Why walls matter
Wi-Fi signals weaken as they pass through dense materials. Concrete block, poured concrete and walls with steel reinforcement absorb and reflect a lot of signal, and higher-frequency bands lose more strength than lower ones. Mesh “boosters” that talk to each other wirelessly can struggle because the link between them is itself weakened by the walls.
Wire the access points
The most reliable approach is to connect several wired access points to a central switch using Ethernet cable, and place them where people actually use the network. Each access point serves a smaller area with a strong signal. For a primer, read how a wireless access point works.
Placement beats power
- Mount access points on ceilings, in open areas, rather than hidden in cabinets or behind TVs.
- Plan for a different access point per floor or wing rather than one for the whole house.
- Cover outdoor areas deliberately with outdoor-rated access points.
- Keep the main switch and router in a ventilated, cool location.
Power and cabling
Power over Ethernet delivers data and power over one cable, which avoids needing an outlet at every access point and simplifies battery backup. If you are building or renovating, run the cable while the walls are open.
Internet speed is a separate question
A fast internet plan does not fix weak coverage inside the home, and good coverage does not make a slow plan faster. Diagnose the two separately: test the speed at the router, then at the places you actually use the connection.
