Heat, Dust and Router Placement

What matters in practice:

• Central, raised and open beats powerful and hidden — a router on a shelf in the middle of the home outperforms a better one inside a cupboard.
• Heat is the quiet killer of routers — leave space on all sides, and never stack another device on top in a warm climate.
• Keep it away from microwaves, metal and water — fridges, mirrors, metal shelves and aquariums absorb or reflect the signal.

A router is a small computer that runs all day. Where you put it affects both signal and how long it lasts. Buildings that fight Wi-Fi in the first place are covered in Wi-Fi in brick and concrete buildings.

The best position for signal

• Central: in the middle of the area you need to cover.
• Elevated: on a shelf or wall mount, ideally 1.5 to 2 metres up.
• Open: not inside a cupboard, behind a TV or against a wall.
• Upright antennas: if your router has them, point them in different directions, such as one vertical and one horizontal.

Heat

Routers generate heat, and Uganda's warm climate makes it worse. Overheating causes random reboots, slowdowns and shorter life.

• Leave space on all sides for airflow.
• Do not stack other devices on top.
• Avoid direct sunlight and hot rooms, such as next to windows with strong sun.
• Do not place routers in sealed boxes without ventilation.

Dust and humidity

Dust clogs vents and insulates components. Humidity and condensation corrode connectors.

• Wipe the router gently with a dry cloth monthly.
• Use compressed air carefully on vents if you have it.
• Keep it away from kitchens, damp walls and open windows.
• In humid or dusty locations, consider a ventilated cabinet or a better-rated device.

Things to keep it away from

• Microwave ovens, cordless phones and baby monitors
• Large metal objects, mirrors and fridges
• Aquariums and water containers, which absorb signal
• Thick concrete walls and metal cabinets

Pests and cables

Termites, ants and geckos can damage cables and equipment. Keep cables tidy and off the floor, and avoid leaving the router on the ground.

Quick checklist

1. Move the router to a central, raised, open spot.
2. Give it breathing room.
3. Clean it monthly.
4. Protect it from surges and sun; our guide to power cuts and your network covers surge protection and backup power.
5. Test speed after moving it, using the wired test from our troubleshooting guide.

Next Steps

Placement costs nothing and outperforms most upgrades, but when a building needs more than one good spot, our Networks & Infrastructure team plans where access points should sit.

Request a Free Site Survey and we will map the strong and weak points of your building room by room.