Best Router Placement to Optimise Wi‑Fi: Australian Home Mesh Setup Guide

Still getting dropouts near the kitchen or upstairs? Smart router placement and a mesh setup can fix dead zones fast. This guide is built for Brisbane homes and NBN gear, with easy, step‑by‑step tips that suit Aussie walls, weather, and channel rules.

Key takeaways

• Place the router high, central, and in the open. Avoid cupboards, fridges, and metal.
• 2.4 GHz goes further; 5 GHz is faster but hates walls. Use both wisely.
• On 2.4 GHz in AU, pick channels 1, 6, or 11 (20 MHz width). On 5 GHz, try 36–48 for stability.
• Mesh beats range extenders for whole‑home speed, especially double‑storey homes. Ethernet backhaul is gold.
• Keep the NBN box where it is, but run Ethernet to place your main router in a better spot.

What it is and core concept of router placement

Definition

Router placement is where you put your Wi‑Fi router in the home. Wi‑Fi is radio. Signals lose strength through distance, walls, and metal. 2.4 GHz travels further and through walls better. 5 GHz is faster with less interference but has shorter range. Good placement balances both.

Why router placement matters in Australian homes

Many NBN boxes land in the garage, linen, or a corner room. Great for wiring, not great for Wi‑Fi. Brisbane homes vary: timber Queenslanders, brick veneer, and concrete apartments. Each has different signal loss. Smart placement cuts dead zones and lifts real NBN speeds in the rooms you use.

Where to position your NBN modem and primary router

Keep the NBN connection box (FTTP, HFC, FTTC) at its installed spot. Place your router centrally by running a longer Ethernet cable from the NBN box to the best room. For FTTN (phone‑line), pick the most central phone socket, then lift the router off the floor and into the open.

Aim for chest height or higher, away from big metal, fish tanks, and appliances. If the only socket is in the garage, route Ethernet into the living area. Short of cabling, park a mesh node at the garage and place the primary router centrally with wired backhaul if possible.

Mesh vs range extenders: what to choose and when

• Mesh Wi‑Fi: One name, seamless roaming, shared control. Best for double‑storey, long homes, or apartments with thick concrete. Place nodes 1–2 rooms apart. Ethernet backhaul gives the best speeds.
• Range extenders: Quick, cheap, but they often halve Wi‑Fi speed and use a second network name. Fine for a single dead spot. Not ideal for streaming or gaming.
• Rule of thumb: If you have more than one dead zone or a two‑storey house, go mesh.

How it works and step-by-step

Process

Use this simple flow to improve Wi‑Fi in a Brisbane home:

• Pick a central, open spot for the router. Raise it on a shelf, not the floor.
• Connect to the NBN box or socket. Use a longer Ethernet lead to keep the router central.
• Start with 2.4 GHz channel 1, 6, or 11 (20 MHz). Set 5 GHz to channel 36–48 with 80 MHz width.
• Walk with your phone. Check signal around the home. Aim for better than −67 dBm in key rooms.
• If upstairs is weak, add a mesh node halfway, not in the dead zone.
• Shift the router a metre left/right or rotate antennas to reduce reflections off walls and fridges.
• Update firmware. Turn on band steering or split SSIDs if devices struggle.

Step‑by‑step: place, test, optimise channels (incl. AU 2.4/5 GHz tips)

• Place: Central room, high shelf, clear line‑of‑sight to main areas. Avoid cupboards and behind TVs.
• Test: Use a speed test near the router, then in far rooms. Note signal (dBm) in a Wi‑Fi app.
• 2.4 GHz: Use channels 1/6/11 only. Set width to 20 MHz to reduce overlap in units and townhouses.
• 5 GHz: Try channels 36–48 for stability. DFS channels (52–144) can be quieter but may drop if radar is detected.
• Adjust: If a neighbour is on your channel, switch to the least busy. Move the router slightly to dodge reflections.
• Mesh: Put nodes 5–10 metres apart with 1–2 walls max. If you can, run Ethernet backhaul for full speed.
• Re‑test: Aim for low‑latency and stable speeds where you work, stream, and game.

Featured answer

The best router placement is central, high, and in the open, not in the garage or a cupboard. Keep 2.4 GHz on channels 1, 6, or 11 and use 5 GHz channels 36–48 for stability. Add mesh nodes halfway to weak areas, not inside the dead zone. Re‑test and adjust.

Common problems in Brisbane

Weather and infrastructure

• Heat: Summer days can cause router thermal throttling in roof spaces or garages. Keep gear in cool, ventilated spots.
• Storms: Power flickers can crash routers and NBN boxes. Use a surge board or small UPS for stability.
• Humidity: Long‑term moisture in cupboards can corrode ports or weaken plug packs. Keep devices dry and off the floor.
• Older buildings: Queenslanders (Paddington, Red Hill) have timber that carries 2.4 GHz well but still blocks 5 GHz through multiple walls.
• Apartments: South Brisbane, West End, Fortitude Valley often have dense Wi‑Fi and concrete. Use 20 MHz on 2.4 GHz and consider mesh with Ethernet backhaul.
• NBN mix: FTTP/HFC in many inner suburbs, FTTN in some outer areas (Logan, Ipswich). FTTN needs the modem on the phone socket; use Ethernet to place the Wi‑Fi router centrally.

