As technology advances and more things in our homes connect, the slower the connections run, especially during peak hours when everyone in the neighborhood or complex is winding down for the day. However, a technology professor shared a hack, suggesting you place a sheet of aluminum foil behind your router. The intention is to help improve your Wi-Fi speed.\n
James McQuiggan is a Security Awareness Advocate for KnowBe4 and a part-time faculty professor at Valencia College in the Engineering, Computer Programming & Technology Division. As such, he\u2019s studied and thoroughly researched all things technology. He points out an interesting technique for boosting your Wi-Fi connection speed, using a sheet of aluminum foil behind your router.\n
Apparently, when more devices are connected to the same wireless network, the signal becomes weaker. \u201dLike a sprinkler head spraying water in all directions,\u201d explains McQuiggan. As a result, wireless signals go to places where they\u2019re not needed and weaken them where they are.\n
Additionally, obstructions like furniture or walls can impact the signal strength. That\u2019s where the aluminum foil behind your router takes effect. Placing the aluminum foil behind your router with the shiny side facing outward will reflect the signal. This allows it to travel more freely yet methodically. Additionally, shaping the aluminum foil behind your router will give you more control over where the signal travels.\n
Although this hack might seem illegitimate, a research team at Dartmouth studied the theory, confirming Professor James McQuiggan\u2019s theory. The team reported they created a \u201c3D-printed shape\u201d that was \u201ccovered in aluminum.\u201d And strategically placed it to control where the signal traveled. They boosted the signal in desired places by more than half. Meanwhile, they decreased the signal in undesired places by just over 60%.\n
1 Foot Sheet of Aluminum Foil (Be Sure to Cover the Aentena to the Top) Note: Some routers won\u2019t have an external antenna.
\nCreate a \u201cC\u201d shape with the sheet then place the aluminum foil behind your router. The shiny side should be facing inside the curve, toward the router. Fold out the bottom of the sheet to create a stand if it needs extra support to stand upright.\n
Last, check the connection by going where you\u2019d like to see an increase of signal such as on the couch or in the kitchen. Type \u201cGoogle speed test\u201d into your phone or computer browser\u2019s search bar. Then run the blue \u201crun speed test\u201c to get a report containing the connection speeds.\n
Apparently, placing aluminum foil behind your router is good for more than only improving speed and efficiency. The Dartmouth team also discovered the hack may be a successful way to ensure a secure connection. Placing aluminum foil behind your router limits how far the WiFi signal can reach, meaning hackers won\u2019t be able to reach your connection, especially if you arrange the signals to avoid areas where a connection is never needed. \u201cSuch physical confinement of wireless signals serves as a complementary method to existing network security measures, such as encryption, and hence raises the barrier for attackers,\u201d the researchers wrote.\n
It\u2019s important to note that this hack won\u2019t always work and the results aren\u2019t guaranteed. For example, Brooke tried the hack in her home, and the results were unsuccessful. \u201cBefore I started, I compared the internet speeds between my porch and living room, where the router is located. The difference was massive\u201d She shared. \u201cOne sheet of aluminum foil didn\u2019t make any difference at all, and using two sheets of foil or the soda can seemed to drop speeds by a few Mbps. I tried adjusting the angle that the curved portion of the foil or can faced, as well as their locations beside the router, but I didn\u2019t notice much of a difference with my internet speed when I tried to connect.\u201d\n
Brooke concluded: \u201cThough it didn\u2019t quite work for me, it can\u2019t hurt to give this trick a shot before forking over significant cash for a Wi-Fi extender if you\u2019re having internet connection problems. After all, it did work for the Dartmouth researchers.\u201d She also notes factors including the size of your space and your internet plan impact this theory\u2019s success rate.\n
Putting aluminum foil behind your router is seemingly the easiest option but other basic household items may also be used to substitute the aluminum. Essentially, any metal item, typically, found in the kitchen. Some examples include metal baking sheets and beverage cans. The most important aspect is how they\u2019re shaped and positioned. It\u2019s recommended to \u201cmake sure to position them so that the curved, reflective part faces toward the area in your home where you want to amplify the Wi-Fi.\u201d\n
Because this method isn\u2019t guaranteed to work for everyone, some may be left without hope, wondering if they\u2019re doomed to experience slow connections. However, putting aluminum foil behind your router isn\u2019t the only way to help increase Wi-Fi connectivity. \u201cWhile foil can help concentrate the signals, it\u2019s usually not a great solution compared with upgrading your router or positioning it more optimally,\u201d added Professor McQuiggan.\n
The most common way to reboot the router is to turn it off. Always use the power button if it has one as unplugging it while it\u2019s on can cause it to short-circuit. Another helpful, but costly, option is a WiFi extender. This typically plugs into the wall, connecting to the WiFi and helping to extend the signal. Moreover, resources like the national broadband map, are available to help you report, troubleshoot, and fix a problem with Wi-Fi connectivity.\n
Although putting aluminum foil behind your router may not always be the solution, it\u2019s worth considering because other options can become costly.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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