5 tips to bring your homes Wi-Fi dead zones to life Error! Filename not specified. An interview with Wi-Fi Guru Jeffrey Parker, editor of the Milo Wi-Fi Blog Have you ever noticed certain locations in your home where Internet-connected devices and smartphones are unable to receive a steady Wi-Fi signal (or any signal at all) from your router? These sad places are called dead zones: Dead zones typically include bathrooms, second and third story bedrooms, attics, basements, garages, and back patios -- and they can drive everyone in the house absolutely crazy, says Wi-Fi Guru Jeffrey Parker, editor of the Milo Wi-Fi Blog. If Emma can’t access the Wi-Fi on her bed upstairs, then she can't Snapchat her friends or watch her favorite YouTube makeup vlogger. If the Wi-Fi doesn't reach the front door then the new Ring doorbell camera won't work. If Grandma can't access the Wi-Fi from the back porch, then she can't sit outside with her tea on Saturday morning browsing on her iPad. We expect to be able to stream video and data anywhere and anytime, but, unfortunately, traditional routers were designed during a time when video streaming was limited to only one or two locations in the home, such as the living room television. Additionally, smart home devices that rely on Wi-Fi to function, like Ring doorbell cameras, Nest Wi-Fi thermostats, Canary security cams, Phillips Hue light bulbs, and Wi-Fi smart plugs, were not available and popular with the home consumer, says Parker. So, given today's basement-to-attic demand for Wi-Fi access, what is the most economical and effective strategy for winning the battle against dead zones in our homes? Parker offers five no-cost/low-cost suggestions which he says can provide you and your family a joyous, satisfying Wi-Fi experience: 1. Keep your router away from metal Objects such as mirrors, televisions, appliances or anything large made primarily of metal (i.e. decorative furniture, filing cabinets, even fish tanks!) have the potential to impair your networks signal strength. Moving any problematic obstructions (if possible) or your router away from them may rid your living space of the dead zone. 2. Switch to a less crowded frequency In living spaces like apartment buildings, too many broadcasting networks can interfere with each other and impact Wi-Fi quality. Because routers broadcast across two wireless frequency bands, 2.4 and 5 GHz, when one is too crowded it acts like a highway packed with cars. Th