Common interference sources in Australia and how to avoid them

• Microwave ovens smash 2.4 GHz when running. Keep routers and nodes away from the kitchen.
• Foil insulation and steel frames reflect signals. Shift devices to doorways or open corridors.
• Mirrored splashbacks, fridges, and TVs block Wi‑Fi. Avoid placing behind or beside large metal or glass.
• Baby monitors, older cameras, and Bluetooth add 2.4 GHz noise. Prefer 5 GHz for high‑demand devices.
• DFS channels may drop if radar is detected (e.g., weather radar). If your Wi‑Fi randomly changes channel, use 36–48.
• Solar inverters and cheap power supplies can add noise. Move the router away from inverter walls and power bricks.

Troubleshooting and quick checks

Short answer

Move the router high and central, switch 2.4 GHz to channel 1/6/11 (20 MHz), and try 5 GHz channel 36–48. Test with your phone in weak rooms. If speeds jump near a halfway point, add a mesh node there. Update firmware and reboot both router and NBN box.

Quick checks

Try these safe checks:

• Lift the router onto a shelf. Keep it in the open.
• Rotate antennas slightly. Small changes can help in tight spaces.
• Split SSIDs if older devices keep joining 2.4 GHz when you want 5 GHz.
• Set 2.4 GHz to 20 MHz width; pick channel 1, 6, or 11 only.
• On 5 GHz, start at channels 36–48. Avoid DFS if you see random drops.
• Baseline test: run a speed test by Ethernet at the router. Compare to Wi‑Fi.
• Move a mesh node halfway between the router and the weak room.
• Check NBN lights. If the NBN box is unhappy, call your provider after testing another cable.
• Update firmware. Many routers improve roaming and stability over time.

Safety notes and when to call a pro

Red flags

Stop and get help if cabling looks damaged, your NBN box keeps rebooting, speeds are great by Ethernet but awful everywhere on Wi‑Fi, or you see frequent DFS channel changes and dropouts. Don’t open the NBN box or touch mains power. Keep routers cool and clear of water.

When to call a pro in Brisbane for a site survey

Call a local tech if you have thick concrete, three or more dead zones, business‑grade video calls from home, or 50+ devices (cams, lights, TVs). A survey maps signal and noise, checks channels, and plans mesh node spots. Most homes take 1.5–3 hours, with a clear plan you can follow.

Local insights and examples

Brisbane/SEQ examples

New Farm and South Brisbane units often need 20 MHz on 2.4 GHz and smart 5 GHz channel picks to beat neighbour overlap. Indooroopilly and Carindale family homes usually benefit from a three‑node mesh: one near the living area, one upstairs landing, and one near the master.

Queenslanders in The Gap and Red Hill push Wi‑Fi well across timber, but kitchens still kill 5 GHz around fridges and splashbacks. HFC suburbs like Chermside sometimes have the NBN box near the garage; running Ethernet into the lounge and moving the router solves most issues in under an hour.

On the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, beachside apartments with mirror glass and concrete need careful node placement by corridors, not inside rooms. DFS can be touchy near radar sites; channels 36–48 give steadier results for streaming TVs and game consoles.

FAQs

Q1: Where should I put my router in a two‑storey Brisbane home?

Place the main router on the lower floor, central and high, then add a mesh node on the upper floor above or near the stairs. Keep nodes 1–2 rooms apart with clear sight lines. Don’t place nodes in the dead zone; put them halfway from the router toward the weak area.

Q2: Which Wi‑Fi channels work best in Australia?

On 2.4 GHz, stick to channels 1, 6, or 11 with 20 MHz width. On 5 GHz, start with channels 36–48 for reliability. DFS channels (52–144) can be quieter but may drop if radar is detected. Re‑scan now and then, as neighbour networks can change.

Q3: Do I need mesh or a single router for a 4‑bedroom house?

Most 4‑bedroom Brisbane homes run better on mesh, especially double‑storey or long floor plans. Use two to three nodes, spaced 5–10 metres apart. If your home is compact and open, a strong Wi‑Fi 6 router placed centrally may be enough. Test first, then add nodes if needed.

Sources and further reading

Non‑overlapping 2.4 GHz channels are 1, 6, and 11. 5 GHz bands include non‑DFS (36–48) and DFS (52–144) channels. Wider channels increase speed but raise overlap risks. Signal targets: better than −67 dBm for streaming and calls. NBN tech types include FTTP, HFC, FTTC, FTTN, and Fixed Wireless.

Wrap-up and next steps

Place the router high and central, pick clean channels, and use mesh to bridge floors and long halls. Test, tweak, and retest until weak rooms are fixed. If you want a quick plan or hands‑on setup in Brisbane, book our Service:
Wi‑Fi & Internet Setup