By Bishal Biswas
WiFi interference is a common issue that most offices and households around the world face and it significantly affects the performance of the wireless network, resulting in slower internet speeds, dropped connections, and user frustration. Understanding what causes interference and implementing effective techniques to reduce interference is essential for maintaining a reliable and fast WiFi connection. So here we have discussed some best techniques to reduce interference on WiFi networks.
Identify potential sources of interference
If you want to reduce interference from nearby devices and networks, the first thing that you have to do is identify the potential sources of interference that may affect your wireless network. You can start by checking for wireless devices in your home that might have the same frequency band as your network, such as cordless phones, microwaves, Bluetooth speakers, or baby monitors. These devices can create wireless noise and can cause interference, which can degrade the signal and performance of your wireless network.
You can also use a tool like NetSpot or WiFi Analyzer that might help to scan for other wireless channels and signals in your areas, and see how they overlap with your network. Doing so will allow you to identify potential sources of interference.
Change the wireless channel and frequency band
Now that you have identified potential sources of interference in your area, the next step is to change the wireless channel or frequency band. Since other electronic and wireless devices don’t have the option to change the wireless channel or frequency band, you will have to do it for your wireless router to improve the stability of your network and avoid interference.
By default, most wireless routers operate on a 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is the frequency of transmission of other wireless devices as well. You can visit 192.168.0.1 on your web browser, log into the admin panel, and change the wireless frequency band, as well as the wireless channel. This can allow you to reduce interference as much as possible. In addition, a tool like the WiFi analyzer can help you find the best frequency and wireless channel in your area.
Adjust router positioning and antenna orientation
Sometimes, the position of the wireless router matters a lot to reduce interference. Adjusting the position of your wireless router and the orientation of the wireless antenna can optimize the signal coverage and strength and also reduce interference between closely situated wireless devices. To reduce interference with the help of positioning, avoid placing your wireless near windows, glass, or other objects that can block or reflect the signal.
Place the router in a central and elevated location, away from walls, metal objects, and other sources of interference. Try different orientations of router antennas to find the one that suits your building best.
Update firmware
The performance of your wireless router and the strength of signals can also be impacted by outdated firmware or faulty drivers on your wireless routers. Firmware and drivers are software that controls and dictates the performance of your wireless router. If the firmware is outdated or drivers are faulty, then it can affect the performance of your wireless network.
To avoid this issue, simply visit the router’s admin access page via 192.168.1.1 and check for available firmware updates. In case there are firmware updates available, just update the router firmware so that you can rule firmware out from this issue.
Use a wireless range extender or mesh network
If you have tried the aforementioned fixes and none of them seem to work, then consider using a range extender or a mesh network to improve the performance of your wireless network. A wireless range extender is a device that receives and amplifies the signal from your router and retransmits it to a wider area, while a mesh network is a special type of router that uses a system of multiple access points to create a seamless and reliable wireless network. Both of these are viable options to reduce interference by increasing the signal strength and coverage.
