This article will cover several common sources of household Wi-Fi interference or signal degradation.
Wireless and household appliances
Many devices which don’t even use Wi-Fi still emit radio signals in the same bands (2.4GHz or 5GHz) as your Wi-Fi router. Did you know your microwave oven functions on the 2.4GHz band? These devices can interfere with your service, slowing or disrupting connections.
Here are some wireless appliances that can cause signal interference:
• Microwave ovens
• Bluetooth devices
• Cordless phones
• Wireless speakers
• Nearby Wi-Fi access points
• Baby monitors
• Wireless cameras
Solution
In many cases, the problem can be fixed by utilizing a Wi-Fi access point able to broadcast 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi bands simultaneously. All Wi-Fi equipment provided by Connexion is at least 2.4GHz and 5GHz capable.
If your WiFi router only operates on 2.4 GHz, it might be possible work around interference by using a different channel (1, 6, or 11) to avoid the one causing interference. If you think that a particular wireless appliance is the source of signal interference, check whether it offers an option to change its own channel.
Physical obstacles
The construction materials used for walls, ceilings, or partitions in your home are among the most common causes of a poor WiFi signal.
Here are the interference levels of some common building materials:
• Low interference level: wood, glass, synthetic material
• Medium interference level: water, bricks, marble
• High interference level: plaster, concrete
• Very high interference level: metal
Solution
If your current Wi-Fi equipment is unable to provide adequate coverage throughout your home, you may choose to extend your network by adding an extra Wi-Fi access point. For instance, with Nokia WiFi, you can add additional Beacons to extend your network and provide better connection quality throughout your home. The best technology to expand your WiFi network is to use a mesh solution, rather than a repeater or extender.
5GHz DFS Channels (Dynamic Frequency Selection)
DFS frequencies include 5470–5725 MHz and channels include 52-144 within the 5Ghz band. These DFS frequencies are commonly used by systems that existed before Wi-Fi, including military radar, satellite communication, and weather radar. Some consumer devices are programmed to ignore DFS channels (Roku being the most common). If you use a device which is not capable of functioning in the DFS range, it may stop functioning if your Wi-Fi router begins broadcasting with a DFS channel.
Solution
Check which frequency / channel your Wi-Fi router is using to broadcast its network and change it to anything outside of the DFS range. You should be able to check the Wi-Fi channel on any currently connected device, or from the router itself. You can also use a Wi-Fi spectrum analyzer. There are many free phone apps or computer programs which can display nearby wireless signals and which frequencies they are using.