What are the considerations for positioning your WiFi router in a multi-story house?

Proper planning is required before installing a WiFi router in any place. We should collect the building dimensions, number of endpoints, number of endpoints supported by router, data transmission capacity of the router, check for any nearby interfering devices, obstacles, type and amount of traffic to be transmitted through the router.

Central Location Central Placement: Position the router centrally within the house to ensure even distribution of the WiFi signal to all areas. Height: Place the router at a reasonable height, such as on a shelf or mounted on a wall, to optimize signal spread. Avoid placing it on the floor or too high up.

Este é um assunto muito polêmico, existem variáveis que diminuiem a eficiência que roteador, como espelhos, vidros e superfícies espelhadas. Em uma situação perfeita seria recomendo ser instalado no centro da construção.

Avoid Physical Obstructions Walls and Floors: Thick walls and floors, especially those made of concrete or brick, can weaken the WiFi signal. Position the router in a location with minimal obstructions. Electronic Devices: Keep the router away from other electronic devices like microwaves, cordless phones, and baby monitors that can cause interference.

Other interference can include metal studs or flashing, and even some types of rock with high levels of metallic minerals, often found in igneous rock.

Using a network scanner at the site to check which channels are least occupied by interference from other WiFi devices and broadcasting the SSID on those would provide better connectivity and throughput

Home material is a major deterrent. Having lived in a concrete block house, signal would NOT penetrate, so I had to rely heavily on network over power adapters instead of wi-fi.

Nada de colocar o roteador atrás de TV, ou em baixo de mesas, ao lado de outros equipamentos. Evite locais com muitos espelhos, ou próximos a equipamento que emitam ondas eletromagnéticas, ou de radio frequências, como microondas, motores de ar-condicionado, ou módulo isolador/nobreak, aparelhos telefônico com base sem fio. Isso fará uma barreira de interferências que atenuará a qualidade da transmissão até o dispositivo.

Things to consider when trying to avoid signal obstacles for Wifi in a multi-level building can be the following: - plumbing in the walls - mirrors on walls - large furniture - elevator bays - stairwells

Os sinais WiFi podem ser significativamente enfraquecidos ou bloqueados por obstáculos físicos como paredes grossas, pisos de concreto e móveis grandes. Para otimizar a propagação do sinal, o roteador deve ser colocado em uma área aberta, livre de barreiras que possam atenuar ou refletir o sinal. Isso é especialmente importante em casas de vários andares, onde pisos e paredes adicionais podem causar mais obstruções.

In my experience, placing the signal in a central position could be less than optimal due to room materials such as walls and thick glass. Optimal placement, aside from the central position, should consider barriers that may obstruct the WiFi signal.

When it comes to multistore house with Wireless Mesh technology, an open space between floor become important. This will help the wireless signal to penetrate above/below floor level and established a backhaul between floors. Wored connection between floors is always preffered, but this is not always the case. Wireless mesh for residential home network is helping customer for this type of scenario.

Actualmente existen diferentes mecánismos para extender la red wifi y superar obstáculos. Desde la extensión cableada tradicional (un switch y cable utp) hasta dispositivos que usan la red eléctrica como canal de comunicación (con prestaciones aceptables, aunque no iguales al cableado específico) o extensores inalámbricos o potenciadores de señal.

Router Technology Modern Routers: Use a modern router that supports the latest WiFi standards (such as WiFi 6) for better performance and range. Dual-Band or Tri-Band Routers: These routers can help reduce congestion and improve connectivity by providing multiple frequency bands.

A altura em que o roteador é colocado também afeta a propagação do sinal. Idealmente, o roteador deve estar a uma altura de pelo menos um a um metro e meio do chão. Colocá-lo em uma prateleira alta ou móvel elevado pode ajudar a melhorar a dispersão do sinal. Em uma casa de vários andares, um bom ponto de partida pode ser o andar intermediário para que o sinal possa se propagar tanto para cima quanto para baixo, proporcionando uma cobertura mais uniforme entre os andares.

