Wireless internet slow? Six possible culprits.

[redbeacon]

Six things that block your WiFi (wireless) and how to fix them

 

Excerpts from PC World, commentary by redbeacon

 

http://s2.kimag.es/share/8773967.jpg

 

1

Your neighbour: Are they using Wireless as well?

 

You have wireless, and you discover that your neighbour with the moniker TAY_FAMILY also use wireless to surf the net.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that yes, too many wireless routers in your neighbourhood can equate to some sort of radio signal congestion. Like slow moving traffic in the morning due to the number of cars on the road.

 

Solution: read point #2 and its solution...both this and that are related.

2

Household electronics

 

The next time you complain about why Youtube is not up to snuff, perhaps think about that cordless phone you have near your computer. Or on the reason why Shoutcast online radio keeps on losing connection whenever your grandma uses the microwave oven situated next to your wireless router base station.

 

Solution

 

3

Bluetooth Devices

 

Well nowadays, Bluetooth manufacturers have implemented technology to minimize this interference. But it's good to know that in the past, old handphones that have Bluetooth did and can interfere with a wireless network.

 

Do you have any old phones lying around and that Bluetooth is switched-on on them?

 

4

Humans

 

About 3/4 of the human body consists of water. And believe it or not, you'll probably figure out what this does to WiFi (more...)

 

5

Wireless Security (aka. passwords)

 

But why passwords you say? WEP (and WPA) security stops people from accessing your network without a proper password.

 

Think of it as a wall surrounding a castle. People have to go through the slight delay of proving their identity to the guards at the gate.

 

It's this "delay" -- that extra password checks that your router demands from people (including you) that are connecting to it that slows you down surfing the 'net a bit.

 

So this is just an FYI. It's faster without any passwords implemented, and while at it, this also exposes you to the outside world. It's risky, and we at SBF I.T.inerary Forum highly suggests you to secure up your network with WEP, WPA, or WPA2 (more...)

 

6

Old firmware

 

You can't peer inside your router and find what's called a "firmware".

But rest assured that firmware -- which is a piece of software installed in your router, is always instructing your router how to function properly and to connect your house to the Internet and WiFi.

 

But as times change and your faithful 2 year old router shows its age, wouldn't it be nice to update its firmware. Available from the website of your router manufacturer, newer firmware makes your router smarter and efficient, and it'll promise some speed improvements too.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Back in the day I loved to hang the wifi tranceiver or 3G modem out of the window to get a better signal. Lots of free super long extension cords from the office

 

Fun stuff

 

2

Household electronics

 

The next time you complain about why Youtube is not up to snuff, perhaps think about that cordless phone you have near your computer. Or on the reason why Shoutcast online radio keeps on losing connection whenever your grandma uses the microwave oven situated next to your wireless router base station.

 

Apparently smartphones also have techniques to hold. The compact design of some newer models means the reception can be affected if the user grips the area where the antennae are mounted.

[emdy]

No. 7 - dont use wireless. Go old skool with tangled wires. =)

[SpiritualRain13]

Wen i'm at home i normally will juz PluggedIn also. Lotz faster especially wen in YouTube & Downloading Large Files...

[redbeacon]

Wen i'm at home i normally will juz PluggedIn also. Lotz faster especially wen in YouTube & Downloading Large Files...

 

That's true.

 

The laptop and iPhone depend on my WiFi router for some internet stuff, so I still appreciate the usefulness of wireless *thumbs*

[xXxRatedxXx]

I just like to say that WEP security is completely useless in this day and age.... WPA2 PSK is virtually un crackable unless you have a slight clue of what the passphrase might be.

[crazydj]

Agreed. Back in the day when there was only WEP, i would get constant disconnections, unreliable speeds etc. I gave up and disabled SSID broadcast and use a MAC filter.

 

Now different. I use WPA2 PSK/AES or whatever its called and come up with some funky password what takes a couple of seconds to type.