Installing a router in the basement is never ideal.
Modern homes are well-insulated and this can ruin the effect of a router. In many cases, the overall potency of a router is going to go down the drain due to its location.
This is why finding the best place to put a Wi-Fi router in a house is essential.
It starts by understanding why the router in the basement is causing a weak signal upstairs.
If a router in the basement is causing a weak signal upstairs, it is likely due to the increased range, excessive insulation, and/or stress on the router. It’s recommended to have the router in a central location to increase its efficiency.
You don’t want to increase the range between device and router. This will worsen things and that is what happens when you set up a router in the basement hoping it will work.
It might work at times, but it will have serious lagging concerns throughout the year.
This guide is going to highlight some of the reasons to not install a Wi-Fi router in the basement at home.
Table of Contents
Reasons To Not Put Router In The Basement
1. Creates Range Issues
The Wi-Fi in the basement is bad because of range issues.
This is simple math.
If you want a stronger connection, you will want to be closer to the main router. This is the only way to optimize your connection and make sure you get full value from the router.
This is where the problem begins when you set up a router in your basement.
Since most people are not going to spend their time in the basement, you are going to use devices in other parts of the house including the second floor. When this occurs, you are not going to get a good connection.
The basement is going to be two floors down and there will be multiple layers for the connection to go through. Even with a strong router, this is not going to be ideal.
The range issues can lead to a choppy, insufficient signal that is not in line with what the router promises.
2. Basements Absorb Signals
If you put a wireless router in the basement, you have to account for the insulation.
Due to it being underground, the basement is not an ideal spot for any type of Wi-Fi router. This is simply due to the amount of signal that is going to get absorbed by the basement.
This is damaging and it is the last thing you are going to want.
It’s important to understand the impact of insulation and the effect it can have on your connection.
You should always look to put the Wi-Fi router in a central location so it works well in all parts of the house. This includes the basement.
3. Causes Lagging
If you put a router in the basement of a 2-story house, you will have to think about the lagging.
This is one of the more common issues people point out when they are talking about a router in this part of the house. The connection might connect, but it won’t last nor will it perform efficiently.
This leads to a situation where your connection continues to lag during the day.
Is that what you are going to want?
In most cases, this is the first reason people point out when it comes to a connection not being efficient.
4. Puts Stress On The Router
You will have to think about the stress that is put on the router.
You never want a situation where the router is getting abused and that happens when it is installed in the basement. The router is going to have to work overtime to produce the same results as it would when on the main floor.
It is far better to not put it in the basement due to this reason.
5. Leads To Instability
You also have to think about the instability of the connection.
A lot of people note that putting a Wi-Fi router in the basement creates a situation where it works sometimes and doesn’t in others. This is the last thing you are going to want.
It makes any movement with the device a precarious one.
You are going to end up having to sit still just to get a proper Wi-Fi signal from the router. Is that what you are going to want to deal with at home?
You will want something stable regardless of what you are doing. This is why having the router set up on the main floor is the way to go at home.
Is It OK To Have A Router In The Basement?
It is not recommended to have a router in the basement. The connection will be choppy and insufficient. This is due to the excessive insulation in the basement due to it being underground. It’s best to have the router on the main floor of a house.
This ensures the router works not only on the main floor but on the other floors too. This includes the basement.
Is WIFI Worse In Basements?
Wi-Fi is worse in basements. This is due to the floor being underground. The signal has to go through multiple layers including the added insulation of a basement. This leads to a laggy, inefficient connection that isn’t reliable.
Final Thoughts
Why is the router in the basement causing a weak signal upstairs?
The reason a router in the basement is causing a weak signal upstairs is due to the extended range, insulation underground, and amount of stress put on the router when used. It’s best to place the router on the main floor to maintain a stable connection year-round.
This is why putting the router in the basement is never a good idea.
It will not work out the way you want it to and is only going to bring along with it a long list of issues.
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