Items that could bottleneck your WiFi at home

Given our dependence on the internet, it can be incredibly frustrating when it fails to provide the fast speeds that we anticipate. When this happens, the first thing to determine is the cause of the failure.

Although your service provider is the first suspect that comes to mind, this is not necessarily always the case. There are other factors that could be responsible for the slow WiFi on your network.

First, what is a bottleneck?

In the context of a WiFi network, a bottleneck is a scenario where data flow is restricted significantly, so much so that it slows down your connection. You will suddenly experience a lag in your video game play or buffering while trying to stream your favourite movie or series.

The bottleneck on your WiFi could be due to anything. Nothing is too small. The number of devices you have connected on average, your neighbours’ WiFi network, worn-out cables or even an insufficient port switch can all influence your WiFi network’s performance.

Items in your house that could interfere with your WiFi signals:

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1. Smart TV
   You should never place your router towards the back of your TV. This is because the metal components at the back of your TV can interfere with your WiFi signal.
2. Water
   Having a fish tank or a large water feature in your home can cause an interference to your WiFi. Water, especially salt water, is conductive. WiFi uses radio waves, and water is able to absorb those waves
3. Mirrors
   An unexpected addition but a very real obstacle. Like water, a mirror will absorb the electromagnetic waves from the WiFi router. This is because mirrors are generally made up of a thin layer of silver or aluminum. Mirrors can therefore reduce your signal strength significantly.
4. Underfloor heating
   This only applies if you live in a multistory home. Pipes and wiring can interfere with WiFi signal strength, and there is typically a large amount of them installed for heating your floors.
5. Metal objects
   Much like what happens in mirrors, all objects that contain metal will absorb the WiFi signal. So be mindful of items that have metal in your house. This could be a piece of furniture, a wall made of metal sheets, blinds, or metal cabinets. Make sure that the router is placed where these objects will not cause an obstruction or interference.
6. WiFi extenders
   A WiFi extender can help improve your WiFi signal but if the cause of the slow WiFi speeds is misdiagnosed, the interference from this device can make things worse. So, before getting an extender, make sure you have accurately identified the cause of your connection issues.
7. Microwave
   In a case where the slow WiFi issue pops up intermittently, a microwave could be the cause. On average, we use the microwave sparingly, but when in use it can block devices using the same frequency as your WiFi network.

We hope this helps you get back enjoying fast internet speeds!
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