5 things that could be blocking your Wi-Fi signal

Home & Business Internet Blog | MATE, Home & Lifestyle Blog | MATE | 11 September 2018

How much time do you spend online each day? If you’re like most Aussies, it’s a lot. In fact, statistics show that over the past 12 months, internet use down-under totalled over 21.9 billion hours!

With 88 percent of the population actively using the internet and a global internet speed ranking of only 55, it’s not surprising that most of us experience the frustration of an occasional signal drop. Learning what blocks WiFi signal is the first step to fixing the problem. These troubleshooting tips will help improve your internet connection and reduce signal drop-out.

1. Check other household appliances and electronics

One of the most common problems with a wireless internet connection is interference from other appliances and equipment. Turn off unnecessary Bluetooth devices and move your router away from electronics like your microwave, cordless phone, and garage door opener.

Your WiFi radio may also cause interference. Try turning it off or changing the default station. Remember that any device transmitting 2.4 GHz frequency may disrupt your WiFi, so make sure you keep these items at least two metres away from your router.

2. Inspect your wifi network’s power and range

Your wireless router only puts out a strong signal within a certain range. If you’re near the edge of this range, you’ll likely experience a drop-out. Surprisingly, you don’t always have to be physically far away from the router to get out of its range. Relocating the router to a more central location may help the issue. Other options include purchasing a signal-boosting device or upgrading your antenna.

3. Beware of network overload

The amount of bandwidth in your home is limited. If everyone in the household is using it at once, you may all experience disruptions. This is particularly true if multiple devices are streaming, playing games, or downloading files.

The easiest way to fix this is to ask some family members to take a break. You can also minimise the problem by using bandwidth control software to regulate download speeds.

4. Check your network security

While most Aussies are now using a secure LTE infrastructure, some still connect on unsecured networks. If your neighbour happens to use an unsecured network with the same name or SSID, you could mistakenly connect to their network without even knowing it. This can cause interference, range issues, and connection disruptions.

Keep yourself safe and connected by giving your network its own unique SSID and adding password protection.

5. Update your equipment

Your computers and other connected devices function using a device driver. Similarly, your router uses firmware. If your device drivers or firmware are outdated or corrupted, you may experience connection issues.

Check to see if there are driver or firmware updates available for your devices. Keeping your equipment up to date not only helps you maintain a good connection, it also helps combat other potential security issues.

If you’ve tried all of these troubleshooting methods and are still having problems, you’re not out of luck. The problem could be with your internet provider, or another issue outside of your home.

The service team at MATE may be able to help. Contact us today to learn how.