cordless phone bases, fish tanks (water absorbs WiFi signals), behind large metal objects, or inside cabinets or enclosed spaces that trap heat.
Height Matters
WiFi signals radiate outward from the antenna, typically in a dome or doughnut shape pattern. For most home scenarios, positioning your extender at about the same height as the devices you use provides best results. If you're trying to cover a single floor, placing the extender about 1.5 metres above floor level often works well.
If you need to cover multiple floors, higher placement may help. Wall-mounted extenders positioned near the ceiling of the ground floor can sometimes provide better coverage to upstairs rooms than those placed lower. However, this varies significantly based on your home's construction, so experimentation is often necessary.
Step-by-Step Placement Process
Follow this systematic approach to find the optimal location for your extender:
Step 1: Map Your Dead Zones
Before placing your extender, walk through your home with a smartphone and note where the signal drops. Apps like WiFi Analyzer for Android or the built-in WiFi signal indicator on your phone can help quantify signal strength in different locations. Create a mental or physical map of where coverage is needed most.
Step 2: Identify Potential Locations
Looking at your map, identify power outlets that fall roughly in the halfway zone between your router and the dead areas. Consider the wall materials, potential interference sources, and accessibility of each location. Short-list three or four candidates.
Step 3: Test Each Location
This is where patience pays off. Set up your extender at the first candidate location and allow it to connect to your router. Check the signal strength indicator on the extender itself. If it shows a weak connection to the router, move closer to the router. If it shows strong connection, walk to your dead zones and test the extended network's performance.
Step 4: Fine-Tune
Once you've found a generally good location, small adjustments can make meaningful differences. Try moving the extender a metre in each direction and retesting. If your extender has adjustable antennas, experiment with different antenna positions. Antennas positioned vertically provide the best horizontal coverage, while angled antennas can help with coverage between floors.
Optimal Placement Checklist
- Position roughly halfway between router and dead zone
- Ensure strong signal reception from router (check LED indicators)
- Keep away from metal objects and appliances
- Maintain at least 1.5m height from floor when possible
- Test actual performance in your dead zones before finalising
Special Considerations for Australian Homes
Australian homes present some unique challenges for WiFi coverage. Many older homes feature double-brick construction that significantly impedes wireless signals. If you're dealing with brick walls, you may need to accept that the extender needs to be on the same side of a brick wall as the devices you want to cover, with clear line of sight to the router through doorways rather than through the wall itself.
Large single-storey homes, common in Australian suburbs, often stretch WiFi signals to their limits horizontally. For these layouts, positioning the extender in a central hallway often works better than against an exterior wall. The signal can then radiate outward to rooms on either side.
Using Signal Strength Indicators
Most extenders include some form of signal strength indicator. Understanding these indicators is crucial for optimal placement:
LED Indicators
Many extenders use LED lights that change colour or number based on signal strength. Typically, green indicates excellent signal, amber means acceptable, and red suggests the extender is too far from the router. Aim for green or strong amber for best results.
App-Based Indicators
More advanced extenders include smartphone apps that display actual signal strength numbers and sometimes even suggest optimal placement. These apps often include a placement assistant feature that guides you through finding the best location.
When One Extender Isn't Enough
If you've tried multiple locations and still can't achieve adequate coverage, your home may require more than one extender. However, avoid daisy-chaining extenders (connecting an extender to another extender) as this severely degrades performance. Each extender should connect directly to your main router. If your coverage needs are extensive, consider whether a mesh WiFi system might be a more effective solution for your situation.
Finding the perfect placement takes some trial and error, but the effort pays dividends in reliable connectivity. A well-placed extender can transform your home network experience, eliminating buffering and dropouts in previously problematic areas.