Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E helps only if you place the router sensibly and configure it properly. A £300 router in a cupboard loses to a £100 router on a shelf in the centre of your flat.
Understanding the standards
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): better congestion handling in flats with fifty neighbouring networks. Wi-Fi 6E: adds 6 GHz band — less interference, shorter range, needs compatible devices. Wi-Fi 7: emerging; only worth premium if your laptop and phone support it.
Placement rules
- Central location, elevated — eye level or above furniture.
- Away from microwaves, cordless phones, thick walls, metal cabinets.
- Antennas vertical unless manual says otherwise.
- ISP combo box in bridge mode + dedicated router often outperforms all-in-one.
Mesh vs single router vs extenders
Small flat: one good router. L-shaped or multi-floor: two-node mesh (Eero, Deco, Orbi). Extenders: last resort — halve bandwidth on hop, awkward handoff. Powerline adapters work in some homes with old wiring — test return policy.
Settings worth changing
WPA3 or WPA2-AES only — never WEP. Separate 2.4 and 5 GHz SSIDs if phones cling to slow 2.4 through walls. Update firmware quarterly. Reserve DHCP for printers and NAS. For geeks: scan channels with WiFi Analyzer and pick least congested — especially in dense blocks.
