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Coverage, Building Materials, and Layout
Wireless is physics. Materials and geometry can create dead zones even when the router is “good.”
Materials that hurt the most
Metal, masonry, tile, concrete, elevator shafts, low-E glass, dense insulation, and large appliances. Some modern windows are especially brutal for cellular.
Geometry creates shadow zones
Hallways, stairwells, and oddly shaped additions can block or reflect signal. Two rooms the same distance from an AP can behave totally differently.
Why moving an AP can outperform upgrading it
A small placement change can escape a reflective null, reduce obstruction, and improve line-of-sight. Placement is often the highest ROI change.