Existen equipos de wifi (routers o repetidores) especialmente diseñados (estéticamente hablando)para ser úbicados en la parte superior (techo, cielo falso, etcétera) pasando desapercibidos, como una decoración.

In most cases, a higher placement of the equipment tends to facilitate wireless signal propagation, but we should not limit ourselves to just the domestic use of wireless equipment. There are various applications that require specific solutions, and therefore, conducting a site survey is the best way to understand the environment and determine the optimal point for equipment installation.

Modern Routers: Use a router that supports the latest WiFi standards (e.g., WiFi 6) for better performance and range. Dual-Band/ Tri-Band Routers: Consider a dual-band or tri-band router to reduce congestion and provide better performance for multiple devices.

A direção das antenas do roteador pode influenciar significativamente a cobertura do sinal. Para roteadores com antenas internas, a orientação geral do dispositivo é importante. Para aqueles com antenas externas, a posição das antenas deve ser ajustada para maximizar a cobertura. Em geral, colocar uma antena na posição vertical favorece a cobertura horizontal, enquanto uma antena na posição horizontal favorece a cobertura vertical, o que pode ser útil em casas de vários andares. Combinações de antenas inclinadas também podem ser experimentadas para melhorar a propagação do sinal entre os diferentes níveis da casa.

Adjust Antennas: If the router has external antennas, position them vertically for horizontal coverage and horizontally for vertical coverage to maximize signal distribution across multiple floors.

Nuevamente apelaría al uso de aplicaciones (Gratis en su mayoría) que pueden instalarse para confirmar que tanto impacto tiene el cambio (en este caso de las antenas) respecto a la cobertura de la señal

By conducting the site survey, it will be possible to identify the best positioning for the antennas if the chosen equipment has this feature. In fact, vertically positioned antennas distribute the signal horizontally.

These days the routers are smart enough with beam formation to the device using wifi connection. Thus a typical antenna with vertical placement is sufficient if you are using an omnidirectional antenna router. For monodirectional routers , place the router facing the area where devices require wifi coverage .

When upgrading wifi, make sure that your devices are connecting not only to the correct network, but the correct band. 5ghz capable devices will operate faster and with better range on the 5ghz band than the older and slower 2.4ghz band

Network Configuration Separate SSIDs: If using extenders or a mesh system, ensure that the network configuration allows for seamless roaming between access points. Channel Selection: Use less congested channels to reduce interference from neighboring WiFi networks.

Pour garantir une bonne diffusion du signal, prévoir l'ajout d'un répéteur Wifi. Il devra être placé à un endroit stratégique de façon à capter un maximum le signale du routeur et proche de la zone à couvrir. Les tests de débit permettront de trouver le meilleur emplacement.

Environmental Factors Temperature: Place the router in a well-ventilated area to prevent overheating, which can affect performance. Furniture and Decor: Keep the router away from large metal objects, mirrors, and dense furniture that can reflect or absorb the signal.

Position your WiFi router centrally in your multi-story house for optimal coverage. Elevate the router on a shelf or mount it on a wall, avoiding obstructions like thick walls and metal objects. Place it away from electronic devices that could cause interference. For large or multi-story homes, consider using mesh WiFi systems or additional access points to ensure consistent signal strength throughout the house.

It should be very simple. Single router didn’t perform well enough so you have put at least 2 range extender if you have Ground + 1 building Or if you have larger than this then it all depends the area and the solid obstacle which comes in the way of Wi-Fi signal.

Select the appropriate band for your situation, 2.4 GHz band can penetrate obstacles to some extent but have less bandwidth, 5 GHz have way better bandwidth but can't penetrate much, I suggest you to consider all the points that others suggested and if you have problem yet, consider changing the band to get the best results. Also you can use third party apps that will map your signal strength based on the material of your walls. Before buying any device first try to estimate how many AP you will need.