Where should I place my AT&T WiFi extender?
The primary objective of having an AT&T Internet WiFi extender is to extend the coverage area of your WiFi network and increase the speed therefore placing it in the most appropriate location is very vital. There are a few things to consider when determining where to put your extender.
Central Location
First, ensure that you install the extenders right in the middle between your main router and the Wi-Fi blind spot you wish to cover. Their position should be about halfway between both so that it can receive a signal from your router and then amplify it and broadcast it deeper into your home or office. Ideally, attempt to align the extender as near to the center as possible, but on the same floor as the source or intended destination. It is best not to put it on a different level or in the basement if you want the signal to be transmitted in an upward direction.
High and Open
When placing the AT&T WiFi extender you should try and place it as high as possible and in line with your main router’s WiFi signal transmission. Do not store it in a cabinet or any closed area; use it where there are no obstructions such as walls or barriers since they will affect the signal by weakening it or hindering its path. It is preferable to mount the bracket at a height of at least 120 cm on a bookcase, shelf, or wall, the higher it is set, the farther and better the signal transmission will be. Do not place the desk at ground level or hide it behind furniture or other equipment.
Away From Obstacles
If you are planning on where to install your extender, look for thick walls, large mirrors, appliances, and any other physical barrier that separates the extender and the main WiFi router that weakens and disperses the signal. Every barrier that the transmission waves encounter brings down the WiFi range and speed of the internet. Locate your extender in an open area that has a direct unobstructed line of sight to your router away from metallic objects, thick concrete walls, large pipes, bricks, and other objects that interfere with the wireless signals. The areas should be limited to drywall and only open space is suitable.
Away From Electronics
Check if there are electronics such as motors, light, fluorescent, cordless phones, microwaves, wireless electronics such as home theater systems, and other wireless networks that could be in the path between the router and the potential extender spot. Wires and cables produce radio frequency interferences which become the wireless obstacles that interfere and lessen the strength of transmission signals from appliances and wireless electronics. Try to place your extender at the greatest distance from the other wireless-emitting devices that could be around you. Ensure that other electrical appliances that exist within the range of the router, such as refrigerators, and microwaves are turned off to ensure that the test on the signal strength between the router and extender yields accurate results.
Connect Test
After choosing a central, high, open, and less congested location for your extender, make sure to plug it into the power outlet and mount it as the directions on the extender or from AT&T guide you.
After that, check it by connecting your wireless device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc. to the WiFi name of the extender. Plug in the extender and run a speed tester to see what download and upload speeds are you getting through the extender in the location of the placement spot.
Carry out a walkthrough test in the areas that had poor or no WiFi signal at all, taking wireless devices along and connecting to the extended network as you conduct the test within the home or office to feel the enhanced signal strength.
One can use a WiFi analyzer app to check how engaging the signal transmission is between the router and extender locations. It should have a clear and straight center line with no area that has very little signal.
Finally, the normal usage of the internet for activities such as streaming high-definition video or conducting VoIP phone calls will demonstrate that the chosen location offers constant, stable speeds and can aid in fine-tuning the area for the strongest WiFi signal.
AT&T WiFi Extenders Types
Deciding where precisely to place your WiFi extender depends in part on which of the main three types provided by AT&T that you own, including the difference in range transmission distance and power: Deciding where precisely to place your WiFi extender depends in part on which of the main three types provided by AT&T that you own, including the difference in range transmission distance and power:
- AT&T WiFi Extender – A basic type of extender that is good for the 2.4GHz network only with coverage up to 7,500 square feet. Ideal for smaller homes.
- AT&T WiFi Extender Plus – High-performance AC1750 dual-band router, it boosts the 2.4 GHz & 5GHz bands up to 15,000 sq. ft. Most suitable for big houses with thick walls or any large space with high thermal mass.
- AT&T WiFi Office Extender – Powerful business class dual band extender designed for big offices and can cover up to 25000 sq. ft. Designed for spaces with many obstacles, specifically large offices.
Specific recommendations for placement of accessories by rooms
The exact location of the extender or the specific area to install the extender should be based on the specific layout of the given room or house/office and the path through which the transmission occurs. Some room tips:
Kitchens –Attach on top of cabinets or upper walls ensuring that they have a clear line of sight through the main rooms. Refrain from using electrical appliances that are big and should stay away from sink and pipe blockages.
Bathrooms –Put high on a wall or top shelves since plumping interferes with the view.
Special Use – Mount TVs with furniture located behind to have the wall act as a reflector for a WiFi signal.
Bedrooms – Install up high around doorways to have clearly defined paths for the signal to reach the router.
Basements & Attics – Here extenders may be required more often, put central by the position of the attached stairway if concrete/metal walls.
Offices – Raise the high side of the mount to the middle opening of the office for desks on each side to share the heat output equally.
This brings a close to some of the aspects that one needs to consider when placing the AT&T WiFi extender to boost your WiFi network and make those dead zones a thing of the past. By placing it correctly right from the get-go at a central, raised, preferably open, and free from interference to the transmission path, it is possible to get the best out of the extended wireless network in terms of range and speed. When comparing signal strength between the wired locations and the new end spots always ensure that you corroborate with speed tests and walkthroughs. .make some adjustments if necessary until complete and steady coverage is obtained in the areas of home or office that were not covered before.
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