Question Can I Put My Router in a Cupboard?

[Oasis Curator]

I have a coat cupboard in my hallway.
I know the answer is "yes" but how much would this affect the wireless capability?

The other option is behind the TV on the floor, so not ideal there but not sure which is worse?

 

[Ralston18]

Make and model router?

The only answer is to try both locations (and other locations if possible) to determine the resulting wireless performance.

Which could vary if there are other factors that come into play.

Do not jump to any immediate conclusions. Place the router and test.

Pay attention to antenna orientation if and as applicable.

As a general rule of thumb a wireless router should be centrally located with respect to the served devices and up and away from surrounding items of any sort: appliances, walls, furniture, wires, etc..

Just move the router about. Test.

Could make a difference with something seemingly minute as which end of the cupboard shelf the router is placed on. Or the cupboard floor, or hung on the wall, etc., etc...

 

[Moonstick2]

As above, you can only try to know for sure.

In my experience though, placing a multi-antenna WiFi dual-band router inside a closed wooden cupboard makes no difference that I can find that's worth worrying about.

Our router is inside an oak cupboard, close to the TV, towards the corner of the room. When in the same room, I get >spec speed from my connection through 5 GHz on my phone and laptop. Beyond that room the solid brick walls are more of an issue than whether the router is in a cupboard or not.

I was careful to make sure the router wasn't obscured by the TV, as I've an idea the TV (with all its metal innards) can be more of a barrier than wood, so that's something to bear in mind when considering placing it behind the TV.

 

[bill001g]

You never know what can block wifi signals. Your microwave oven works on the same 2.4g frequencies as wifi but at 1000 times the power. You can see though the glass door but the amount of wifi signal allowed to leak out of the microwave is a tiny fraction of what a router is allowed to legally transmit.

All kinds of strange stuff can block wifi even some wall paper. Different wood blocks it differently. Some manufactured woods have glue in them that blocks wifi signals.

All wifi is trial and error. Impossible to predict how well wifi works. What you might also find is some materials block the 2.4 but not the 5 or the reverse.

 

[Oasis Curator]

Hmm, tough as they'll be coming to put a new ONT box on the wall so have to decide where I want internet to come into my house.

The coat cupboard seems okay as it's out the way and can be closed away.

Although I could wire the ONT into a router elsewhere in the house I guess, as the router doesn't have to be right next to it.