Eliminate wifi dead spots using access points

Last Updated on November 14, 2016 by Dave Farquhar

I’ve said before how to eliminate wifi dead spots, but perhaps I didn’t give it the focus it deserves. I think almost everyone has wifi dead spots in their house that they would like to eliminate. It turns out you can do it, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune either.

The idea is to supplement your existing router with one or two additional access points. You can buy a dedicated access point like a TP-Link TL-WA801ND, or upgrade an old router with DD-WRT to turn it into an access point. Access points aren’t as overpriced as they once were, so just buying one is a better option than it used to be.

Next, log into your router or use a tool like Meraki Wifi Stumbler to see what channel your existing router is on. It should be on channel 1, 6, or 11. If it isn’t, move it to the nearest of those three channels. Wander around the house with Meraki Wifi Stumbler running to see what your neighbors are using, and where your signal is weakest. Get an access point as close as you can to the place the signal gets weak. Finally, plug it in to a wired network connection, and set it on a channel that’s faint or not in use in that area. Stay on channels 1, 6, or 11 to avoid interference. Deploy a third access point if you need one.

Then set all of them to use the same SSID and wifi password. Well-behaved devices will then lock on to whatever access point gives it the best signal.

To improve your signal even more, do this. If your access point has two external antennae, orient one antenna vertically and the other horizontally. If it has three, orient one vertically and the other two horizontally.

With three access points each on its own channel, my reception problems are a thing of the past now. It’s probably easier to eliminate wifi dead spots than you thought.

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