If you have a Wi-Fi router that has antennas, here’s how to orient them in the best way to maximise reception in your house.

The tip comes from Alf Watt, a former Apple Wi-Fi engineer and creator of Wi-Fi utility, iStumbler. He says that the reception will be the best when the two antennas are pointed in perpendicular directions:

For routers with those adjustable, “rubber ducky” antennas, Alf recommends pointing one straight up and one flat out. This is because radio reception is maximized when both client and access point have matched polarization (antennas pointing along the same plane).

Some client devices have antennas in vertical orientation, some horizontal. The current crop of MacBooks, for example, have their antennas in the black plastic part of the hinge in a horizontal orientation.

An additional tip for Wi-Fi routers without external antennas is keeping it in an orientation that has its feet at the bottom, rather than on the side.

Let us know how it goes.