Most problems with Wi-Fi network interference can be boiled down to wireless regulations. Wi-Fi operates in the frequency ranges of 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz. Transmissions in these ranges are inexpensive as they don’t require complicated licensing requirements. Wireless devices operating in this range are supposed to tolerate interference, and some are designed to change channels within the frequency to help relieve interference. Let’s take a look at some common (and probably surprising) causes of Wi-Fi network interference:
AC Adapters
With the increase of mobile and wireless devices comes an increase in AC adapters to charge their batteries. Many AC adapters are cheaply made, mass-produced, and radiate wideband noise. If you’re experiencing problems with your Wi-Fi network, try unplugging all of the random AC adapters to see if the problem goes away. If it relieves the network issue, the cheap AC adapters are to blame.
Bluetooth Devices
Modern Bluetooth devices are designed to avoid active Wi-Fi channels, but when Bluetooth first came out, they weren’t as friendly to the Wi-Fi network. Bluetooth devices operate within the 2.4 GHz spectrum, which is the same frequency where we find Wi-Fi 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. If your office has a large number of Bluetooth devices in the same area or room, your Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz signal is going to experience network interference. If you have intermittent Wi-Fi network interference, ask employees to leave their Fitbits at home, turn off their Bluetooth connections on their phones, and use wired headsets, keyboards, and mice instead of Bluetooth versions.
Toys and Gadgets
When your wireless isn’t as reliable as you would like, take inventory of all the wireless gadgets in the office. If it’s wireless, it’s pretty much going to operate on the same frequency as your Wi-Fi network. Wireless microphones, drones, remote-controlled devices, display mirroring devices, keyboards, computer mice, speakers – anything that receives and sends signals through the air will potentially impact your wireless network. While businesses may not be able to avoid all gadgets operating wirelessly, you can check the product specifications of all of the devices in your office to see which ones operate on the same frequency as your network and start disconnecting them one at a time to determine which one is the culprit.
Hackers
Hackers and hackers-in-training gain access to illegal, interference-generating devices that they can use to cause problems to networks. Disgruntled employees with administrative access can purposely create issues with the wireless network by configuring a WLAN adapter
Fidelus Technologies, based out of New York City is a Professional and Managed Information Technology Services company focused on customer success and business efficiency. Our services provide seamless networking, data center, wireless, security and unified communications expertise for medium and enterprise sized businesses. We have a consultative life cycle approach that includes requirements gathering, assessments, solution design, planning, project management, engineering, adoption and evolution (training) services to fully support the IT needs of your organization.
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2017 U.S. IT Services Report sponsored by Fidelus
