Is it possible for some electronic device in an adjoining building to blot out my Wi-Fi signal? My router is close to an adjoining wall in a terraced house, and at particular times of the day (after 5.30pm), my PC cannot detect the router, which is only 2.5 metres away. At other times of the day, the signal reaches through two floors. If I move the router a metre or so away from the offending wall, the PC connects quite happily. Is there any way to identify the offending gadget and persuade its owner to undertake remedial action?
Leslie Hill
Wi-Fi uses common 2.4 GHz spectrum that overlaps with lots of other gadgets such as radio-controlled cars, cordless phones, baby monitors, garage door openers, microwave ovens etc. There can be plenty of "spectrum pollution," but I don't know what sort of gadget would have such a strong effect through a wall. Another Wi-Fi router?
In general, I'd connect a PC via an Ethernet cable, assuming it's close enough to the router. If forced to use Wi-Fi, I'd try changing the channel. Add or subtract 5 from the channel number previously in use.
(Another option in some cases is to switch to the relatively unpolluted 5GHz band used by the superior 802.11a and optionally by 802.11n, but this is not always legal.)
If that doesn't work, and you don't have a spectrum analyzer handy, then the quickest and simplest answer is to knock on the door and ask your neighbours what they have next to the adjoining wall. That's what I'd do. Does anyone have a better idea?
