Struggling with poor Wi-Fi signal? Move these objects to get a free speed and range boost

Indian Express

a day ago

Are you tired of buffering videos and slow-loading pages? It turns out some everyday objects might be the reason you often get disconnected from your home Wi-Fi network. While it is common knowledge that walls and doors block out or weaken these radio frequencies, here are some things that may be killing your Wi-Fi signal.
If your router is near a big mirror, chances are that its reflective surface is bouncing off the Wi-Fi signal, effectively reducing your network's range. Another common material that reduces or dampens your Wi-Fi range is metal. While it is an excellent conductor of electricity, metal objects are known to reflect electromagnetic waves, making it nearly impossible for Wi-Fi signals to pass through them.
Most of us have our routers placed near our PCs or Bluetooth-enabled devices like speakers, keyboards, mice, or other peripherals. But since most Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operate in the same frequency band, these devices may interfere with your router's signal if they are pretty close to each other.
If you are experiencing issues with your Wi-Fi signal strength or range, try moving it a bit away, especially if you have a router that operates in the 2.4GHz frequency band. Alternatively, you can also try switching to the 5GHz frequency band if your router supports it since it is frequently less susceptible to interference from other devices.
As mentioned above, metal objects are notorious for blocking Wi-Fi signals, but some large wooden objects may also be the reason why you experience slow speeds. That said, having less furniture does not mean that you will get a good signal, but if your router is placed in an enclosed space or inside a wooden rack, try moving the router or repositioning the antennas to improve connectivity.
Microwaves are notorious for disrupting Wi-Fi signals because of the small amount of radiation they leak. Most microwave ovens operate in the 2.4GHz range, so if you have placed your router somewhere in the kitchen near it, try moving it away, and you may see a significant range boost.
This may sound surprising, but water molecules are pretty good at absorbing energy emitted by radio waves. This means if your router is close to a large body of water, like a tank or an aquarium, it might be the reason why you are losing signal in other parts of your home.
Also, if you live in a place where it often rains heavily, the signal loss may get worse as water droplets also absorb the signal, reducing the effective range of your Wi-Fi.
Bonus tip:
One reason why your Wi-Fi range and speed may be affected is because of your neighbour's router. Most routers operate in almost the same frequency range, and if you happen to live in a densely packed apartment, chances are their network is bogging down your speed since they are operating in the same channel as your network.
To fix this, you can install third-party apps from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store to check which Wi-Fi networks operate in the same channel and switch to a less congested channel from your router's settings page.
If you think your Wi-Fi is still slow after moving these common objects, here are some reasons why you may not be getting full speed on your wireless internet connection.