In today’s connected world, a strong, reliable WiFi signal is essential for nearly everything we do, from working remotely and managing our homes to relaxing and interacting with our social communities. The more we rely on WiFi to power our daily activities, the more frustrating it becomes when connectivity issues get in our way. In this guide, we’ll help you understand how walls and other structures interfere with WiFi signals and share tips on what you can do about it.

Here are some common barriers that can interfere with WiFi signals:

• Walls made of concrete, brick or metal: These dense materials can block or absorb WiFi signals, making it difficult for the signal to reach different areas of your home or office.
  
• Furniture and large appliances: Large items like refrigerators, bookshelves and cabinets can obstruct WiFi signals, especially if they are made of thick materials or contain metal.
  
• Microwave ovens: Microwave ovens operate on a frequency that’s close to the 2.4 GHz band commonly used for WiFi networks. This proximity in frequency can cause interference, leading to disruptions in WiFi performance, particularly when the microwave is in use.
  
• Cordless landline phones: Older landline-connected cordless phones, especially those operating on the 2.4 GHz band, can also interfere with WiFi signals.
  
• WiFi- or Bluetooth-Connected Smart Devices: Many connected devices use the 2.4 GHz frequency and can weaken your WiFi performance, including:
  
• Smartphones and Tablets (iPhone, Pixels, iPads)
• Smart Home Assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Home)
• Smart Light Bulbs (Philips Hue, Wiz)
• Smart Plugs and Outlets (GE, Kasa)
• Smart Thermostats (Ecobee, Google Nest, Honeywell)
• Wireless Security Cameras (Eufy, Ring)
• Smart Locks (Eufy, August)
• Smart TVs and Streaming Devices (Roku, Fire)
• Wearable Devices (Apple Watch)
• Baby Monitors (iBaby, Leapfrog)
  
• Fluorescent lights: Although it’s rare, several types of fluorescent lights emit electromagnetic interference that in theory, may disrupt nearby WiFi signals.

Understanding these sources of interference is the first step toward optimizing your network. By mitigating these obstacles, you can ensure more reliable and consistent WiFi coverage throughout your space. If you are an EPB Fiber Optics customer you can always contact EPB Tech Pros support 24/7/365 who are happy to assist you in troubleshooting your WiFi at no charge.

To maximize your WiFi signal strength, follow these strategic placement tips:

• Central location: Place your router in the center of your home or office to ensure even coverage across all areas. This helps distribute the signal more effectively, reducing the likelihood of dead zones.
  
• Elevated position: Position your router on a high shelf or mount it on a wall to prevent signal obstruction by furniture and other objects.
  
• Clear line of sight: Ensure that the router has a clear line of sight to the primary areas where you need strong connectivity. Avoid placing it behind large objects, inside cabinets, or near thick walls that can block the signal.
  
• Avoid dense materials: Keep the router away from dense materials like concrete, brick, or metal, which can absorb or reflect the signal, weakening it as it passes through.
  
• Distance from electronic devices: Place the router away from other electronic devices that can cause interference, such as microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and Bluetooth devices. These can operate on similar frequencies and disrupt the WiFi signal.

By following these placement tips, you can significantly improve your WiFi signal strength and ensure more reliable connectivity throughout your space.

2. Upgrade Your Router If You Have Lots of Walls

One of the most effective upgrades you can make is switching to a router that supports the latest WiFi standard, such as WiFi 6 (802.11ax). WiFi 6 offers several significant advantages over previous generations, including better performance in high-density environments and improved speeds.

A newer standard, WiFi 7 (802.11be), was released in January 2024 and promises even greater enhancements, including faster speeds and improved efficiency through walls. However, as of August 2024, it is still new to the market, and compatible devices are not yet widely available.

Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy by upgrading your router:

• Better at Moving Through Walls: WiFi 6 is designed to handle high-density environments with many connected devices. It does a better job of maintaining signal strength through walls and other obstacles. WiFi 7 aims to improve on this further, although it may take time for the technology to become mainstream.
  
• Faster Speeds: WiFi 6 provides faster data rates, which means quicker downloads, smoother streaming and more reliable video calls, even when multiple devices are connected. WiFi 7 is expected to push these speeds even higher as more devices become available.
  
• Improved Efficiency: Using technologies like Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) and Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), WiFi 6 can serve multiple devices simultaneously without compromising speed or performance. WiFi 7 is set to enhance these capabilities even further, enabling greater efficiency and lower latency.
  
• Enhanced Network Security: Upgrading your router also provides an opportunity to enhance your network security. Modern routers come with stronger encryption standards like WPA3, which offers better protection against unauthorized access.
  
  Remember to secure your network with a strong, unique password and enable encryption settings to prevent unauthorized users from connecting to your WiFi. This not only keeps your data safe but also ensures that your network’s performance isn’t compromised by unwanted devices.
  
• Ability to Upgrade Your Router’s External Antennas: If you decide to upgrade your router, choose one with external antennas that can be easily swapped out by unscrewing them at the base. This gives you a low-effort, cost-effective way to improve your signal in the future without replacing your router.

