How to find the ideal place for a Wi-Fi router inside your apartment. Where is the best place to install a router in an apartment? Where is the best place to install a router in an apartment?
So, you are already concerned with the issue of selecting the best location for this router. There are several criteria when choosing a location for a router. Basically, this is convenience, comfort, beauty and other nonsense, for which there is no single rule. Here everyone is their own boss.
But to improve the router’s Wi-Fi signal and reduce any interference, on the contrary, there are very specific tips.
1) It is not recommended to install a Wi-Fi router near, near, on, under or inside microwave ovens, cordless phones, wireless interface extenders and other equipment that operates at a frequency of 2.4 or 5 GHz. These are the frequencies used in Wi-Fi routers. If we compare the two bands, then routers operating at a frequency of 5 GHz have fewer brothers in the operating frequency among other equipment, and therefore less interference.
2) There is no need to install the router next to a mirror or other objects with a mirror surface that completely reflect the signal, which creates unnecessary interference.
3) The fewer electrical devices between the computer and the router, the better.
4) It is strictly not recommended to install the router behind a wall, especially behind a load-bearing one. If you are in another room, then move the router there.
1) The best place for the router is on the wall. And the higher, the better. And you don’t have to immediately look at the top of the nearest cabinet. Most routers have special holes for wall mounting.
2) The best location of the router antennas, if any, is vertical. I recommend playing a little with the placement of the antennas, as this can improve the signal quite well.
3) If the router works for one single device, then place it next to it. You can also simply connect to it using twisted pair, then there will definitely be no interference.
4) In addition, you can read the article about how to choose a less busy communication channel.
5) An article about the location can give slightly opposite advice, because the main criterion there is safety. But you read both articles, perhaps you will find a good compromise.
Just like that. I wish you less interference and a better signal!
This article will not talk about connecting and setting up a Wi-Fi router, but about its correct location in an apartment, private house, or office. If you haven't bought a router yet, then read on and go to the store. After purchasing a router, you will need to install it in a specific location, connect and configure it. You can read about connection and setup in the instructions that were included in the kit, or in other articles on our website. Instructions for setting up some routers are collected on the page. And in this article we will talk specifically about choosing a place to install the router. Where you can install and where you can’t.
The location of the router in the house first affects the coverage of the Wi-Fi network. It's clear. If you have a huge apartment or a large house, then by installing a router at one end of the house, it is unlikely that you will receive Wi-Fi in the back room. There are no secrets in choosing a location for installation. But by following some recommendations, there is a chance to do without buying a second router or repeater to strengthen your wireless network.
If at the time of purchasing the router you already have the Internet connected, then it is most often installed where the Internet cable from the provider is laid. Because laying a new cable, lengthening it, or even shortening it is not the easiest task. And I will say this: if after setting up the Wi-Fi router the network reaches the whole house and everything works well, then there is no need to invent anything. Install where you can. This is especially true for one-room or small two/three-room apartments. And also small houses. Wherever you install the router, you will have a stable Wi-Fi signal in all rooms.
Recommendations for choosing a location for the router
As I wrote above, you can install the router in a place where you like, where the Internet is connected, or where you have a place to install it (desk, shelf, etc.). If there are no problems with Wi-Fi network coverage, then you can close this article and use the Internet.
If you have problems with the coating, here are some tips:
- Do not install the router close to other electrical appliances. Such as: cordless phones, microwave ovens, TVs, etc. Since the Wi-Fi network operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, or 5 GHz. And the technology that I listed above can also use this frequency, then there will be strong interference. Because of this, the signal may drop, or the Wi-Fi network will be unstable.
- The Wi-Fi signal passes through obstacles and at the same time the signal level drops. The biggest evil is metal barriers. Walls with metal elements inside (as a rule, these are load-bearing walls). Metal doors, etc. Mirrors and glass also reflect the wireless network signal. Concrete and brick walls also significantly reduce the range of a Wi-Fi network. The fewer walls and barriers, the better.
- Look at the floor plan of your house or apartment and think about whether it is possible to place the router closer to the center. This arrangement will provide more even coverage throughout the house. And it won’t happen that your neighbor’s signal from your network is more stable than yours. Or install the router closer to the place where you will actively use the wireless network. For example, closer to the bedroom and kitchen. But further from the children's room. You should like this arrangement if you are puzzled by the issue of harm from Wi-Fi network radiation.
