As technology advances and more devices in our homes connect to Wi-Fi, the speed of our connections can slow down, especially during peak hours when everyone in the neighborhood or apartment complex is using the internet. However, a technology professor shared a hack suggesting you place a sheet of aluminum foil behind your router to potentially improve your Wi-Fi speed.
James McQuiggan, a Security Awareness Advocate for KnowBe4 and part-time faculty professor at Valencia College, has thoroughly studied technology. He points out an interesting technique for boosting Wi-Fi connection speed using aluminum foil.
Aluminum Foil Behind Your Router for Faster Connection
When multiple devices are connected to the same wireless network, the signal can weaken and spread in unwanted directions, similar to a sprinkler head spraying water. This dispersion can weaken the signal where it’s needed and unnecessarily extend it where it’s not.
Aluminum foil positioned behind your router, with the shiny side facing outward, can reflect and direct the Wi-Fi signal more effectively. By shaping the foil strategically, you can control where the signal travels, potentially improving coverage in specific areas of your home.
Testing the Theory
Research conducted at Dartmouth has supported Professor McQuiggan’s theory. They experimented with a “3D-printed shape covered in aluminum” and found it effectively boosted the Wi-Fi signal in desired areas by more than half while reducing it in undesired areas by over 60%.
How to Place Aluminum Foil Behind Your Router
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