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What to do When Router Dead Spots Appear

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Updated August 9, 2022

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Table of Contents_

What Causes Router Dead Spots?
How to Minimize Dead Spots
Method 1 – Move the Router
Method 2 – Move Furniture and Appliances
Method 3 – Use an Extender or Mesh Network

If you have a large home with plenty of nooks and crannies, you may wonder what to do when router dead spots show up, eliminating reliable service. Even the best routers can struggle to offer a signal throughout an entire home, especially after you’ve Here is what to do when you suspect a dead spot.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

If wireless router dead spots appear, restart your router and then move the wireless router to a more central location within the home.
Next, keep the router away from any Wi-Fi signal interference-causing devices, such as microwave ovens, baby monitors, and cordless phones.
You can also invest in wireless range extenders or a mesh router system, both of which eliminate empty spots with connected devices.

What Causes Router Dead Spots?

Dead spots can cause you to frantically learn how to make a WiFi router faster or with a longer range, but what causes these dead spots? Just about anything, actually. Any housebound obstacle can cause an empty spot within a wireless network, including furniture, large appliances, and even walls. Some gadgets that share signal bands with a router can lead to dead spots, such as microwaves and baby monitors. Finally, the router itself simply may not extend to the further reaches of your home, which causes empty spots in the wireless network. In this case, you’ll need to learn how to extend the WiFi range.

Insider Tip

A wireless range extender can help minimize or eliminate any dead zones throughout the home.

How to Minimize Dead Spots

There are a number of ways you can minimize dead spots throughout the home.

Method 1 – Move the Router

The router may be placed in an out-of-the-way part of the home, leading to bad spots.
Move the router to a centrally located part of your home.
It also helps to place a router on a high shelf or countertop, as a lowly placed router struggles to send a consistent signal.

Method 2 – Move Furniture and Appliances

Furniture and certain gadgets and appliances can interrupt your wireless signal.
Move large pieces of furniture away from a router’s direct line of sight.
Also, remove microwaves, baby monitors, and cordless phones from the immediate vicinity of the router, as these devices can interrupt the signal.

Method 3 – Use an Extender or Mesh Network

If you are struggling to eliminate empty spots, try a wireless range extender.
These devices plug into a wall outlet and intercept your wireless signal, repeating it and spitting it back out for a longer range.
You can also go with a mesh network or mesh router.
These systems are built from the ground up to eliminate bad spots.
To get either up and running, read the instructions thoroughly and follow any on-screen prompts.
Be sure to check that they are working after you have completed the setup.

F.A.Q.S

What is a Wi-Fi dead zone?

This is a zone in which a wireless device will struggle to maintain a connection. You may need to invest in a tri-band router, a Wi-Fi range extender, or another type of Wi-Fi extender.

How to get a stronger WiFi signal?

If you are looking for a stronger wi-fi signal, start by checking the Ethernet cable connection, then look for Wi-Fi dead spots, and finally, keep an eye on overall signal strength.

How does your router work?

A router receives Internet data from a modem, which it turns into a Wi-Fi connection. These Wi-Fi radio waves then flow to connected devices.

STAT: Drywall can reduce speed up to 50% while a concrete barrier can put a complete halt on signal trying to pass through. (source)

REFERENCES:

Lawrence Bonk

Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.