WiFi in large houses or village houses in winter is almost a mandatory topic of conversation: it’s cold, it gets dark early, you spend more time indoors… and that’s when you realise that the signal doesn’t reach the bedroom, the makeshift office or the back living room properly. In large, elongated homes or those with thick walls, getting good coverage in every room is not as simple as “just setting up the router and you’re done”.

The good news is that, with a few adjustments and the right equipment, you can make your connection work much better without becoming a technician. Let’s take a step-by-step look at how to extend your signal range and enjoy a comfortable experience in the middle of winter.

1. Start with the router: location and basic configuration

The first common mistake in large or village houses is to place the router where the installation “fell”: at the entrance, in a corner, behind a piece of furniture, or next to the landline telephone. This position can be very bad for distributing the signal.

• Try to place it in as central an area of the home as possible.
• Avoid placing it in closed furniture, drawers, or behind the television.
• Keep it away from sources of interference such as microwaves, cordless telephone bases, etc.
• Place it on high (on a shelf, for example), not flush with the floor.

Also take the opportunity to check whether your router transmits on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band has a longer range but is slower; the 5 GHz band is faster but has a shorter range. In large homes, it is very useful to use both: 2.4 GHz for distant rooms and 5 GHz for areas where speed is most noticeable (living room, office, console, Smart TV, etc.).

2. Analyse your coverage “blind spots”

In winter, it’s much more noticeable where the signal fails: that bedroom where you want to watch a series before going to sleep, the attic converted into an office, the children’s room where they play online or make video calls.

Take your mobile phone on a tour of the entire house and check:

1. Where the signal is strong (near the router).
2. Regular areas where you can still surf, but somewhat slow.
3. Dead zones, where WiFi practically disappears.

With that “mental map” you will be able to decide whether you need repeaters WiFi, a system mesh or simply relocate the router and the furniture to gain coverage.

3. Repeaters vs. mesh systems: which is right for you?

In large houses or village houses, a single access point is often insufficient. Here come into play two common solutions:

1. WiFi repeaters
   • These are devices that connect to the router and extend the signal.
   • They are an economical and simple option.
   • They work well when you only need to cover one or two additional points.
   • It is advisable to place them in an area where there is still a good signal, not in a place where there is no coverage.
2. WiFi mesh system (or mallado)
   • These are several nodes that create a single WiFi network distributed throughout the house.
   • It is ideal for multi-storey houses, elongated dwellings or those with many rooms.
   • Switching between nodes is automatic: you can walk around the house without losing your connection.
   • It requires a larger investment, but offers a much more stable experience.

If you spend a lot of time at home during the winter, work remotely, or have several connected devices, a mesh system can make all the difference.

4. Use the cable where it makes sense

Even though we are talking about WiFi, in large houses or village houses in winter, we must not forget about the network cable (Ethernet). Connecting some strategic devices by cable frees up WiFi bandwidth and improves overall stability:

• Consoles and Smart TVs that you use for streaming or online gaming.
• Computer for work if you have a permanent office.
• Equipment that is used intensively for downloading or uploading files.

If the router is far away, you can use PLC (adapters that carry the signal through the electrical wiring) or run a network cable to where you need it most. It may not sound very glamorous, but it works wonders.

5. Take care of the security and “health” of your network as well.

A congested network is not always the fault of the main household. Sometimes there are too many connected devices, outdated passwords, or even someone else taking advantage of your WiFi.

In your strategy for WiFi in large houses or villages in winter, include these steps:

1. Change the factory password to a secure and unique password.
2. Regularly check which devices are connected to the router.
3. Create a guest network if people often come to your house.
4. Update the router’s firmware when your operator recommends it.

This prevents your network from becoming cluttered with devices that should not be there and ensures that you enjoy the connection you pay for.

6. Adjust the contracted speed to your actual needs.

Sometimes the problem isn’t just coverage, but that your contracted speed is no longer sufficient for your current digital lifestyle: more streaming, more remote working, more online video games, more devices that depend on the network for everything.

Consider:

• How many people live in the house?
• How many devices are regularly connected.
• Whether it’s teleworking, online classes or gaming.
• How important is it to you that there are no interruptions?

Depending on that, you may need to upgrade your fibre tariff or switch to an operator that better understands the specific characteristics of your home.

Ultimately, having WiFi in large houses or village homes in winter that reaches every room is not an impossible dream: it is a matter of good router placement, suitable equipment (repeaters or mesh), some cabling where it makes sense, and a fibre connection designed for your type of home and lifestyle.

If you notice that your WiFi is falling short just when you are spending more time at home, talk to Axarfusión: we will help you review your situation, improve coverage and choose the best solution so that the signal reaches every corner of your home. 📲💜