Quick reference
The same answers in plain text — for quick reading, and for anyone who found this page from a search.
What speed should I actually expect?
Find your plan speed on your bill (e.g. 300 Mbps). On WiFi, standing near the router, expect at least half of it. Streaming needs ~5 Mbps per HD TV, ~25 Mbps per 4K TV. Test with fast.com — next to the router first, then in the room that feels slow. The difference between those two numbers is your coverage problem.
Router placement rules (free speed)
- High and central — signal spreads down and out.
- In the open — never in a closet, cabinet, or behind the TV.
- Away from metal — appliances, HVAC, metal roofing, and mirrors all block signal.
Beach houses with multiple floors and far bedrooms usually need more than placement — that’s when mesh WiFi is the real fix.
When is mesh WiFi the answer?
When the internet is fast near the router but far rooms, upstairs, or the deck are dead — walls don’t move, so you add signal sources. A mesh system (2–3 small units) blankets the whole house with one network name. OBX Tech Guy installs and tunes them across the Outer Banks: (252) 686-1451.