Both companies and homes, whether more or less home-automated, need to have Wi-Fi networks well designed for everything to work well. In this article, you will discover the most common mistakes to avoid when designing Wi-Fi networks. Get ready to see a good handful of solutions and alternatives to correctly design the networks that support the Internet in your home or business.
Despite the importance of the Internet, both at home and in a company, sometimes errors are made in the design that can affect the quality of the connection, coverage or security. Whether for home or professional use, it is important to know what failures are most common to avoid them and improve Wi-Fi network performance. Read on to discover the most common mistakes in Wi-Fi network design and how you can easily correct them.
Not planning the location of the router well
One of the most typical mistakes when setting up a WiFi network is placing the router in a bad location. The signal spreads in all directions, so if you put it in a corner or behind large objects, the coverage will be poor. This affects the quality of the connection in various areas of the house or office, making us need to install additional devices such as Wi-Fi repeaters or PLCs with Wi-Fi, to cover all these areas as best as possible.
Tip: Place the router in a central location, in an elevated position without obstacles. Avoid objects such as furniture or thick walls that may block the signal. This way, the signal will be distributed evenly and you will reach more areas. If the router has external antennas, the ideal is not to place them all vertically, but also inclined at 45º to maximize the vertical coverage we have in our home, especially if you live in a house with several floors.
Do not consider the number of connected devices
Another common mistake is underestimating the number of devices that will connect to the network. In a home you may have several cell phones, computers, smart TVs and other devices that consume bandwidth, while in a company the number of devices is even greater. If you don’t plan well, the connection can become slow and frustrating. It is very important to properly size the network, and before installing anything, think about how many devices you are going to connect via Wi-Fi and the different bands.
Tip: Make sure you choose a router that is appropriate for the number of devices that will use the network. For home networks or small offices, dual-band routers are usually a good option, since they allow the load to be divided between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. As long as a Wi-Fi client supports both bands, it is advisable to always connect it to the 5GHz band to “free up” the 2.4GHz band, and thus be able to connect devices that do not require as much bandwidth.
Ignore network security
A poorly protected WiFi network is a risk to your privacy and that of your company. It is common to use the router’s default password or configure weak security, making it easy for unauthorized access to the network. It is not only important to protect the Wi-Fi wireless network well, but also to think about whether that network needs to activate the “AP Isolation” option so that wireless clients cannot communicate with each other, adding another layer of security to the network.
Tip: Set a strong password and use security protocols like WPA3. Also, if possible, create a separate network for guests. This protects your main network and prevents outsiders from accessing your data or slowing down your connection. There are home routers that allow you to create VLANs on the LAN, to segment network traffic appropriately.
Do not update the router firmware
Many forget to update the router firmware, which is a mistake. These updates are necessary to fix security flaws and improve device performance.
Tip: Periodically check if updates are available for your router and apply them. This simple gesture can improve the stability and security of your WiFi network. In the latest router models we normally already have automatic updates, we simply have to enable them.
Poor management of WiFi channels
In densely populated areas, it is common for there to be many WiFi networks operating on the same channels, which generates interference and reduces connection quality.
Tip: Use tools like WiFi Analyzer to identify the least congested channels in your area and adjust your router settings to take advantage of these channels. In home networks, switching to the 5 GHz band can also improve performance as it tends to be less crowded.
Designing an efficient WiFi network requires paying attention to details that we sometimes overlook. From router location to security and proper channel usage, every aspect influences the quality of your connection. By avoiding these common mistakes and applying the tips mentioned above, you will improve the coverage, speed and security of your network, whether at home or in the office.
