Skip to content 
In most homes, the Wi-Fi modem is kept in a central part of the home to enable the signal to be received around the house (both first and second floors) but the signal being sent to the basement has always been a challenge. This is because basements are made up of thicker walls and a thicker cement base between the living areas of the home to the basement which in turn weakens the Wi-Fi signal from penetrating through it.
In this write-up, youโll learn some techniques you can apply to adjust your wireless strength and get a good internet connection in the basement.
Table of Contents
How To Get Strong WIFI Signal In Your Basement
Centrally Position Your Router.ย This tip seems to be common, but many still ignore it. Router placement to a large extent affects the connectivity of your internet whether youโve cable technology, DSL or even fiber technology.
This means that you should endeavour to place your router in a central location so the signal can easily circulate around the all device connected to it. For instance, if you reside in a two-story house, it will be ideal to position the router on the first floor for best coverage around the house. If itโs a three-story building, a corner around the second floor will be a better location for it. You might need to look in towards the direction of Ethernet cables if the source of the internet in your house is not centrally located. This will distribute a signal to corners of the house where it will be easier for you to connect the router.
Wire up some Ethernet
Despite wired access being a minor inconvenience, the fact still remains that its the best signal to going live online. This is because it is always fastervia ethernet when compared to traditional Wi-Fi.
If you are an avid user of the internet and enjoy web streaming and fast download speeds then a Ethernet connection in your basement is the best solution. and the most reliable option.
To do this, youโll need to drill holes on the wall to make use of wall clips to arrange the cables from your main router to your devices to connect. With this in place, you can efficiently run one end of your internet router and plug the other end to your laptop or any other device.
In a situation where your desktop or laptop wasnโt provided with an Ethernet port, there are adapters you can use get a good connection. At first, wiring the cable maybe feel like a new and daunting task to achieve because of the time, skill and effort it require and you may be surprised to know that its not that expensive to install.
Invest in a Wi-Fi repeater
When it comes to stretching out Wi-Fi network across home, boosters or repeaters comes to mind. to extend the signal in all areas. Just like the name suggests, its used to spread your internet access around the house evenly as possible to fill in any of the weak spots.
The one challenge with a repeater is that the signal tends to get weaker the further they are distanced from the router. Some repeaters are plugged into a wall while others are the same size as a router which can amplify the signal to different strengths.
Another unique thing about WIFI repeaters is their ability to duplicate the original signals so there wonโt be an issue switching between networks. Note the position of the router does make a difference, so ensure it is placed at a central location before using a repeater on your network.
Purchase a Powerline kit
This kit is cross between the two methods listed above. It extends the main network, but it makes use of an existing wired network such as the electrical wiring. This means that a cable is connected from your router to a different outlet, then an adapter is plugged somewhere else to take the WiFi connection to your devices.
Evidently, this will work in the basement scenario but the only disadvantages with this method is that itโs expensive and the effectiveness is not 100%, but depends on the wiring. Furthermore, it wonโt function well with a home with older wiring setups.
Change the Channel
This should be the first option, especially if you reside in an apartment complex. When everyone is on the same channel, it slows it down the internet connection. Most of the router on the market have eleven (11) channels for transmitting WiFi signals. Theyโre pre-set to make use of a particular channel while some are set to automatically select any channel.
To manually change to a preferred channel, you need to login to access your routerโs admin interface by typing your unique routerโs default IP address. If you do not know your default IP, you can easily check Google. Next, you can then check each channel, but channels 1, 6 or 11 are often recommended.
IN CONCLUSION
For a strong signal around the house and even the basement, the wireless internet router should be placed on the main level. This is because basements, in particular, has thicker walls which make the wireless signal to grow weaker. By applying the methods listed above and also adjusting your wireless setup, the strength of the signal in the basement will be increased for general use.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can the router be placed in the basement?
Itโs not advisable to place your router in your basement because the walls around the basement will absorb a substantial amount if your signal strength if you are broadcasting a WIFI signal into the upper areas of your home. But if your router must be placed in your basement you must be thrifty on how you plan to broadcast the rest of your signal to avoid WIFI dark spots.
Do Wi-Fi Signals have the ability to go through walls?
Wi-Fi signals have the ability to pass through walls or other obstacles. But in reality, thick cement wall dont fair well for transmitting wifi signals and in most cases you will experience a degrade in signal. However, materials such as glass, plywood, and drywall can be easily penetrated by wireless signals and shouldnt have a massive effect on your signal to your devices.
Can a Wi-Fi router extend to the second floor from the basement?
If itโs a standard construction house, it shouldnโt have any issues. However, it is better to have it the router placed on a higher platform to be able to broadcast down
