6 Tips for Improving Wi-Fi Coverage in a Larger Home

A larger home comes with lots of perks, like more space, more storage, and maybe even a backyard that finally fits your vision. Unfortunately, there’s a downside that many people don’t anticipate: Namely, Wi-Fi dead zones.

For people in large homes, sudden connection drop-outs and molasses-speed performance can be surprisingly common. The cause comes down to how Wi-Fi signals break down over longer distances—but that doesn’t mean the spotty Wi-Fi in your guest bedroom has to be an unchangeable fact of nature. Let’s take a quick review of why this happens, then look at six ways that you can do something about it.

Wi-Fi signals lose power over long distances, or when they encounter obstructions like walls and furniture. A single router can often cover a small apartment or starter home with no issues, but it’s a different story for people in multi-level homes or large, sprawling ranches.

In these bigger homes, it’s often hard to get a strong signal from one router, especially in distant areas like basements, porches, and second storeys. Other features, like an L-shaped or split-level layout, can also make things worse. Finally, other devices and appliances can create electrical interference that drags down your Wi-Fi performance.

• Just moved in, or moving soon? Here’s how to get your connection set up fast.

Start out by running an internet speed test on your Wi-Fi connection. You can test your upload speed, download speed, and latency/ping here.

Try running the test in different rooms and on different devices, then compare those results to the speeds you're paying for. If you're getting close to your plan's advertised speeds near the router but experiencing significant drops in other rooms, the issue is likely coverage, not your internet plan.

If your speeds are consistently low everywhere, even right next to the router, the problem might be outdated equipment, an insufficient plan, or an issue with your connection type. Skip down to our information about upgrading your plan to find out more.

So where should you position your router to maximize coverage? Here are the rules of thumb:

• Put your router in a central location, not at a far end of your home or in the basement.
• Elevate your router if you can; a shelf or desk is better than the floor.
• Place it in an open area where the signal will travel through fewer walls.
• Don’t place it next to big appliances if you can help it.

At minimum, bring your router into your home if it’s currently languishing in the basement or garage, and see if your internet speeds improve.

Not all routers are built the same. Older single-band routers operate only on the 2.4GHz frequency, which has a longer range but slower speeds and more interference from other devices.

Dual-band routers broadcast Wi-Fi signals on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. The 5GHz band offers faster speeds and less interference, though it doesn't travel as far through walls. Almost all routers released in the 2020s are dual-band, but people with older routers may need to replace theirs to enjoy modern speeds.

Tri-band routers add a second 5GHz band, which helps distribute traffic more efficiently across multiple devices. Most people don’t need a tri-band router, but it’s good for households with multiple heavy bandwidth users who need their own connections. Whatever you need, start by talking to your ISP; almost all ISPs now have dual-band router available for rent, and you can get one that’s optimized for their network.

Mesh Wi-Fi is an increasingly popular option for homeowners seeking the best Wi-Fi for a large home. Unlike traditional routers that broadcast from a single point, mesh systems use multiple nodes placed throughout your home to create a seamless network.

Each node communicates with the others, so you get strong coverage in every room without manually switching between networks. Devices automatically connect to the nearest node, so you won't experience dropoffs as you move from room to room.

Mesh systems are particularly useful for homes with challenging layouts, including basements, garages, outdoor living spaces, or rooms separated by thick walls. They’re also a big improvement over older “Wi-Fi extenders,” which often don’t perform as well because they simply transmit your existing signal, rather than building a high-performance new network.

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Wi-Fi signals share airwave space with a lot of other wireless devices. Microwaves, baby monitors, cordless phones, and even your neighbor's Wi-Fi network can all create interference that weakens your connection.

These tips can help you minimize interference from electrical sources:

• Keep your Wi-Fi router away from other electronics as much as you can. Microwaves, baby monitors, and refrigerators are especially prone to cause interference.
• Switch to the 5Ghz band on your Wi-Fi router, as it’s often less crowded.
• Try switching Wi-Fi channels to (Here’s how to find and switch Wi-Fi channels on your modem.)

If you’re connecting devices like game consoles or desktop PCs to your Wi-Fi, try connecting them to wired Ethernet instead. While it’s not as convenient as a wireless connection, wired Ethernet is almost always faster and more stable than Wi-Fi.

That’s right—wired internet is anything but dated. In fact, it’s still the preferred option for anything that uses heavy-duty bandwidth, like your game console or the desktop PC where you take work calls. By removing the Wi-Fi “middleman,” an Ethernet connection makes sure you’re getting every megabit your connection can provide. Plus, the more devices you keep off your Wi-Fi, the more wireless bandwidth you have available for mobile devices like phones and tablets.

Firmware is the internal software that keeps your router secure and in working order. If your router hasn’t had a firmware update recently, it might be hurting your Wi-Fi performance.

Here’s the caveat: If you rent a router or modem/router combo from your ISP, you probably don’t need a firmware update, because most ISPs will automatically update your firmware remotely. However, if you have your own router, take a few minutes to dig out the owner’s manual and look for updates via the router’s admin settings.

If you’ve exhausted these tips and your internet still isn’t meeting your needs, you might simply need more bandwidth. That’s especially likely if a lot of people use your connection at once, and/or they’re using it for high-bandwidth applications like gaming and remote work.

Moving into a bigger place is often a good time to think about upgrading to a fiber internet connection. Fiber delivers faster speeds, more reliable connections, and the ability to upgrade your bandwidth whenever you need it—so it’s a future-ready option that’s perfect for new homeowners. Check if Brightspeed Fiber is available in your area, or learn more about moving your internet service.