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Dead zones and dropped connections have become a common occurrence in multi-storey and large houses because the WiFi routers employed aren’t strong enough to provide coverage across the whole area. For optimal internet coverage in a multi-storey home, you need to make a smart choice and choose a router that ticks all the boxes. You need to consider the design, coverage, features, and placement of the router for ideal coverage inside a multi-storey home. Let us break down everything that you need to know to choose the right router for a multi-storey home.

Assess Your Home’s Layout and Size

Before we begin to talk about other things, you need to know the home’s layout and size. Multi-storey homes have thick walls, floors made of dense materials, and distinct corners. Take into consideration the total square area of the house, the wall materials that are used, and possible router placement locations. Assessing your home’s layout, size, and other factors can help you determine the type and strength of router that you need.

 

Now that you have assessed your home’s design, here is how you can make a smart choice and choose the right router.

1. Go for Dual-Band or Tri-Band Routers

Multi-story homes can benefit greatly from dual-band or tri-band routers because these routers transmit WiFi signals in two different frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band covers longer distances and penetrates walls better, making it ideal for the upper or lower floors, while the 5 GHz band is less prone to interference and congestion, and offers better speeds to nearby devices and gadgets.

 

So, for multi-story households with high internet usage, dual-band or tri-band routers are essential.

2. Consider Mesh WiFi Systems

If you want to have consistent internet coverage throughout your multi-story home, then consider investing in a Mesh WiFi system. Unlike traditional single-access point routers, mesh WiFi systems have multiple access points or nodes throughout the home. These access points or nodes work together to provide seamless coverage without connection drops.

 

In a multi-story home, you can install one or two nodes per floor to ensure consistent speed and connection throughout the house. Popular mesh systems include Google Nest, TP-Link Deco, and Netgear Orbi. These are user-friendly options, easy to configure through 192.168.0.1, and ideal for large and multi-story homes.

3. Prefer WiFi 6 Over WiFi 5

WiFi routers come with various WiFi standards that determine the performance of the router. The latest and most recommended WiFi standard is the WiFi 6 (802.11ax). Although WiFi 5 (802.11ac) is widely used, WiFi 6 offers better performance, more bandwidth, and can handle more simultaneous devices, making it a better choice for multi-story households with multiple devices.

4. Look for Beamforming and MU-MIMO Features

To improve the WiFi performance in a multi-story home, your router should also have beamforming and MU-MIMO technology. Beamforming focuses the WiFi signal in the direction of connected devices rather than spreading it in all directions, which increases range and stability, while the MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output) features allow the router to communicate with multiple devices at the same time. 

 

These are advanced features that you can find in the admin panel of modern-day routers accessible via the default IP address 192.168.1.1. Using these features, you can reduce lag and dead zones across your multi-story home.

5. Evaluate Antenna Design

Antenna design plays a critical role in determining signal strength. Keep in mind that not all router antennas are created equal. Some routers have external antennas that are adjustable and provide a stronger, more directional signal, while others have internal antennas that look cleaner but may not offer the same strength or range. For multi-storey homes, routers with high-gain external antennas are considered a better choice, as they can provide an optimised signal spread across floors.

6. Don’t Overlook Router Placement

Lastly, no matter how powerful your router is, poor placement will ruin the performance and coverage of the router. Therefore, try to place the router centrally on the middle floor to allow signals to reach both the upper and lower stories, away from thick walls and metal objects, and at a higher position for optimal coverage,