Is your superhighway recordsdata running slow and you don’t know why? The problem may not be your recordsdata superhighway provider or your contracted concept, but rather an appliance that you have a few meters from the router and that is sabotaging your connection without you realizing it. The primary culprit is one of the most common in any kitchen: the microwave oven.
Why the microwave is the worst enemy of your WiFi
This has a fairly direct technical explanation. Microwaves emit radiation in the 2.4 GHz bandthe same frequency at which the vast majority of home WiFi routers operate. When both devices are active at the same time, direct interference is generated that affects data transmission between your router and your devices.
According to specialized portals such as High Pace Web and Celsia, cited in the Infobae analysis, This coincidence of frequencies can cause fluctuations in connection speed and even temporary service interruptions. . That is, if you are on a video call or downloading a heavy file just when someone is heating food in the microwave, it is very likely that you will notice a drop in your connection.
The solution is simpler than it seems: keep as much space as possible between the router and the microwave. They don’t necessarily have to be in separate rooms, but they do have to be far away from each other to minimize that signal competition.
Other appliances that also affect your network
The microwave is the primary culprit, but not the only one. Televisions, computers and sound systems They can also generate electromagnetic fields that alter the flow of wireless data on your network. Although their impact is minor, when you have several of these devices concentrated in the same space, the combined effect can be quite considerable.
Other devices that you may not have expected are added to this list:
- cordless phones: Many older models also operate in the 2.4 GHz band and compete directly with the router’s signal.
- Baby monitors: especially analog ones, they can emit signals that interfere with WiFi if they are located near the router.
- Bluetooth devices: Wireless headphones, keyboards, and mice also use the 2.4 GHz band using a frequency hopping technique that can introduce signal noise.
The key is to avoid concentrating all these devices in the same point in the house where you have the router installed.
Where should you put the router to have the best signal
Beyond keeping it away from the microwave, The location of the router within your home is decisive for the popular performance of the network . Placing it in a central position in the house allows the signal to be distributed in all directions more efficiently, achieving more uniform coverage in every corner.
If you live in a multi-story house, the best thing is place it near the ceiling of the first floor or near the floor of the secondalways looking for that central point that maximizes the reach. In addition, you should avoid corners, closed cabinets or spaces with large obstacles, because the WiFi signal spreads better when it has a clear path.
The Walls and building materials also play an important role . Materials like metal, stone, water, and tile are much more difficult barriers for WiFi waves to pass through than wood or drywall. If the signal has to cross several thick walls to reach your room, it is customary for the speed to drop considerably.
Other practical tips that make a difference:
- Raise the router off the ground so you can get around large furniture that blocks the signal.
- United statesa. ethernet cables in areas where the WiFi signal does not reach well, connecting the devices directly to the router and eliminating any wireless interference.
- Lower the number of devices connected simultaneouslysince each device uses part of the available bandwidth.
- Check your router settingsespecially the WiFi channel you are using, as switching to a less congested one can significantly improve performance.
Something as everyday as heating food could be directly affecting your recordsdata superhighway speed. Moving the microwave away from the router is one of the simplest and most effective changes you can make today. to notice a current improvement in your WiFi connection.
Keep reading:
• Don’t remember the WiFi password? This trick helps you recover it
• 5 real tricks with the router to improve the superhighway recordsdata and 5 that are fake
• Do you really need to change the default WiFi key? This is what no one tells you
