Routers send out wireless signals—but physical obstructions can still create problems. Even the ground itself can absorb a good amount of your signal. That's why the best practice is to place your router a few feet off the ground, such as on a cabinet, desk or wall mount.
While EMF emissions from different routers vary, for most home WiFi routers, a distance of 40 feet (ideally, or 10 feet at a minimum) will help your body and shouldn't impact your WiFi connection too much.
If you look carefully at a router (which you probably don't), you'll notice it has air vents. Like most electronics, routers get hot, and they need a way to stay cool. Throwing a router into a box may seem like a good idea design-wise, but doing so will suffocate the router and lead to a hot, malfunctioning mess.
These guidelines recognize that too much exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation can harm the human body, particularly at close distances. While maintaining a safe distance from the WiFi router can greatly reduce your exposure to its radiation, keeping the router in your bedroom is not recommendable.
Don't keep your modem in a cupboard or patch panel as the walls can block your modem's signal.
Electronic equipment like routers and computers need to stay cool in order to function properly, so extreme temperatures can cause these devices to overheat and interrupt home Wi-Fi network.
Routers can get warm due to the internal components like the router's processor working, but they shouldn't get hot. If it's too hot to touch, it's overheating, which can damage the router over time.
Electronic devices, including routers, can overheat. Overheating can cause damage to the hardware, slowing your Internet connection. Check your router's temperature.
'Your Wi-Fi router doesn't require rest like other devices. It is designed to be working 24/7 and that's every single day of the year. Whenever you turn your router off, it can automatically send signals to your internet provider,' he explains. 'This works as a signal that your internet connection is unstable.
See if you can lower your Wi-Fi router's output. It may be set to “High” as a default, which could create more intense wireless radiation output than anyone in your household needs. To reduce radiation exposures significantly, many experts recommend using wired devices whenever possible.
Wi-Fi signals will usually reach about 150 feet or over 45 meters for a 2.4Ghz frequency. Using a 5Ghz frequency, you will get about 50 feet or about 15 meters of reach.
In general, you want your router to be in the middle of things so Wi-Fi can reach as much of your home as possible. But a few factors affect where you can and should put your wireless router—like where you have access to a network jack or appliances that may affect your Wi-Fi signal strength.
Place your router centrally
This means the more centrally you can place it, the better your home's overall coverage will be. Putting your router near a window means that you're broadcasting outside as well as inside, and sending some of your strongest broadband connection – quite literally – out the window.
Routers wear out from heat stress. The heat that comes from the router working to connect all of your many devices can damage wires and components inside. They have vents that allow the heat to escape.
Don't place your router next to a window
Your router doesn't need a scenic view, so there's no reason to have it next to your window. If your router is placed next to a window, a lot of the signal will escape outside and go to waste – plus you'll miss out on that hyperfast broadband.
Common symptoms of overheating are:
slower speeds. unreliability. hardware failure. burnt plastic odor.
Your device is designed to work best in ambient temperatures between 32° and 95° F (0° and 35° C), and should be stored between ambient temperatures of -4° and 140° F (-20° and 60° C).
Cold wont hurt it, but heat might if your garage gets too hot in the summer. With excessive heat, it might start misbehaving.
You might be tempted to leave an indoor router or satellite unit in a covered area outside or a weatherproof enclosure. This may work in the short term, but the risk factors are high. The device could overheat or freeze.
You'll also want to be careful not to stick your router behind a large TV, which can cause electronic interference while also physically blocking or disrupting the signal. Along with electronics, keep an eye out for bulky furniture that might be limiting the signal's reach.
A common cause of reduced Wi-Fi performance is dense walls and furniture in between routers and wireless devices. In addition to dense walls and objects, conductive materials can block Wi-Fi signals the most, causing Wi-Fi not to work in some buildings.