- If possible, install the router as high as possible. It can be mounted on the wall. Almost every router has holes for wall mounting. And the antennas fold.
And some more useful tips:
Where is your router installed in your house? How is the Wi-Fi network coverage? Share your tips in the comments and ask questions!
In most of the articles on our site, we carefully describe the configuration of various models of modern routers. So, on the pages of the portal you can find step-by-step instructions for popular models, and, and also check and.
However, in addition to the right one, for smooth operation you need to choose the right location for the wireless WiFi access point. And in this article we will discuss how to install a Wi-Fi router, and consider all the pitfalls of creating your own access point.
Where is the best place to install a router in an apartment?
So, to install a router at home yourself? you need to focus on the following criteria:
- - all the “promised places” of your apartment must fall within the coverage area of the Wi-Fi router;
- - the router must be securely fastened and not exposed to external influences;
- - the impact of the router on apartment residents should be minimized.
As for the convenience of the location of the router, the space occupied by the router and the aesthetics of installation - this is purely a “matter of taste” and has only an indirect relation to the rules for installing a home router.
1. Where to install the router in the house for maximum coverage area?
The stability of a wireless home network directly depends on how high the router is installed. This is due to the fact that the closer to the floor, the more objects will “interfere” with normal radiation (for example, WiFi waves will “cling” to cabinets, sofas, household appliances and other home furnishings.).
Thus, in order to provide stable WiFi to the entire apartment (or one-story house), it is best to mount the router “under the ceiling” (for example, install a special corner shelf for the router or place the router on the very edge of a tall cabinet):
In city apartments, the “optimal” place would be the inner corner of the central room or the top of the outer wall in the hallway;
In a two-story apartment, it is best to install a Wi-Fi router in the central part of the house on the second floor, at a level of a meter from the floor.
2. How to install a router: technical features
You should install the router in the central part of the house or apartment based on the following considerations:
- - to easily connect the provider’s Internet cable to it (this is especially “relevant” for optical fiber, which should not be “disturbed” once again: this cable is very easily susceptible to mechanical damage);
- - so that the router is inaccessible to children and pets (it is worth foreseeing all potential emergencies in advance: does the interior door catch on the Internet cable, does splashes from the bathroom get on the router, etc.)
- - to ensure unhindered access to the device if necessary (for example, to reboot the router);
Thus, it is best to mount the router above the front door: you don’t have to “pull” the network cable through the apartment and the risk of accidental damage to the router is minimal here.
- 3. Is it possible to install the router in the bedroom?
Despite the sincere assurances of network equipment manufacturers that their products are “reliable and safe,” installing a router near the places where apartment residents regularly stay (in a child’s room, in a bedroom or on a desktop) is strictly not recommended. Any router is, first of all, an emitter and with regular wave exposure to the body, serious health problems can arise.
The location of the router in the apartment can significantly affect the coverage of your home wireless network. This is especially noticeable in large apartments - in some cases it is quite difficult to do without a repeater, since the signal weakens in the far corners of the home. However, the correct location of the router can mitigate this problem somewhat. You should also carefully consider the choice of location for the router if there are several devices connected to the apartment at once.Wi— Fi(for example, a laptop, any “smart” gadget and an Interactive TV set-top box), and at the same time they are located in different rooms.
Many users place the router somewhere close to the desktop, next to the PC. This is logical - the sockets are nearby, turning the router off and on is convenient. If your device is also located next to the table and the signal quality suits you, you don’t have to change anything. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky - in many cases you will have to choose a good place for the router.
As for the location of the router, here you can use some practical recommendations. Note that all recommendations are rather approximate, because each apartment will have its own good and bad places to place a router.
1. Often placing the router approximately in the middle of the apartment is a good idea. Especially if you have a small apartment or studio apartment. The wireless signal will be received quite reliably anywhere in your home.
2. The fewer walls between the router and the device receiving the signal, the better. Why? Everything is quite simple. A Wi-Fi signal is an electromagnetic wave of a certain frequency (2.4 or 5 GHz). Obstacles in the path of the wave degrade the signal quality. However, much depends on the material from which these obstacles are made. And, of course, we must not forget about the thickness of the walls. In old brick houses, walls do not have a very big impact on the signal quality (except for connections in the 5 GHz range) - the signal from the router passes through such an obstacle quite well. Wi-Fi electromagnetic waves are almost not absorbed by wooden walls. But the signal passes through reinforced concrete poorly - a reflected signal goes from the wall to the same room where the router is installed. In the next room, the signal, as a rule, is already quite weak, and through another wall the wireless access point is not “visible” to receiving devices. Therefore, it is better to position the router so that there are as few walls as possible in the signal path, especially if the walls are reinforced concrete. The same remark applies to iron doors.
