How to Improve Wi-Fi for Your Small Business or Home Office (Does the Soda Can Trick Work?)

Updated October 2026

Our original version of this page described a popular DIY trick: cutting a soda can into a curved reflector and placing it behind your router’s antenna to boost the signal. It’s a fun experiment, but for a business that depends on Wi-Fi for payments, bookings, calls and customer access, there are far better solutions. This guide explains whether the soda can trick works, and the practical steps that really improve Wi-Fi in a small business or home office.

Does the soda can trick work?

A curved piece of metal behind an antenna can act as a simple reflector, pushing more signal in one direction and less in others. Some people notice a small improvement in one spot. But:

• The effect is small and unpredictable, depending on the router, antenna and room.
• It weakens coverage elsewhere, since it redirects signal rather than adding any.
• Most modern routers have internal antennas, so there’s nothing to place the can behind.
• It doesn’t fix the real causes of poor Wi-Fi: distance, walls, interference, outdated equipment or too many devices.

For a business, treat it as a curiosity, not a fix.

Why Wi-Fi is slow or patchy

Common causes include:

• Router placement: tucked in a corner, closet or behind equipment.
• Building materials: concrete, brick, metal, mirrors and appliances block signals.
• Distance: signals weaken over distance, especially at higher frequencies like 5 GHz and 6 GHz.
• Interference from neighboring networks, cordless phones, baby monitors and other electronics.
• Too many devices: point-of-sale systems, phones, cameras, laptops, smart devices and customers all compete for bandwidth.
• Old equipment that doesn’t support newer, faster standards.
• Slow internet service: Wi-Fi can’t be faster than the connection coming into the building.

Step-by-step: improving your Wi-Fi

1. Test your internet speed

Run a speed test near the router and in problem areas. If speeds are slow even next to the router, the issue may be your internet plan, not your Wi-Fi. The FCC’s broadband speed guide explains how much speed different activities need.

2. Move the router

Place it centrally, up high and in the open, away from metal, thick walls, microwaves and fish tanks. This simple step often makes the biggest difference.

3. Use the right frequency bands

Modern routers broadcast on several bands. The 2.4 GHz band reaches farther but is slower and more crowded; 5 GHz and 6 GHz are faster but shorter-range. Let devices choose automatically, or connect fixed devices like point-of-sale terminals to the best band for their location.

4. Upgrade to a mesh system

A mesh Wi-Fi system uses several units placed around your space to create one seamless network. It’s usually the best fix for larger offices, multi-floor shops, restaurants and homes with dead zones.

5. Use wired connections where you can

Ethernet cables give fixed devices such as desktop computers, payment terminals, printers and security camera recorders a faster, more reliable connection, and free up Wi-Fi for mobile devices.

6. Upgrade old equipment

Routers that are many years old may not support newer standards or receive security updates. Look for:

Your devices also need to support a standard to benefit from it.

Wi-Fi security for businesses

Business Wi-Fi needs more than a password on a sticky note:

• Use WPA3 encryption where supported (or WPA2 at minimum).
• Change the default admin password on your router.
• Create a separate guest network for customers, isolated from your business devices and payment systems.
• Keep router firmware updated, or replace routers that no longer receive updates. See our guide to keeping devices updated and secure.
• Use strong, unique Wi-Fi passwords and change them when employees leave.
• Turn off WPS, an older push-button connection feature with known weaknesses.

Businesses that accept card payments should keep payment devices on a network separate from public guest Wi-Fi. See our guide to encryption and payment security.

Wi-Fi needs by type of business

Have a backup internet connection

If your business depends on the internet for payments and bookings, an outage can stop sales. Options include:

• A mobile hotspot or phone tethering for emergencies.
• A second internet connection from another provider.
• A router with automatic failover to a cellular connection.
• Offline modes in your point-of-sale system that store payments until the connection returns, if your provider supports it.

Quick troubleshooting checklist

1. Restart the modem and router, waiting a minute before turning them back on.
2. Run a speed test near the router and in problem areas.
3. Check for outages with your internet provider.
4. Look for firmware updates in the router’s app or settings.
5. Count connected devices and disconnect ones you don’t recognize.
6. Move the router to a more central, open location.
7. Try a wired connection to see whether the problem is Wi-Fi or the internet service.

When to call a professional

Consider professional help if your space is large or complex, you have many users or devices, you need cameras, phones and payments on separate networks, or Wi-Fi problems are costing you sales. IT providers can map coverage, install business-grade access points and set up secure, segmented networks, often for a monthly fee that includes monitoring.

Offering Wi-Fi to customers

Free Wi-Fi can attract customers to cafés, salons, waiting rooms and retail stores. Best practices:

• Use a separate guest network with a simple password or a splash page.
• Set bandwidth limits so guests don’t slow your business systems during busy hours.
• Display terms of use and the network name clearly on signs or receipts.
• Consider a splash page that invites customers to join your email list or leave a review, with proper consent.

Home office Wi-Fi tips

Many small business owners and remote employees work from home, where Wi-Fi competes with family streaming and gaming:

• Put the router or a mesh unit near your workspace, or run an Ethernet cable to your desk.
• Use a separate network or device priority settings so work calls get bandwidth first.
• Schedule large downloads and updates outside work hours.
• Keep work devices updated and protected with strong passwords.
• Use a wired headset or a computer connected by cable for important video calls.

Planning for growth

As your business adds staff, devices and cameras, Wi-Fi needs grow too. When choosing equipment, consider:

• How many devices will connect at peak times.
• Future space, such as an added room, patio or second floor.
• Security cameras and smart devices, which can use significant bandwidth.
• Management tools that let you see and control connected devices from an app.

Example: a café fixes its Wi-Fi

A busy café had dropped card payments and slow customer Wi-Fi. The owner moved the router out of a back closet, added a two-unit mesh system, plugged the payment terminal into Ethernet, and created a separate guest network with bandwidth limits. Payment problems stopped, and customers stayed longer.

This example is illustrative.

Frequently asked questions

Will aluminum foil or a soda can boost my Wi-Fi? It may redirect signal slightly in one direction, but it isn’t a reliable or recommended fix for a business.

Is a Wi-Fi extender or mesh better? Mesh systems usually perform better and are easier to manage; basic extenders can work for small dead spots but often cut speeds.

Do walls really affect Wi-Fi that much? Yes. Concrete, brick, metal and even large mirrors and water features can block or weaken signals, which is why central placement and mesh units help.

Should my business use the router from my internet provider? It may be fine for very small spaces, but many businesses get better coverage, security and control with their own router or mesh system.

How fast should business internet be? It depends on your users, devices and activities such as video calls and cloud software. Test your current speeds and check your provider’s options.

Next steps

Read our guides to remote working tools, business smartphones and encryption and data security.

General information; equipment and standards change. Consult an IT professional for complex networks.

Sources

1. Wi-Fi Alliance
2. FCC, Broadband speed guide
3. CISA, Secure our world

Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Startup costs are estimates; check local prices, licensing and tax rules before you commit money.