WiFi also known as Wireless Fidelity is essentially the same thing as saying WLAN which stands for “Wireless Local Area Network”. WiFi uses radio frequencies in the Gigahertz range to send signals between devices.
WiFi uses the frequency at the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz range. As a note, your microwave uses a very similar frequency at 2.4Ghz to heat up food – obviously, the microwave uses substantially more power to create these signals than a typical WiFi access point kicks out.
So why is this relevant? It’s quite simple: there are many factors around your home that can affect these radio signals.
Lets begin with the building. Many old buildings are made with bricks which contain lots of metalic particles. This material acts like a faraday cage and can actually block the signals passing.
This factor can be increased with the positioning of your router. Imagine lying on a metal sprung mattress, directly above the router: that mattress is going to block the signal – or at least, redirect it somewhat away from your mobile phone. If you were to move the router a few feet to the left or right, the signal would then come towards your device at an angle – without the mattress being in the middle. This isn’t only limited to mattresses – chairs, cabinets, etc can all act in a similar manner.
Other factors can include your homes wiring, in addition to devices such as old radio equipment, microwaves and so on.
If your WiFi signal isn’t the best, there are some things that you can do to help improve it: