Aluminum reflectors can boost Wi-Fi speeds, study finds

Researchers from Dartmouth College, in collaboration with teams from the University of Washington, UC Irvine, and Columbia University, have demonstrated that a properly positioned aluminum sheet can act as a parabolic reflector to boost Wi-Fi signals.

By reflecting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz waves toward a target area, this method can reduce dead zones and increase throughput. To optimize this effect, researchers developed WiPrint, a software tool designed to model room coverage and calculate the ideal shape for the aluminum reflector. This scientific approach contrasts with common myths, such as placing a coin on a router, which experts state can actually cause signal interference and device overheating.