tech
Your internet is slow even though you pay for the fastest package? Your neighbors are 'choking' your signal, fix it with one click
You pay an expensive subscription, and YouTube is constantly 'buffering' or the picture on your TV becomes blurry in the middle of a movie? Before you start writing a complaint to your operator, check how many Wi-Fi networks your phone sees when you go into settings. If you live in a building, there are probably dozens of them. These neighbor networks are the main culprits why your internet doesn't work as it should, because everyone is 'pushing' on the same digital path.
TL;DR
- Neighboring Wi-Fi networks can cause significant interference, leading to slow internet speeds.
- Most routers are factory-set to the same channel, creating 'traffic jams' for data.
- The problem is most pronounced in the evenings when more devices are active.
- Free 'Wi-Fi Analyzer' apps can identify crowded and free Wi-Fi channels.
- Manually changing the router's channel in its settings to a clear one can resolve interference.
- Using the 5GHz band, if supported, is less prone to interference due to more available channels.