Interference can come from a number of sources including brick walls, metal panels or frames, electrical appliances (microwave ovens, cordless phones, TV’s, freezers, fridges), Fish tanks, Neighbouring WiFi routers and access points and poor placement of the WiFi router or AP like next to one of the above appliances.
What factors will affect WiFi data throughput?
The number of devices connected at the same time (Contention Ratio) on the internal WiFi network, like smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, smart TV’s etc. can cause congestion if too many are connected simultaneously. The same applies to the external Internet connection supplied by the ISP. The more people using the internet at the same time, the slower the bandwidth becomes. Like certain times of the day when people arrive at home.
WiFi frequencies and channels
WiFi currently uses 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio frequencies to connect the devices to the WiFi network. 2.4 GHz has a larger range thus allowing you to access the WiFi from further away, but data transfer at this frequency is limited to 300Mbps. This is fine for handling daily tasks like web browsing and social networking. 5 GHz has a smaller range thus the WiFi access distance is smaller but the data transfer at this frequency is higher. This is ideal for video streaming and gaming etc.
WiFi security
WiFi gives us freedom from wires, but it’s not secure by default. Data is transmitted through the air, and anyone nearby can easily capture it with the right tools. It is highly advisable to change your WiFi passwords at least once a month.
Why do I need to extend, or why do I need to improve WiFi coverage?
The average ISP internet installation provides a router with WiFi capability but it won’t be sufficient if you have a larger home, or wish to have coverage outside. A variety of options are available to extend and improve your WiFi coverage, namely, wireless access points designed to handle low, medium and high-density environments. Access Points supplied by Vox cover both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.