THESE ARE THE FIVE MAJOR ISSUES THAT MAY BE AFFECTING YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK
When you are designing or setting up a wireless network it’s important to be proactive in determining how the Wi-Fi signal strength might be influenced by different materials.
Without taking this into consideration, it’s possible that you could experience a whole barge of wireless connectivity problems due to Wi-Fi interference.
Whether you are running a business, a public space or simply your own home, a troublesome wireless network is guaranteed to be the causes of more than a few headaches.
When we set up a wireless network, we conduct a wireless survey to find any spots that may cause trouble due to one or more of these five major issues:
1. REFLECTION
Reflection is when an RF wave changes direction as it bounces off a medium. Certain surfaces, such as metal, can influence signals just like they would influence a beam of light. If there is a large amount of reflection, it is possible for signal strength to become weak or to suffer from interference.
2. ABSORPTION
Absorption is when the signal strength loses power as it passes through a medium. All materials will absorb the signal at different rates. Wood is an example of a material that can heavily absorb a signal, which can lead to problems.
3. REFRACTION
Refraction is when an RF wave bends or changes direction as it passes through a medium. We can recognize this the same way we recognize how light seems to bend when it passes through a glass of water, for example. If a system is precisely setup without taking into account refraction then there can be problems once the signal is distorted.
4. DIFFRACTION
Diffraction is when RF waves bend around an object. This can be caused by either natural landscape features, such as hills or around man-made objects, such as a building. As seen in the image below, diffraction can also cause a “shadow” where RF waves are blocked from a zone behind an object. If a network specialist doesn’t take this into consideration, it can be the primary cause of a poorly performing wireless network.
5. SCATTERING
Scattering is when an RF wave encounters an object and scatters into multiple waves. Some examples of common objects that cause scattering include dust, smog, humidity and chain link fences. If a signal has been scattered then the integrity and strength of the signal will suffer tremendously.
Scattering is more unpredictable than the other issues mentioned in this post, but with proper planning, a solution can at least be addressed in the setup.
TAKING THE WHOLE SITUATION INTO ACCOUNT
It is possible for more than one of the issues mentioned above to be affecting an RF wave. For example, glass is a material that will both refract and absorb some of the power of a signal.
A wireless network specialist will be able to take the entire situation into account in order to identify the chief problems behind a poor signal.
UNDERSTANDING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY MULTI-PATH
Multi-path is when the generated RF wave is disrupted by Reflection, Absorption, Refraction, Diffraction and Scattering which causes the same RF wave to arrive at the Device at different times.
This causes severe damage to the received signal and can bring an 802.11 A/B/G network to a crawl.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ANY OF THESE ISSUES?
If you are dealing with a slow or inconsistent wireless network then any of the five major issues mentioned above may be to blame.
The best step you can take is to contact a wireless network specialist like CORE Cabling today to schedule a wireless site survey. It’s quick, easy and can help get rid of your wireless network connection problems and return to the speed you expect!
