Your Router Is in the Wrong Spot. Here’s Where To Move It for Faster Wi-Fi

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

A reliable internet connection at home is pivotal — but Wi-Fi can be frustratingly finicky. Despite paying monthly fees to an internet service provider, and even if you’ve had a router professionally installed, you may still find yourself spending too much time watching your phone, laptop or streaming device grind away as it tries to stay connected. 

That’s a massive headache if you work from home, if you’re trying to install smart home gadgets, or if you just want to unwind with some Netflix at the end of the day.

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The good news is there’s an easy way to optimize your Wi-Fi network and address these issues, and it’ll only take you a few minutes. 

There are a lot of factors that determine internet speeds and while there are a few tricks or guidelines you can follow to improve the overall wireless speeds and coverage in your home, one of the most crucial factors is the location of your router. And note, the best place is not always where the technician set it up. So keep reading to learn about the best place in your home for your router and other tricks for faster Wi-Fi. You can also check out our picks for the best Wi-Fi routers, the best mesh routers and the best Wi-Fi extenders.

Find the right router for your space

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First things first: It all starts with choosing the right router or other equipment. Not all routers are the same and the size and layout of your home will determine what type of wireless network you need.

For most apartments and smaller homes (under 1,500 square feet), a single wireless access point should suffice. That said, if your router is several years old, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer model with support for 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi

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How to speed up home internet without paying your ISP for faster service

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TP-Link Powerline Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit – AV1000 Gigabit Port

Rating: 4 Stars

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Mesh Wi-Fi systems changed the game when they first hit the scene. I personally use the eero Pro 6 system in my home. it still blows my mind when I think of how good it is, and it’s currently 20% off with promo code EERO.

That said, it’s also very expensive even on sale. And not everyone wants to pay top dollar for home Wi-Fi.

Even the more affordable eero 6 mesh Wi-Fi system still costs $280. It’s a phenomenal value, but that’s more than some people want to spend.

Have you been wondering how to speed up your home internet without dropping a ton of cash on mesh? You need to check out a powerline adapter on Amazon.

Boosting the internet speeds on your computer or video game console is much easier and less expensive than you thought. If you’re sick of slow internet speeds and “buffering” on your gear, there’s a simple setup that will almost certainly be a game-changer for you.

Best of all, it takes about 5 seconds to set up and you can use it with any setup that you already have in your home.

It’s called the TP-Link AV1000 Gigabit Powerline Internet Kit, and it speeds up your internet without making you pay more for faster internet service.

TP-Link AV1000 Powerline Starter Kit (TL-PA7017 KIT) – Gigabit Port, Plug&Play, Ethernet Over Power Price:$49.99 Buy Now Available from Amazon, BGR may receive a commission

Best powerline adapter on Amazon

Powerline Adapter from TP-Link on Amazon

Buffering and slow internet speeds are

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