3. Quite often, an apartment corridor can be a good place for a router. Many standard apartment layouts provide free signal access from the hallway to the rooms and kitchen, since the corridor is located approximately in the middle of the room. In addition, the cable from the provider often enters the apartment in the hallway.
For more efficient signal propagation, you can hang the router on the wall at a height of at least one and a half meters.
4. It is better to place the router away from microwave ovens, cordless phones and other electrical appliances so that they do not create additional interference. Most access points still operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Some household appliances, as well as Bluetooth devices, operate in the same range, which negatively affects the quality of the Wi-Fi signal. It is advisable to place the router at least one and a half to two meters from microwave ovens, radiotelephone bases, etc. Therefore, by the way, the kitchen is not a very good place for a router.
5. It is not advisable to place the router near radiators or any other heating devices. During operation, the router can become noticeably hot, so do not bring it to a boil. Do not cover the router or place foreign objects on it. Also, the device must be protected from water, so it is better not to place the router near a bathtub or aquarium.
6. It is not advisable to place a device that distributes Wi-Fi inside places with limited free space - in boxes, cabinets, niches in the wall. It is also better to avoid different secluded corners of the apartment (places behind the sofa, closet, etc.).
7. It is better not to place the device on the floor, under a chair, desk, etc. The signal will be absorbed by the furniture.
8. If you have pets in your home, try to position the router so that pets do not have access to the device.
Note that a 2.4 GHz signal penetrates obstacles better than a 5 GHz signal due to its longer electromagnetic wavelength. Therefore, if your router operates in the less “cluttered” 5 GHz band, you will have to place the router close to the receiving devices, otherwise the quality of the wireless connection may be unsatisfactory.
Also, special programs, for example, NetSpot, can help in choosing an acceptable location for the router. The program runs on macOS and Windows and is available in paid and free versions. Based on the created apartment plan, she can calculate good points for placing the router.
If you have tried various options for placing the device and the signal quality in distant parts of the apartment still does not suit you, consider purchasing a repeater. It will allow you to transmit a wireless signal over a greater distance.
How to properly install a hood over a gas stove, where is it better to place a router in an apartment, and where is a socket for it?
We asked industry professionals, architects and designers: what devices and systems are most often mistaken by ordinary people when placing them? And this is what they answered, shaking their heads.
Sockets
“Usually, any “hanging in the wrong place” is due to the lack of an outlet. Either it was placed further than necessary, or they completely forgot to bring out the wire,” says Larisa Zvereva, an architect at Frino. — There must be competent electrical work at the design stage, supervision of the foreman and the purchase of all necessary equipment at the electrical installation stage. Then there will be no problems."
Non-professionals universally make mistakes with the placement of sockets and switches, note almost all participants in design debates. Often the place for them is chosen incorrectly, the quantity is calculated incorrectly. “It can be difficult to track them in large numbers together with other interior elements,” explains designer Ivan Goryachev.
“Often sockets are made low from the floor, then it is impossible to install a high baseboard,” notes Bogdana Samoilenko. “Reaming moldings and baseboards will save you from such problems.”
“At the electrical design stage, it is important to approve the height of the bedside table, or better yet, choose it and order it so that the socket is at the desired height,” advises architect Vera Bedretdinova. — Several times, due to the customer’s choice of a different cabinet, the sockets “came out” unsightly and were conspicuous. Perfectionists wouldn't approve."
Air conditioner
Air conditioners hung in the wrong place are the second most common mistake in Russian apartments after the distribution of sockets, notes designer Katerina Shkolnikova: “The fact is that usually their location is suggested by the master installer, and he recommends not what is best, but what is easier for him.” "
“To prevent air conditioning and cable channels from spoiling the design, their placement must be planned in advance,” reminds Olesya Volkhina, designer at Vdesign.
“The first thing to consider is the area of the room,” says designer Irina Kalaitanova. - Knowing it, a specialist will help you choose a device of the required power. Modern air conditioning systems allow you to regulate the direction of air flow. Despite this, I would not recommend installing an air conditioner above a crib. Also, air flows should not directly enter the sleeping and working areas. Everything must be arranged so that a person does not have direct contact with cold air.” “Otherwise,” warns architect Yulia Sukhanova, “with constant operation of the air conditioner at night, you can constantly catch a cold.”
