5 WiFi Antenna Placement Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to the performance and coverage of wireless networks, antennas are usually poorly understood and undervalued. Most people are not familiar with antennas, their functionality, and proper placement. Some of the time, the reason behind the poor performance of wireless networks is poor antenna placement. Most people make common mistakes regarding the placement and position of antennas due to which they experience various WiFi problems.

Fortunately, we know some of the common WiFi antenna position problems and have discussed them below so that you don’t make these mistakes in the future and avoid WiFi performance issues.

1. Covering the Wireless Router or Antennas

A common mistake people make regarding the placement of wireless router antennas is that they partially cover the wireless router and only let the antennas stick through a small hole. When the rest of the wireless router is covered and only antennas are sticking out, it can lead to part of the energy being transmitted by antennas to waste, creating a total mess. So the next time you place a wireless router somewhere, ensure that the router and antennas are not covered by any material.

2. Incorrect Installation

Incorrect installation of wireless routers is another common reason for the poor performance of WiFi networks. Every wireless router is manufactured differently. Some routers are designed for ceiling mounting with sideways gain patterns and they are meant to be mounted on the ceiling only for optimal performance. When a ceiling-mounted WiFi router is installed on a wall or placed on an object, the wireless signals are transmitted in up and down directions instead of sideways patterns, leading to interference and decreased signal levels.

Before installing a wireless router or access point, ensure what kind of router that is so that you install and place it the way it was intended. Once you place it the way it was designed, you can then set up the router through 192.168.0.1 and enjoy optimal performance.

3. Placing the Router Close to a Metal Object

This is a quite common mistake that we see in several households worldwide. Instead of placing the router in an open space with no objects nearby, the router is placed close to a metal device or object. When the router is placed close to a metal object, there happens a lot of reflection and refraction, which causes multiple copies of the signal to arrive at receivers, leading to decreased data rates.

Placing the access point close to a metal object results in poor signal strength and the router should always be placed in an open space with no objects nearby for signal interference, reflection, and refraction.

4. Placing the Router Close to Other Electronic Devices

Just as placing the router close to metal objects can lead to poor WiFi signals, placing the router close to other electronic devices also disrupts wireless signals. Placing the router close to electronic devices such as microwaves, cordless phones, and Bluetooth speakers can interfere with WiFi communication and lead to poor signal strength and performance.

This can be avoided by maintaining a distance between the WiFi antennas and electronic devices so that interference can be avoided. Additionally, the frequency band of the router can be changed from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz through 192.168.1.1, which is less susceptible to interference.

5. Ignoring Line of Sight

When it comes to the placement of wireless routers and antennae, the line of sight is usually ignored. Line-of-sight refers to the direct path between the access point (router) and receiver (your device). Having a direct line of sight is important for an ideal coverage but most of the time, the line of sight is blocked by obstacles such as walls, floors, and furniture, leading to weakened WiFi signals.

A simple way to avoid this mistake is to place the router and antennae with an unobstructed line of sight to maximize signal strength. Avoid placing the router behind thick concrete walls or large objects that can obstruct the signal transmission.