A stable wireless connection supports multiple aspects of daily activities. However, the signal strength may get reduced in distant bedrooms, upper floors or balcony spaces. This happens because the intensity of radio waves reduces as they travel through walls, ceilings and furniture. Most of the standard Wi-Fi routers' coverage stays around 140 to 230 square meters. By using the correct steps, you can extend the Wi-Fi network range across your home and office.

Why Does Wi-Fi Range Become Limited?

Before searching on the web for ‘Wi-Fi near me’, let’s understand the limitations of wireless internet networks. Wi-Fi signals can work in the frequency range of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. They both act differently in regard to speed and coverage.

● The band with 2.4 GHz is more penetrative and has a longer range, but it has lower speeds.
● The 5 GHz band is higher in speed but has a shorter range and has more problems with solid barriers.

The following are some of the primary factors that influence the Wi-Fi range:

● Walls made of thick concrete or brick.
● Metal plates, mirrors and large amenities.
● Extensive distance of the router.
● Neighbour networks interference.
● A large volume of attached gadgets.

There are also overlapping Wi-Fi channels in crowded residential neighbourhoods, which become problematic in terms of performance. This knowledge of limitations is useful in choosing the appropriate method of extension.

Optimise Router Placement First

The easiest and least expensive step is to improve placement. The appropriate areas of placement of Wi-Fi routers include:

● Install the router in the central position in the house.
● Maintain it high on a table, wall mount or shelf.
● Do not store it in cabinets or closed boxes.
● Keep away from the microwave appliances and cordless phones.
● Use routers with adjustable antennas in an upright position so that you can maximise horizontal coverage.

Update Router Settings

The configuration possibilities of modern routers are designed to improve performance and stability.

Some of the valuable adjustments you can make to increase the strength of the Wi-Fi connection include:

● Enabling dual-band functionality.
● Choose the least congested channel.
● Installing firmware via the router dashboard.
● Allowing beamforming where possible.

Upgrade to a Dual Band or Wi-Fi 6 Router

Routers that use the 802.11n wireless standard are inefficient in providing high performance, especially when compared to the newer wireless standards like Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Advantages of the newer routers are:

● Higher throughput speeds
● More effective control of various interconnected gadgets.
● Improved signal efficiency
● High-tech innovations like beamforming and OFDMA.

Use a Wi-Fi Range Extender

Wi-Fi extender captures the current wireless signal and re-transmits it to the areas with low signal.

The correct way to install these devices includes:

● Install the extender between the main router and the region with poor coverage.
● Make sure that it continues to be strongly signalled by the router.

The use of wireless extenders can lower the total speed since they provide the retransmission of data on the same frequency band. These options are highly affordable for households with a few rooms and two or three devices.

Install a Mesh Wi-Fi System

Mesh networks are a combination of several nodes that are strategically located in the house to form an entire wireless network. 

Benefits of a Mesh Wi-Fi network include:

● One network name in all the rooms.
● Smooth interoperability without manual switching.
● Constant coverage on large properties.

A two-node mesh system serves an area of approximately 250-350 square metres (depending on design). Most systems rely on special wireless backhaul or Ethernet backhaul to ensure high-speed communication amongst nodes. Mesh networks work out great with duplex or multi-floor houses.

How To Extend Wi-Fi Range With Another Router?

The second router is an economical option to expand coverage, particularly in bigger houses. You can use the additional network in the following ways:

Method 1: Access Point Mode Using Ethernet

This arrangement retains complete speed. The configuration steps include:

● You should connect an Ethernet cable between the LAN port of the second router and the LAN port of the main router. 
● The second router requires its DHCP function to be turned off.
● The device needs a permanent IP address assignment, which must match the existing subnet range.
● Users need to connect to the same network name and password for their devices to move between access points without interruption.

The data transmission through wired connections results in a minor reduction in speed. This technique is extensively suitable if the property has multiple rooms and multiple floors.

Method 2: Wireless Repeater Mode

In situations when the Ethernet cabling cannot be used, the second router can be configured as a network repeater.

Some of the key considerations are as follows:

● Speed is decreased when a router receives and re-transmits signals.
● Placement should be done such that there is a strong reception by the main router.

How To Extend Wi-Fi Range in a House With Another Router?

Multiple floors of housing and commercial spaces require the installation of a second router. The recommended approach is as follows:

● The second router should be installed on the upper or lower floor of the space where the primary router is placed.
● Do not put it too close to solid concrete slabs.
● Maintain an open space around the device for signal distribution.
● Where possible, use Ethernet cabling through walls or the ceiling.

Manage Device Distribution

Efficient device allocation improves overall performance. Some of the practical steps include:

● Assign nearby devices to the 5 GHz band.
● Use 2.4 GHz for devices located farther away.
● Connect smart televisions and desktops via Ethernet.
● Restart the router periodically to refresh connections.

Final Thoughts

Ways to extend Wi-Fi range include placement, updated hardware and proper configuration. The adjustments in router position and settings optimisation often increase the coverage across properties with multiple floors and rooms. To the Wi-Fi signal in your space, you can use an additional router as a new access point via Ethernet cables or use the repeater mode to retransmit the current wireless network. Both systems can help you increase the internet speed across your home with minimal dead network zones.