TL;DR: Most residence Wi-Fi issues are placement + band + channel width. Put the router high with line of sight, use 5 GHz for speed, 2.4 GHz @ 20 MHz for reach, and pick clean channels. If Zoom still stutters, try Ethernet; if that works, book a remote tune-up or plan a mesh.

What you’ll learn

The three big levers: placement, 2.4 vs 5 GHz, and channels/width.
A quick way to tell Wi-Fi vs ISP problems apart.
Student-friendly tweaks for Zoom/Teams calls.
When to book a remote tune-up or install mesh Wi-Fi.

1) Placement: free performance

Wi-Fi hates obstacles. The more walls, metal and mirrors between you and the router, the worse the signal.

Height & sight: shelf or wall-mount, not in a cupboard/on the floor.
Antenna angles: spread external antennas (one vertical, others ~45–60°).
Avoid interference: keep 1–2 m away from microwaves, cordless bases, big fridges and mirrors.
One SSID per flat (ideally): too many SSIDs confuse devices; if you have multiple APs, use the same SSID/pass with non-overlapping channels.

2) Bands & width: pick the right lane

2.4 GHz (range)

Best for through-walls and legacy devices.
Channels 1, 6 or 11 only.
20 MHz width keeps overlap down.

5 GHz (speed)

Faster/cleaner air; shorter range.
Use 36–48 or 149–165.
80 MHz width near the router; drop to 40 MHz if congested or if your router struggles.

Pro tip: Separate SSIDs (e.g., MyFlat-2G / MyFlat-5G) so you can choose the best band per device.

3) Zoom/Teams stability checklist

Prefer 5 GHz, sit closer to the router.
Ethernet beats Wi-Fi—a cheap USB-C/USB-A adapter can save an exam.
Pause heavy downloads/syncs; close cloud upload jobs.
Use headphones; enable noise suppression.
If Ethernet is perfect but Wi-Fi lags, the fix is placement/channels/width, not your ISP.

4) Router basics that help

Reboot once after changes; don’t power-cycle endlessly.
Update firmware from the admin page/app.
Rename SSIDs and disable WPS; use WPA2-PSK/WPA3-SAE.
Strong passphrase (12+ chars).
Screenshot settings so you can redo them after a reset.

Need a hand? Book a Remote support session.

5) Is it Wi-Fi or the ISP?

Test Ethernet to the router.
- If Ethernet is solid but Wi-Fi isn’t → wireless issue.
- If Ethernet also drops → call your ISP.
Try a phone hotspot briefly; if calls are perfect, your flat Wi-Fi or ISP link is the culprit.
Check router logs/lights for line drops or re-syncs.

We can help collect evidence and escalate to the ISP.

6) When to install mesh (and how to do it right)

Use mesh for multi-room coverage.
Place nodes one wall apart; good signal between nodes matters most.
Prefer wired backhaul (Ethernet/powerline if clean); otherwise keep nodes in line of sight.
Keep one SSID across nodes; avoid double NAT by bridging the ISP router where possible.

Plan it with us: Wi-Fi/Network setup or Mesh Wi-Fi planning.

7) Quick outcomes we can deliver remotely

Read the local spectrum, choose cleaner channels/widths.
Rename SSIDs and improve security (WPA2/3, no WPS).
Optimise Zoom/Teams device settings.
Document a backup Ethernet plan for exams/interviews.
Start here: Remote support session

Final word

Most Stellenbosch Wi-Fi problems don’t need a new ISP—just the right band, cleaner channels and better placement. Try the checks above; if calls still stutter, we’ll tune it remotely or design a simple mesh.

Quick links