If you use a Wi-Fi connection, you may have already realized that it has a limited range and can also be affected by the obstacles it finds in its path. Walls and doors can reduce speed and content, but did you know that several things are especially bad for Wi-Fi? That’s right, and in this article, we will tell you everything you need to know.
Before getting into the subject, you must remember that these objects do not always have the same impact. This will depend on the router’s location and the size of the blocking effect that it may have on it. For example, having a router near a small mirror will hardly have negative consequences, but things can change a lot if we place it next to a huge mirror.
In many cases, repositioning the router will be the ideal solution to avoid the impact of these objects, but I understand that this will not always be possible. If you find yourself in this situation, the only thing you can do is move those objects around or use Wi-Fi repeaters to extend the range of the signal. With that said, we are going to discover those five very harmful objects.
1.-Mirrors reflect Wi-Fi
We have already anticipated it, and we have also said that its impact will depend on the size of the mirror for obvious reasons. A very small mirror will have little or no effect on the radio waves used by Wi-Fi, but a large mirror will be noticeable, causing the signal to bounce, greatly limiting its range.
2.-Metal has a great impact
This material is a good conductor of electricity and can absorb it. This is precisely where the main problem is, since the radio waves used by Wi-Fi are electromagnetic, and they can end up being almost totally blocked by metal surfaces, which will prevent them from expanding normally and having an acceptable range.
3.-Large bodies of water
And yes, this includes large concentrations of people in tight spaces. Water is a natural blocker of the Wi-Fi signal, and that is why we must avoid placing the router, or the repeaters, near large bodies of water, such as large fish tanks, for example.
4.-Sources of interference
We can include many things at this point, but in general, all the electrical appliances, devices, and technological solutions that operate on the 2.4 GHz network are integrated. This leaves us with a huge amount of objects, ranging from a simple microwave to a drone.
5.-Solid walls and doors
We must be clear about the differentiating nuance of this section, the word “solid”. A semi-hollow door does not have the same impact on the Wi-Fi signal as a solid wooden door, and if a metal plate protects it, its impact will be even greater. With walls, the same is true, a thin brick wall can have an acceptable effect, but a plasterboard one will drastically reduce the signal.