Problem with your Wifi? Last updated Apr 30 2025.

Follow simple steps and see if that helps.

If you are using the ISP provided modem:

Wi-Fi built-in to the modem provided by Comcast/Xfinity, ATT, T-Mobile or another ISP usually is not the best Wi-Fi.

If you are in a small apartment, just place the modem at a high point like on the top of a bookcase (not behind the TV or on the floor). Don’t place it at floor level, or where it can be blocked by a device such as a TV, fridge, kitchen or laundry appliance, or microwave. Any of these things can block the signal.

If relocating the modem fixes things, you are done.

If you disable wifi in the ISP modem and use your own single router:

Be aware that there are security concerns with TP Link routers. Right now, brands like Asus or Netgear are often recommended. The ASUS RT-BE58U is a good choice. 

Disabling Wi-Fi in the ISP modem is easiest if you connect a laptop with an Ethernet network cable to the ISP provided modem. Then, follow the instructions on the back of the router to login to the router. You must do this anyway to change the administrator password on the ISP provided router for your security. 

Your ISP-provided modem has a router which gets what is called WAN (Wide Area Network) IP address from your ISP, and your router performs “DHCP,” which provides what are called LAN (Local Area Network) IP addresses, typically 192.168.1.x. If you use your own Wi-Fi router, look for a YouTube video of your ISP-provided modem to disable DHCP, so that it passes through the WAN IP address to your router. Otherwise you have what is called double NAT (External to internal Network Address Translation). With double NAT, things will still work, but you’ll have additional latency or loss of performance.

Remember to place your wireless router to a high vantagepoint.

If that helps, you are done. Your own router is much better than the ISP.

If you need better coverage because you have a big apartment or townhouse or single family home with 2 or more floors:

You will need a Mesh router. Be aware that you are now getting into more complex territory. You need a minimum of 2 units. Some systems connect to your main router using an Ethernet cable, while others connect wirelessly. At the time of this writing in Apr 2025, Eero such as Amazon Eero 6+ mesh wifi system - Supports internet plans up to a Gigabit, Coverage up to 3,000 sq. ft., Connect 75+ devices, 2-pack $180 is probably the cheapest.

The connection of the main mesh unit which connects to the ISP Modem and guidance for the placement is the same as a single router.

The 2nd one gets complex. If you are super lucky, a 2nd unit placed high in the weakest location of coverage connected wirelessly to the main unit is all you need.

If you are not lucky and you are renting and cannot run a wire from the main mesh unit to the 2nd unit, your next best choice is called Powerline network. Welcome to more trouble. 

If the wireless connection between the mesh stations isn't great, there's a trick using your power outlets called "powerline." Imagine sending the Internet signal through your electrical wires. It can work, but it's a bit complicated. For it to work well, both outlets you're using need to be on the same "electrical phase" (think of it like being on the same main wire).
Figuring this out can be tricky. If you're lucky, the outlets are connected to the same circuit breaker in your electrical panel. 

If not, you might need a voltmeter set to  (a tool to measure electricity) and a long extension cord to test it. If the reading between the hot (smaller rectangular) and both ends is zero, they're likely in the same phase. If it's a higher number (like 240v), they're not. Find another outlet.

There are devices like the TP-Link AV2000 Powerline Adapter that you can plug in. One end connects to your main mesh unit local port with a short network cable, and the other Powerline adapter on the receiving end has a network outlet to connect to your 2nd mesh unit. In the image below, the router on the sending end is your main mesh unit and on the receiving end instead of the TV you connect the 2nd mesh unit.

If it works, you are done. If you still need more coverage, adding more mesh units might or might not help because they interfere with each other.


What if the mesh unit is not working well and you have dropped connections?

Now you are in prosumer territory. Look at devices such as unifi cloud gateway.

https://techspecs.ui.com/unifi/cloud-gateways/ucg-ultra?s=us
The gateway connects to your ISP modem. The one called Cloud Gateway Ultra has 1 port to connect to your modem and 4 ports for your devices which are meant to be connected to your own access points. If you came this far, look at you-tube videos on unifi.

The minimal unifi system is a cloud gateway with a builtin wireless router. That may just be enough for your apartment instead of 2 mesh units.
https://ui.com/us/en/cloud-gateways/wifi-integrated/express
https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/cloud-gateways-wifi-integrated/products/udr7?s=us&l=en

If you own your own home, best to connect the access points to the main unit with cat 6 or better cable without a coupler or a network jack in between.

Hope this helps.