by Charles Miller

Fast and reliable Wi-Fi internet connectivity is what everyone wants in their homes for use with their portable devices. Please forgive me for stating the obvious. When the Wi-Fi signal is weak or works only intermittently, the first thing most people do is blame their modem. (No, this will not be another lecture on how to use trace route to diagnose the problem, though that test would be a huge help.) A common issue with internet connectivity can be the placement of the modem and the items located near it. Sources of electromagnetic interference and/or physical barriers that block the radio frequencies used by Wi-Fi can degrade the performance of even the best quality modem.

To be clear, I use the word "modem" understanding that this box provided by the phone company, cable provider, etc. is the only Wi-Fi hardware many people have. I do understand that the "modem" provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a box that often includes a modem, wireless access point, Ethernet switch, router, and sometimes a voice terminal; all together inside one unit. Not everyone wants to pay for installing a better home network to provide Wi-Fi coverage throughout their home. If they are satisfied with having good Wi-Fi in one room and using only the hardware provided by their ISP then that is fine. This column is for them.

Without realizing it, sometimes people place objects near to the modem in such a way as to reduce its signal strength. Location and line-of-sight are key to maintaining a more stable connection. Line of sight means simply you should try to find a place for your modem that affords an unobstructed view to whatever laptop, smart phone, or other wireless device that uses the internet connection. Almost anything you put between your device and your modem can potentially degrade the Wi-Fi signal.

Specifically, metal objects are highly reflective of the radio waves meaning signals bouncing off these objects can create interference; mirrors are also bad about this. Water-filled aquariums dampen (pun alert) Wi-Fi, and once I encountered a huge wire birdcage that soaked up the Wi-Fi signal like a sponge.

Here in Mexico the most common cause of poor Wi-Fi coverage is concrete walls. I have seen cases where a typical modem was installed in a room with large windows looking out over an open pasture. It was possible to get a usable Wi-Fi signal over 100 meters away from the house across the pasture because of the unobstructed line-of-sight. Inside the house was a different story because five feet away from the same modem on the other side of a concrete wall there was practically no Wi-Fi signal at all.

So, how far can typical modems broadcast a usable Wi-Fi signal? It depends. It could be 100 meters or more across an open pasture with an unobstructed view of the modem. Or it could be only one meter away if the Wi-Fi signal has to penetrate a solid concrete wall. The location of the modem makes a big difference.

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Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant with decades of IT experience and a Texan with a lifetime love for Mexico. The opinions expressed are his own. He may be contacted at 415-101-8528 or email FAQ8 (at) SMAguru.com.

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