February 13, 2023
Jump to: A Brief Introduction to Plume Pods
Where Should I Place My Pods?
How Do I Identify a Particular Pod?
What are pods?
AK-Fi Pods spread WiFi across your entire home, helping your signal reach further without sacrificing connection quality.
How do they work?
These Pods plug straight into wall outlets and spread full-speed internet from your existing modem across your home.
Do I need a pod?
If a coverage concern has been identified in your home, GCI will use AK-Fi's insight tools to help diagnose the issue. If the issue cannot be resolved by a technician, we may issue pods to improve coverage.
If you have concerns about the quality of your WiFi coverage, contact us so we can ensure you’re experiencing the best of AK-Fi. If a Pod is determined to be the best course of action, we’ll get you set up right away.
How much does an AK-Fi Pod cost?
GCI wants your WiFi experience to be top notch, so when it's determined a Pod is needed, it will be provided at no cost.
Where Should I Place My Pods?
When it comes to getting the best performance out of your Plume network, Pod placement is everything! While every home has a unique size, shape, and WiFi environment, here are some guidelines for maximizing your speeds.
Typically, AK-Fi Pods should be placed about 50 to 80 feet away from the gateway, while still ensuring the AK-Fi Pod still has good connection to the WiFi Modem. This means that you may need to place the AK-Fi Pod adjacent to where you are having poor coverage, as opposed to exactly where the poor coverage is.
Be sure to position pods in central locations along interior walls of your home to take advantage of the Pods' omnidirectional radios!
Additional Pod Placement Examples
Additional Tips to Improve Coverage & Performance
Turn Off Additional WiFi Networks
- Parallel networks from an upstream or additional router increase interference, dramatically decreasing your Plume network's performance
- If your secondary network shared an SSID and Password with your Plume network, devices will often become confused and hop between the two networks, hurting their connectivity
Steer Clear of Furniture
- Dense padding and metal/wood framing in furniture can inhibit your WiFi performance. Try placing your pod in an open, exposed area to improve signal and show off your new hardware!
- Similarly to how mirrors reflect light, they also reflect WiFi signal, decreasing signal strength. Try to position pods to connect around large mirrors and windows, rather than through.
Avoid Appliances
- TVs, refrigerators, subwoofers, and metals doors are WiFi killers. Avoid placing pods too close to or behind these appliances.
- Devices like microwaves, baby monitors, and cordless phones often share the same frequency as your WiFi networks, creating additional interference when placed too close together.
Work Around Your Home's Construction
- Just like mirrors, energy-efficient windows can negatively impact your WiFi signal.
- Metallic blinds/shades can also prevent your network from reaching balconies, terraces, or gardens.
- Foil-backed underfloor insulation can prevent WiFi signals from passing between floors in your home. Try placing pods near stairs where they might have a more direct line of sight.
How Do I Identify a Particular Pod?
If you are not sure which Pod is which, there are two easy ways to identify them using the app.
Locate and name
- From the Home screen, scroll down to the Adapt section and tap on the pod.
- Tap the ⋮ on the top-right of the pod detail screen.
- Choose the Locate and name option and tap your phone on the pod.
- Once the pod is identified, choose a name from the list or use the Custom room name option.
- Repeat these steps until you have renamed all of your pods.