A typical scenario: the internet is “slow” in one room, calls drop and the TV buffers. The reflex is to buy a stronger router. In practice, half the time the problem lies elsewhere and can be solved without spending anything.
Step 1: where the router stands
Routers usually sit where the cable enters the flat — in the hallway, on the floor, behind a cabinet. That is the worst possible place. The signal spreads spherically and is absorbed by walls, mirrors, appliances and water.
- Place the router as centrally as possible relative to where you actually use the internet.
- Higher is better — on a shelf, not on the floor.
- Do not hide it in a cabinet or behind the TV.
- External antennas: one vertical, the other at 45 degrees.
Step 2: two bands, two different jobs
| Band | Range | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | Long, passes through walls | Lower, more interference | Cameras, sensors, devices in a garage |
| 5 GHz | Shorter, weaker through walls | High, less interference | Laptop, TV, phone in the same room |
| 6 GHz (Wi‑Fi 6E/7) | Shortest | Highest | New devices close to the router |
If the router broadcasts one name for both bands, devices choose for themselves — and often cling to the weaker signal. When there are problems, split the names and assign devices deliberately.
Step 3: channels and neighbours
In a block of flats a dozen networks may share a channel. A phone analyser app shows which are busy. On 2.4 GHz only channels 1, 6 and 11 make sense; on 5 GHz there is more room, so automatic selection usually suffices.
Step 4: what actually helps when coverage is missing
| Solution | When it makes sense | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Moving the router | Always the first step | Sometimes needs a longer cable |
| Repeater | One weak spot, small budget | Usually halves throughput, frequent drops |
| Mesh system | House without cabling, several floors | Cost, weaker results through thick walls |
| Wired access point | A cable can be run | Installation work |
| Powerline adapters | No cable possible, one circuit | Depends on the state of the wiring |
Step 5: check whether the device is the problem
Sometimes “slow internet” affects one laptop with an old Wi‑Fi card or aggressive power saving. The test is simple: measure the speed on two devices in the same spot. If only one is slow, the network is fine.
Security while you are at it
- Change the router’s admin password — not the same as the Wi‑Fi password.
- Use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, never WEP or an open network.
- Turn WPS off if you do not use it.
- Run a separate network for guests and smart devices.
- Check router firmware updates — most home routers do not update themselves.
Improving coverage is usually a matter of diagnosis rather than shopping. To have someone measure your situation and propose the smallest effective change, see networks, Wi‑Fi and VPN.