Common mistakes you should avoid when setting up your home network

Taking a few shortcuts while setting up your home network can lead to a lot of buffering later.

By Thomas Godwin Oct. 24, 2026 7:30 pm EST Kazakova Yana/Shutterstock Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Setting up your home network is a process, and it's the little mistakes along the way that will hurt you in the end. One simple yet very common error is poor router placement. Nobody wants to set up one of TP-Link's big spider routers right in the middle of the living room, but it shouldn't be tucked into an out-of-the-way corner either. Home decor is important and all, but the router needs to be in a central location, or as close as you can get it without it becoming a tripping hazard.