If Wi-Fi doesn't reach all areas of your home, don't pay for more speed: plastic optical fiber could be your ideal solution.
A decade ago, if you had internet at home, it was probably mainly used as network access for your computer. Nowadays, that Wi-Fi connection is accessed from every corner of the house, as you always carry a smartphone or tablet with you; and the amount of data sent over the air has increased exponentially thanks to HD and 4K video streaming.
Moreover, there are more devices than ever simultaneously competing for a Wi-Fi connection: computers, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, wireless peripherals like printers, streaming devices, and a growing number of smart home devices such as thermostats, cameras, and locks.
As you can see, nowadays, the need for high-speed internet to reach every part of the house is very significant. Therefore, it can be a nightmare if your network is slow or experiences interference. It can also happen that you subscribe to a home internet service, and despite it being a fiber optic connection, the signal doesn't reach all areas of your house properly. This is a fairly common problem in all types of homes.
Barriers, thick walls, or poor router placement can cause the internet signal to weaken and not reach all areas of the house correctly at the appropriate speed. Therefore, it is not necessary to pay for more speed; other factors may be affecting your signal. Here we share some of the most common problems that tend to weaken the Wi-Fi signal and how to solve them. Take note!
Why doesn't Wi-Fi reach everywhere in the house? Possible reasons
Poor router placement
Poor router placement can be one of the critical factors for Wi-Fi coverage. If your router is poorly placed, your Wi-Fi coverage will weaken. Ideally, the router should be as close as possible to the center of the house and in the open, not tucked away in a closet.
Location is not just about being in the center; obstacles can also be problematic. Wi-Fi transmission is affected by the obstacles it has to pass through. Drywall and wood are not a big problem, but bricks, water, concrete, metal, and especially mirrors can wreak havoc on the signal.
Physical size of the house
Wi-Fi signals have a limited range before they start to lose strength. As a house gets larger, Wi-Fi signals have to travel further, not to mention additional obstacles, such as walls, that need to be overcome. For this problem, repeaters, PLCs, or mesh Wi-Fi networks are often used, which can ensure that the signal is amplified throughout the home, but these are still not sufficient options and do not guarantee that you will receive 100% of the signal on all devices.
Possible signal interference
Even the best Wi-Fi routers can experience interference issues. The 2.4 GHz radio band, in particular, can be saturated. Microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and other devices often use the 2.4 GHz spectrum. If you live in an apartment building or a densely populated neighborhood, you may also experience problems if your neighbors' Wi-Fi networks interfere with yours.
Outdated router
Here's the good news if your Wi-Fi network isn't living up to your expectations and doesn't reach everywhere in your house. Most likely, simply replacing it with one of the latest generation Wi-Fi routers will result in a huge performance improvement. In addition,
What can you do to ensure that the internet reaches all areas of the home correctly?
Try moving your router to different positions around the house, ideally to a central location free of obstacles such as mirrors, concrete walls, or large water tanks.
If you have a large house, you can purchase a new router with a more powerful amplifier and amplifying antennas; the second option is to install range extenders. These devices connect wirelessly to the main router to extend the Wi-Fi network.
Recommended solution: plastic optical fiber
Plastic optical fiber is an excellent option and, from our point of view, the best alternative available on the market to ensure that 100% of the contracted megabytes reach your electronic devices.
Plastic optical fiber is a flexible and very resistant material that can be installed easily and efficiently in any type of building, structure, or material. In addition, one of its great advantages is that it is a very economical solution that can guarantee high internet browsing speeds and is immune to any type of interference. The cabling can be placed alongside electrical wiring and can share installations without any problem.
Installing just 1 access point with Plastic Optical Fiber in a room effectively extends Wi-Fi network coverage at home. Another advantage is that the installation is quite simple, by purchasing one of the plastic optical fiber kits from ACTELSER.
