Should the router be placed in the bedroom?

(Dan Tri) - The location of the router is very important because it directly determines the strength, coverage and stability of the Wi-Fi signal throughout the house.

You may notice that as you move away from the device location, the signal bars on the phone gradually decrease. Some people believe that the bedroom is the best place to put a router if you spend most of your time there.

Wi-Fi waves travel in ripples from the device in all directions. If placed in the corner of the house, most of the waves will be wasted outside or not reach distant rooms (Photo: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock).

However, the reality is a bit more complicated. Purely functionally, placing this device in the bedroom is not necessarily wrong, but this also depends on the layout of the house.

The router works best when placed in a central location, with open space. Coverage will be limited if the radio signal is obstructed by too many walls and furniture. Meanwhile, the bedroom often contains a lot of furniture and other items.

If you live in a completely open-plan studio apartment, or a small apartment without a lot of furniture, placing the router right in the bedroom probably won't cause any problems.

However, in general, the bedroom is not the best location for a Wi-Fi router. In most homes, the living room is the more suitable place.

There are no documented radiation risks, but may affect sleep

What if there is no other choice but to put the router in the bedroom?

You may still be concerned about your router operating right next to where you sleep for eight hours a night and emitting electromagnetic fields (EMF). A common concern is that EMF radiation from Wi-Fi can be harmful to the body.

However, there is currently no convincing evidence that EMF emitted from Wi-Fi routers is harmful to health.

A 2020 study by the Berlin Institute of Health examined the effects of exposure to Wi-Fi waves on the brain during sleep but found no conclusive evidence of significant effects.

The Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health also published a study in 2023 looking at the long-term effects of Wi-Fi routers on rat brains. The researchers did not note a significant effect in this study.

Both studies acknowledge that more research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about whether exposure to signals from Wi-Fi routers is harmful to health.

However, routers can negatively affect the sleep of people nearby. The problem isn't with the Wi-Fi signal but with the indicator light on the device, which can be quite bright in a dark room and often flashes constantly.

According to Sleep.com, artificial light can affect the body's circadian rhythm. So, the light from the router's indicator light can make it difficult for some people to get a good night's sleep.

Luckily, there are some measures you can take to limit this effect.

Adjust your router settings to avoid affecting your sleep

If you want to make sure your router's indicator lights don't disrupt your sleep, you can check your device's settings.

Some router lines, such as Google Wifi, allow the status indicator light to be dimmed or completely turned off.

If the device does not have this function, you can use a sticker to cover the indicator lights. However, this can make it difficult to tell if the device is working or not. Additionally, residue from tape or stickers can also affect the resale value of the device.

You also have some other options if you want to limit your exposure to electromagnetic waves (EMF) while you sleep.

Some routers have a physical Wi-Fi switch to turn off the wireless signal before going to bed. Many other devices also allow this through an advanced configuration menu.

This method both turns off the wireless signal and limits Internet access at a time when you need to rest.

However, it should be noted that the Wi-Fi bedtime timer feature on many routers does not actually turn off the device's radio signal. Instead, this feature only blocks access for specific devices.

If manually turning off Wi-Fi every night is too inconvenient, you can use a smart plug or mechanical timer to automatically turn off the router's power at certain hours.