Here are a few features to consider when shopping for external antennas:

• Directional Control for Targeted Coverage: Adjustable external antennas allow you to fine-tune your WiFi signal’s direction, reducing dead zones and improving coverage. This is especially useful in environments with barriers like walls or furniture that can block signals.
  
• High-Gain Antennas for Extended Reach: Upgrading to high-gain antennas further enhances your WiFi by focusing the signal in a specific direction. This concentrated signal can more effectively reach distant rooms or areas with thick walls, making it ideal for larger spaces.
  
• Dual-Band Antennas for Optimized Performance: Dual-band external antennas operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, allowing you to balance range and speed. The 2.4 GHz band provides better penetration, while the 5 GHz band supports faster connections for high-bandwidth activities.
  

4. Utilize A WiFi Extender To Expand Coverage

WiFi extenders are an effective solution for expanding coverage in areas that are too far for your primary router to consistently reach. Extenders work by capturing your primary router’s existing WiFi signal and rebroadcasting it to cover a larger area.

When setting up a WiFi extender, it’s crucial to place it in a location where the signal from your router is still strong enough to be effectively captured and relayed. High-quality extenders ensure optimal performance, helping to eliminate dead zones and provide reliable coverage throughout your space.

🧑‍💻Tech Tip: To learn more about WiFi extenders, check out our blog post.

5. Install A Mesh System To Navigate Around Walls

For more comprehensive coverage, consider installing a mesh network system. Unlike extenders, which simply rebroadcast the signal, mesh systems create a unified network across multiple nodes that work together to deliver consistent WiFi coverage.

Each node communicates with the others, ensuring seamless connectivity as you move throughout your home or office. Proper placement of mesh nodes is key to their effectiveness; positioning them in strategic locations ensures that the signal is strong and evenly distributed, providing a stable and reliable connection across your entire space.

🧑‍💻Tech Tip: If you'd like to enjoy the benefits of a mesh WiFi network but want to skip the hassle of installing it yourself, consider adding EPB Smart Net Plus whole-home WiFi. Learn more.

6. Opt For A Powerline Networking Adapter

Powerline networking adapters provide a robust alternative for extending your internet connection to areas where WiFi signals are weakened by walls or other obstacles. These adapters utilize your home’s existing electrical wiring to transmit data, effectively turning every outlet into a potential network connection point.

Powerline networking adapters send your internet signal through the electrical wiring in your home. By plugging one adapter into a wall outlet near your router and another into an outlet in the area where you need better connectivity, you can extend your network without the limitations of WiFi.

This method bypasses the challenges of thick walls, floors, or other structural barriers, delivering a more stable connection.

Tips for Selecting and Installing Powerline Adapters

• Ensure the adapter is compatible with your router and supports your internet speed requirements.
  
• Look for adapters that support HomePlug AV2 for better performance and reliability.
  
• Plug the adapters into outlets and connect them to your router and devices using Ethernet cables.

Benefits of Powerline Networking

• Stability: Enjoy more stable connections compared to WiFi, especially in challenging areas.
  
• Reduced Latency: Ideal for online gaming, video conferencing and other latency-sensitive activities.
  
• Less Interference: Your connection won’t be affected by wireless interference from other devices, ensuring consistent connectivity.

By opting for powerline networking, you can overcome the limitations of WiFi and enjoy a stronger, more reliable internet connection in every room, even those far from your router.

7. Optimize Your WiFi Settings And Channels

Fine-tuning your router’s settings can significantly enhance your WiFi performance by reducing interference and improving signal strength. Here are some practical steps you can take to optimize your router:

• Select the least congested WiFi channel: To analyze nearby networks and find a less congested channel, search for a “WiFi Analyzer” or “WiFi Channel Scanner” app that does this for you. Then, switch to that channel in your router’s settings to minimize interference.
  
• Adjust Transmission Power: Your router may allow you to increase the transmission power to boost signal strength, especially through walls. You can typically do this by accessing your router’s settings through its web interface.
  
  Look for options labeled “Transmit Power,” “TX Power,” or “Radio Power,” and set it to high or maximum. Be mindful that increasing power can also extend the range beyond your home, so ensure your network is secure to prevent unauthorized access.
  
  Reducing the power can also be useful in small spaces to minimize interference with neighboring networks.
  
• Enable Quality of Service (QoS) Settings: Changing the QoS settings allows you to prioritize bandwidth for specific devices or activities like streaming or video calls, ensuring smooth performance even during high network usage.
  
  You can enable QoS through your router’s web interface, typically under "Advanced" or "Traffic Management." Just select the devices or applications you want to prioritize, and your router will allocate bandwidth accordingly to reduce buffering and lag.
  
• Update Firmware Regularly: Keep your router’s firmware up to date to gain the latest performance improvements and security protections. You can usually check for updates in the router’s settings under the "Administration" or "System" section.

By optimizing these settings, you can minimize interference and maximize the efficiency of your WiFi network, ensuring a smoother and more reliable connection throughout your space.

Whether you upgrade your router, replace its external antennas or update your firmware, staying current is key. If you’re an EPB customer, consider upgrading to the Gig or faster to see if a higher-speed connection is what you need. Or, add EPB Smart Net Plus to enjoy a whole-home, mesh WiFi network, installed and supported by the EPB Tech Pros.