I recently moved into a flat with unusually thick walls. My phone and laptop maintain a good connection, but my desktop struggles with its current Wi‑Fi card. Should I buy a different adapter, use a better antenna, or consider another networking solution for more reliable coverage?
4 Answers
If the router supports it, connect the PC to the 2.4 GHz network. It is slower than 5 GHz or 6 GHz, but it generally travels through walls better. A 2.4 GHz channel width around 20 or 40 MHz may also be worth testing.
Before replacing the card, try a desktop Wi‑Fi adapter with large external antennas. Antenna placement matters a lot, so putting them on top of the desk or higher up—rather than behind the PC—can improve reception. Since your phone and laptop work well, the current card or antenna is probably the weak point.
Powerline adapters are another renter-friendly option: one connects to the router and another goes near the PC, where you can use Ethernet or Wi‑Fi. Results depend heavily on the flat’s electrical wiring, though, and speeds can be much lower than advertised. If you can run a long Ethernet cable, that will usually be the most reliable solution.
Powerline performance can be disappointing. On some wiring, even a fast internet connection may only produce around 30 Mbps, so it’s worth testing before relying on it.
A mesh system could be a better long-term fix if the PC is far from the router. Put a node closer to the computer, then connect the PC to that node with Ethernet if possible. That avoids relying on the desktop’s Wi‑Fi antenna through multiple walls.
I’ve already tried switching to 2.4 GHz, but unfortunately it didn’t improve the connection.