The trick has gone viral on platforms such as TikTok or YouTube with the promise of amplifying Wi-Fi coverage without spending money.
The idea behind it is simple: aluminum is a metal driver with the ability to reflect electromagnetic waves and, therefore, could redirect the signal to the areas of the house where it is most needed.
This notion found endorsement in 2018when a team from Dartmouth University (United States) published the study “Customizing indoor wireless coverage using 3D manufactured reflectors“.
The researchers showed that, under controlled conditions and using parts designed with millimeter precision, it was possible improve signal in specific areas and reduce it in others to increase network security.
However, the context of that experiment has little to do with practice domestic that has popularized the internet.
“Aluminum foil makes the signs bouncewhich could make your connection even worse if you surround the antennas with aluminum,” they warn from the specialized portal Computer Today, which emphasizes that the homemade material does not reflect the conditions of the original study.
The silent danger of overheating
Beyond the doubtful improvement of the connection, the greatest risk entailed by this practice is of a thermal.
Routers are devices electronic They operate continuously and generate heat, which must be evacuated through the ventilation grilles integrated into their casing. By wrapping the device (or even just its antennas) with aluminum foil, which acts as a powerful insulator, Air flow is obstructed and the internal temperature can shoot up to critical levels.
“If you cover the device, you obstruct the airflow and cause the internal temperature to skyrocket”explains another article by Computer Today, which reminds us that excessive heat shortens the useful life of electronic components and, in extreme scenarios, can “burn” the equipment irreversibly.
The conclusion of the specialists is unanimous: although the physics that inspire the trick is real, its homemade execution is usually counterproductive.
For those looking to improve coverage at home without endangering the device, it is recommended to opt for safe solutions such as repeaters wifi or systems meshwhose effectiveness is proven and does not pose any risks to the hardware.