Positioning and placement
Optimise your Wi-Fi performance by re-positioning your modem/router or mesh by following our simple Out, Up and Open principles.
Out
- Out of cupboards
- Out of packed shelves
- Out from behind TV’s
- Out from under desks
- Out of the kitchen
- Out from the far edges of the home
Up
- High away from obstacles
- High away from cluttered spaces
- High for a clear line of sight outward
Open
- Away from blocking objects
- Away from electrical appliances
- Less interference in open air
- Clearer air for the signal to get out
- If you have Wireless Broadband, we recommend placing your modem near a window. Try a few different places around the house in order to find the best spot.
Where you place your router can significantly impact your in-home internet experience. Wi-Fi signals travel a limited distance, and many things can interfere or weaken your Wi-Fi signal, including internal building materials made from metal, concrete, marble, tiles and brick.
Choosing your Wi-Fi band – 2.4GHz or 5GHz?
Check you’re on the best Wi-Fi band for your home environment. The 2.4GHz has a greater reach, while the 5GHz has a stronger signal.
Wi-Fi band steering – some modems/routers/mesh have the ability to automatically steer devices to the best available frequency band when connected to the Wi-Fi network. By turning on band steering, you can get the best performance.
Wi-Fi band choice – if you have a choice between connecting to the 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency, follow our simple guide below:
2.4GHz
- Long range, better obstacle penetration
- Compatible with all Wi-Fi devices
- Less capacity and more prone to interference
- Good for email and browsing. It is okay for streaming as long as there are only 1 or 2 devices connected
- Suitable for older devices that only support 2.4GHz
5GHz
- Slightly shorter range, can’t easily penetrate solid objects (example, concrete or steel wall)
- Not all devices are 5GHz compatible
- Less congested and higher speed for streaming functions and for using more devices.
- Good for streaming, online gaming and transferring large files.
- Best for Fibre and UltraFast HFC broadband customers as 5GHz takes advantage of faster broadband speeds
Getting the best speeds
The speed your device receives is the slowest of the links between your device and the internet. Connecting devices with an Ethernet cable is the most reliable connection and provides the most consistent speed. We recommend Ethernet if you’re gaming, streaming via TV, or you have One NZ TV.
