Wi-Fi (short for Wireless Fidelity) has revolutionised the way we connect to the internet. Its origins can be traced back to the early 1970s when researchers at the University of Hawaii began experimenting with wireless data transmission using radio waves. Today, Wi-Fi is an integral part of our daily lives, providing wireless internet access in homes, businesses, and public places around the world. However, like most technology, Wi-Fi can experiance issues. Here is our guide to the most common faults and what can be done to boost your home network!
Common Wi-Fi Issues
Coverage
One of the most common Wi-Fi issues is signal coverage and range. As early internet service used telephone wires to access the internet, it was a standard practice to install the router close to the master phone socket (usually at the front of the house). This results in the front of the home having a stable connection and those furthest from the router having a “dead spot” (where the device loses connection to the router altogether), or such a weak signal that speed is severely impacted.
Solid Walls
Solid walls can significantly affect the strength and reliability of Wi-Fi signals. Here’s a breakdown of how different types of walls can impact your wireless network:
Brick: Brick walls are among the most absorbent materials for Wi-Fi signals. Their dense structure can significantly attenuate the signal, leading to weaker coverage and slower speeds.
Wood: While wood is generally less absorbent than brick or concrete, thick wooden walls can still impact Wi-Fi signals.
Gypsum Board: This common wall material has moderate attenuation properties, potentially allowing for better Wi-Fi coverage.
Frequency Channel Clash
A third reason you may be having Wi-Fi issues is so unlikely, it is barely worth mentioning. However, each Wi-Fi access point will use a numbered channel to transmit information. If two SOHO (Small Office, Home Office) routers or access points are using the same channel, this can cause connection and attenuation issues. All modern access points have channel analytics built in which will automatically change the channel to one which is used less – automatically.
Solutions / Improvements
Here is a list of possible solutions to the most common Wi-Fi issues, scored on both cost, effectiveness and reliability:
Cost 0= Most Expensive / 10 Least expensive
Effectiveness 0 Least Effective / Most Effective
Reliability 0 Least Reliable / Most Reliable
Additional Wi-Fi access point
The most effective method of resolving poor Wi-Fi coverage is to install a secondary Wi-fI access point. The additional access point will be hardwired back to the router resulting in no loss of speed that come with powerline adaptors, mesh systems or range extenders. The cable between the router and access point can be concealed within wall cavities, under floorboards or, for builds with solid walls – routed externally.
Dedicated wi-fi access points will usually be a higher Wi-Fi standard than the one build into the router meaning better coverage and speeds even if it was used on its own.
(For more information on Wi-Fi standards – click here)
Cost 7/10
Effectiveness 10/10
Reliability 10/10
Mesh system
A Mesh System is a set of two or more micro-routers which bounce traffic off of each other allowing for a greater coverage. As a mesh system provides a number of access points – coverage is usually good however at the cost of speed.
As each node is “copying and pasting” to the next, then ultimately to the client device, the speed in which information is sent is negatively affected. Most mesh systems will advertise a speed on the box however this speed is the theoretical maximum from one node to another, and not a true reflection of its general use.
It’s also worth mentioning that each node has to be strategically placed – on the edge of the range of another node (in addition to being next to a plug socket) This can prove tricky.
It’s worth also mentioning that good mesh systems are expensive, and typically cost the same as installing a secondary access point.
Cost 4/10
Effectiveness 5/10
Reliability 5/10
Hardwiring critical devices
If you have a games console, PC or TV and want the maximum speed available, there is no better solution than “hardwiring” the device back to the router. The device will have no drop in speed due to Wi-Fi transmission, as it goes directly through a cable, and will have priority over other Wi-Fi traffic.
Cost 8/10
Effectiveness 10/10
Reliability 10/10
Powerline Adaptor
A powerline adapter is a device that uses your home’s electrical wiring to create a high-speed network connection. It’s a convenient connect devices directly to the internet without running additional cables.
Although easy as these are to install, they do have their downsides:
For the best results, the sender and receiver plugs need to be on the same ring circuit or radial circuit. Depending on how the electricity is wired in your home, there is no guarantee that any two plugs are on the same circuit. If they are on different circuits, speed is either negatively affected or it simply won’t work at all. Powerlines are also not great with older electrical wiring.
Powerline adaptors have a habit of “unpairing” themselves, resulting in having to press the pair button on each device to reconnect. There is no consistency to when or why this happens, and can be frustating for important work from home or streaming your favourite show.
Cost 9/10
Effectiveness 5/10
Reliability 2/10
Range Extender
A range extender is a device which plugs directly into an electrical outlet. Similar to a mesh system, its purpose is to “copy and paste” a connection. Another positive is that most range extenders come with a RJ45 connection (the type of cable that goes in every internet router) meaning it can be used to network non-Wi-Fi devices (it should be noted in this application Wi-Fi is still used as the transmission medium meaning there is no improvement in speed).
A range extender is a cost-effective method to provide Wi-Fi signal to less used / less critical areas of the home (such as a garage). There are also quite reliable and rarely loose their connection.
Cost 10/10
Effectiveness 5/10
Reliability 8/10
Upgrading your Router
Another worthwhile option to explore is upgrading the router from you ISP (Internet Service Provider) with a higher standard router.
At the time of writing, the latest widely available Wi-Fi standard is known as Wi-Ii 7, which is far superior in speed and solid-wall penetration than the Wi-Fi 4/5 that most ISPs supply in their basic router.
Cost 8/10
Effectiveness 5/10
Reliability 10/10
Want a free survey?
Not sure what you need? We offer a free, no-obligation Wi-Fi survey in Peterborough and the surrounding areas. Either schedule an appointment online, call us on 01733 639096 or complete the below form today!
