What causes dead zones?
Distance, thick walls, metal and interference all weaken Wi-Fi. A router in a corner cannot reach every room.
Quick fixes
Moving the router to a central location and updating equipment can help in small homes.
Extenders and mesh
Extenders and mesh can improve coverage but can lose speed when signals hop wirelessly.
The lasting fix
Wired access points in the ceiling give each area its own strong signal. This is how offices and hotels do it.
Try the planner
Use our Wi-Fi coverage planner to see how access point placement changes coverage.
Why extenders often disappoint
A wireless extender has to listen to the router and repeat the signal on the same air, which can cut speed and add delay. It helps a weak spot but rarely fixes a whole floor. Mesh systems are better because the units coordinate, but they still pass data wirelessly between units unless they're wired together.
What actually works
The lasting fix is a few access points on the ceiling, each connected back to the router by a network cable. Each area gets its own strong signal, devices move smoothly between access points, and speed stays consistent. This is how offices and hotels do it, and it's how we build Wi-Fi in homes.
How many access points?
It depends on the home's size, walls and floors. A typical two-story home often needs one access point per floor, plus one for the basement and one outside if you use the yard. Brick, plaster and stone walls need more. See how many access points.
Don't forget the wiring
Running cable to ceiling access points is easy in unfinished basements and attics and possible in most finished homes. In new construction, plan locations during pre-wire. See structured wiring.
Outside and outbuildings
Patios, pools, garages and pool houses need outdoor-rated access points, sometimes linked with a buried cable or a point-to-point wireless bridge.
Common questions
Will a new router fix my dead zones?
Sometimes a little. A single router in one spot rarely covers a whole house well.
Is mesh good enough?
For smaller homes, often. For larger homes or smart homes, wired access points are more reliable.
Which Wi-Fi do you install?
UniFi and Araknis, depending on the home. See UniFi Wi-Fi.