In small areas, it can be difficult to place the air conditioner without it blowing onto the bed or dining area. “In such cases, I advise you to take a closer look at more powerful models of air conditioners and place them in the corridor to cool two rooms at once or simultaneously a kitchen and a room - provided that there are open openings or the door is rarely closed. But in advance it is necessary to think through the system for diverting drainage into the sewer system and the passage of air ducts,” advises architect Maria Kitayeva.
“Most often, the air conditioner is hung after finishing, without remembering about it at the project stage - as a result, we get ugly boxes that cover the mains and external wiring,” says Andrey Rogov, head of the design studio RogovStudio. “In order not to “kill” the design of the room with visible wiring, air conditioning, even if it is only supposed to be in the future, should be taken into account in all drawings of the room from the very beginning,” recommends Mikhail Vostrov, architect of the Vostrov Creative Group.
Router
The router is “not there” if it is noticeable. But you also need to hide it carefully. “Walls and other structural elements will jam the signal,” reminds designer Maria Cherkasova.
“If you are deciding where to put a router in an apartment, you should not look for a place for it in a closet behind mirrored doors: a mirror degrades the quality of the wi-fi signal. This must be taken into account when wiring,” reminds Marina Plaksina, designer at ZEBRA studio.
“A common mistake is to hang the router above the front door, especially if the apartment is large and elongated. In this case, the signal does not reach distant rooms, reminds architect Yulia Sukhanova. “The router should be hung in the center of the apartment so that the signal covers all rooms as much as possible.”
“Once MGTS workers refused to extend their fiber optic cable further than the hallway, so we had to pull all the cables there,” recalls designer Kirill Pavlov. — And after the repair, it turned out that their router did not reach the bedroom with its wi-fi. I had to install an additional router in the center of the apartment.”
Don't be persuaded by people who don't need wireless connectivity. “I always try to place the router in the center of the apartment, but sometimes a “wise” electrician comes and convinces the customer: why do you need this? As a result, it’s a bad signal,” warns Alexandra Nikulina, designer at TrioDesign.
“The problem point is also the TV, the cabinet under it and the sockets that connect them,” says Kirill Pavlov. — I try to make all the conclusions so that no wires stick out between the cabinet and the hanging TV. In order for the cabinet to fit tightly to the wall, the sockets behind it have to be made at a certain height - where they will be exactly between the shelves with the player and other equipment. Several times these sockets had to be moved because another cabinet was ordered.”
Designer Marina Plaksina advises making an inconspicuous cable channel behind the TV panel in advance for wires from the equipment to the cabinet.
A TV placed against the sun is a common mistake. It will inevitably glare. “Often the TV is hung too high or low. It needs to be hung so that the eyes of the person sitting are in the center of the screen. Then watching will be a pleasure,” notes Bogdana Samoilenko.
“In the bathroom, the location of water lines is most often confused,” says designer Ruslan Kirnichansky. - There are two solutions. First: hire a professional plumber who can read blueprints and wall plans. Second: stand behind the plumber and mark the water findings yourself after the fact.”
“Plumbing installed during redevelopment in a situation where access to inspection of waste pipes is difficult, or the pipes themselves are laid at right angles and in violation of the norms, in a couple of years they will turn the kindest and most intelligent person into a fire-breathing dirty dragon,” Yaroslav Root sneers, Head of Architectural Studio 2+2.
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But the fact is that this figure is given for a hood connected to the ventilation system (as in the photo). And not for a device that purifies the air with its own filters and sends it back to the room (works in recirculation mode). Just such a hood is permissible and correct to hang over a gas stove at the same distance as over an electric one.
“The position of the hood depends not only on the distance to the hob, but also on its design. If there are carbon filters, the position is independent. If it’s a duct system, then you need to consider the approach to the ventilation shaft - usually under the ceiling,” says designer Maria Boyarova.
Fact: According to the standards, it is correct to hang the hood above the gas stove at a distance of 75-85 cm and above the electric stove - at a distance of 65-75 cm. However, if the hood is designed with an inclined surface, the distance is calculated along the lower edge (35-45 cm with an electric stove, 55-65 cm - with a gas stove).