Two signals, one box
The gateway receives 5G from a nearby cell site and broadcasts Wi-Fi to your devices. The right spot for one is not always the right spot for the other, so expect to try a few.
Finding the signal
Start near a window, as high as you can manage, on the side of the house that faces the nearest cell site. Most providers have an app that shows signal strength as you move the gateway. Give each spot a few minutes before you judge it.
Keep the gateway away from metal shelving, mirrors, fridges and thick masonry, which block or reflect the signal.
Spreading the Wi-Fi
If the strongest signal sits at one end of the house, rooms at the other end may get weak Wi-Fi. A mesh Wi-Fi point, placed halfway between the gateway and those rooms, carries the network further.
Smart thermostats, sensors and plugs often use the 2.4 GHz band, which reaches further through walls. Check that your gateway or mesh system broadcasts it.
When you switch internet providers
Every device has to rejoin the new Wi-Fi network. Giving the new network the same name and password as the old one lets most devices reconnect on their own.
General information only. For wiring, refrigerant or gas work, use a licensed professional.
