scottbailey100@gmail.com
I get good Wi-Fi service on the ground floor but my second floor service is for #%$?
This is a very common problem and there are multiple strategies to combat it. But let’s take a minute to try to find out why.
Radio Waves are funny critters
In a nutshell Wireless Networking (as defined by IEEE 802.11 standards) uses radio waves. Radio waves have to travel from your portable device to your router for the whole thing to work right? Well radio waves have certain characteristics. They travel in straight lines from their point of origin out in a sort of orbital fashion. Visually think of a ceiling fan. The radio waves travel out from the center of the fan (antenna) in all directions. In a perfect world the waves would make a circle and the further from the center the signal will degrade until at some point it dies completely.
Let’s take a look at the good old Linksys WRT54G. This thing is like the Honda Accord of Wi-Fi Routers. They have sold millions. Have you ever gone to connect your phone to a wireless network in a new place and seen the network called LINKSYS? It could very likely have been one of these.
On top of the unit you see two antennas pointing directly up. Now remembering how the signal travels, the optimum service levels will be achieved in a circle horizontal to the direction of those. Thus, (and here’s the A HAH moment) the best service provided by this unit will be on the floor where it is placed. The folks on the second floor are likely screwed. The signal will travel some vertically but it will not be as robust as it will be on a horizontal plane with the direction of those antennas.
Next up. How do we FIX this kind of problem.
Any Questions feel free to email me at scottbailey100@gmail.com.