Can WiFi access points be too close together?

The Goldilocks Zone of WiFi: Are Your Access Points Too Close Together?

In the quest for ubiquitous WiFi coverage, it’s tempting to simply blanket an area with access points (APs). More APs equals more coverage, right? Not necessarily. Over-saturation can lead to a surprisingly poor user experience, highlighting the crucial, often overlooked, aspect of AP placement. The question isn’t just how many APs you need, but how far apart they should be.

The ideal placement of WiFi access points is a delicate balancing act. Too far apart, and you’ll have gaps in coverage, leading to dead zones and frustratingly slow speeds. Too close together, however, creates a different set of problems, ultimately undermining the very goal of improved network performance.

When access points are clustered too tightly, they interfere with each other. Think of it like a crowded radio station – multiple broadcasters on similar frequencies create static and garbled signals. Similarly, closely positioned APs operating on overlapping channels (especially in the 2.4 GHz band, which has fewer non-overlapping channels) cause signal collisions and interference. This results in:

• Reduced throughput: Data transfer speeds plummet as packets collide and require retransmission, leading to slower browsing, streaming, and file transfers.
• Increased latency: The delay experienced between sending a request and receiving a response increases, resulting in lag during online gaming, video conferencing, and other latency-sensitive applications.
• Network instability: Interference can lead to dropped connections, frequent disconnects, and overall unreliable WiFi performance.
• Reduced range: Paradoxically, while you might think more APs mean greater range, overlapping signals can actually reduce the effective range of individual APs.

So, what’s the magic distance? There’s no single answer that fits every scenario, as factors like building materials, interference from other devices, and the specific AP model play a significant role. However, a general guideline suggests maintaining a minimum separation of at least one meter between access points. Ideally, you should strive for significantly greater separation, especially in areas with substantial obstacles or dense client devices.

Proper channel planning is equally crucial. Employing a WiFi analyzer to identify optimal, non-overlapping channels for each AP is essential to minimize interference. This, combined with strategic placement that considers building layout and potential obstacles, maximizes the efficiency of your WiFi network.

Investing time in strategic AP placement, rather than simply installing more APs, is a far more effective strategy for achieving optimal WiFi performance. Remember, sometimes, less is more – and in the world of WiFi, a well-spaced network significantly outperforms a crowded one.