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If you are hit by poor Wi-Fi connections, range and signals, potentially, the situation is not unique and many users face this problem day in and day out in most parts of the globe. The Wi-Fi routers have come a long way from its nascent days but obstacles continue to hamper the user experience. However, Wi-Fi solutions in Australia are expected to improve by leaps and bounds with the arrival of Wi-Fi 6
Factors that impact the efficiency of Wi-Fi connection providers
Wi-Fi technology has become ubiquitous with our lives at home and the workplace, but in practice, it continues to be a relatively young technology. Nearly half a century ago, the first wireless internet was showcased before the advent of powerful wireless networking and more affordable connectivity for users. Undoubtedly wireless networks have impacted the way we work and live in modern times. Yet, the Wi-Fi solutions in Australia are hit by significant limitations on account of the way they work. Radiofrequency is used by all wireless networks to broadcast the signals. But these signals wireless networks use to reside on frequencies that are between the frequency naturally produced by your microwave and those that radio stations blast out to your home or car.
Radio broadcasting
Considering that your Wi-Fi network uses radio waves to broadcast signals, it can be impacted by all the limitations faced by other forms of radio signals. Therefore, the wireless network in your home can lack proper range and strength on account of similar issues impacting other variants of radio technology and these include – obstacles impacting signal strength, other devices using radio waves interfering with the Wi-Fi signals, weaker signals coming from less efficient and older wireless equipment, technical issues faced by the receiving device and wireless router lacking power leading to weaker signal.
Most of the home routers operate on 2.4 or 5 GHz bands. Before you try to resolve issues relating to weak signals or range, you should check and determine the frequency band used by your networking equipment or wireless router. This knowledge, in turn, can help you to troubleshoot the issues with better ease.
Physical obstructions
Irrespective of the way your building is designed, there are still certain surprising elements that can potentially prevent the wireless signals getting optimal reach and therefore performance. The most important among these elements are the fabric employed in constructing the network and layout of the materials. For instance, concrete, metal and mirrors are commonly found in modern buildings and considerably impact signal interference.
Other networks
Another major factor that will influence the performance of Wi-Fi is other networks in your local area like from a business in the immediate neighbourhood or a local hotspot. In modern times, this is a major issue though a Wi-Fi survey can unearth such interferences. During the initial installation, your Wi-Fi solutions in Australia can do some quick fixes to put you on the most appropriate channel.
Electronic devices/gadgets
There are a number of electronic devices and gadgets that interferes with your network frequency. Some of these gadgets/devices can also be services using Wi-Fi like in the case of a cordless phone, alarm systems, satellite dishes or microwaves. You can identify how such devices/gadgets can impact your Wi-Fi with the help of a wireless survey. But, when you consider a modern-day busy office, full of gadgets, the network can suffer interference from numerous items.
Distance
Physical distance from the router is another major cause of concern for efficient Wi-Fi connectivity. But, in large office occupying an entire floor or shopping malls, your service provider may offer solutions that can guarantee strong signals irrespective of the distance you access the Wi-Fi network from across the property.
Technical settings
Security protections like router encryption, particularly when securing customers’ data is important can also impede the efficiency of your Wi-Fi. But, if you are using a cheaper system from the olden days, security settings of all description can impede your Wi-Fi solutions in Australia from giving optimal output. Therefore, if you are using one of those age-old networks, you should possibly invest in upgrading it to a modern-day network that is more efficient.
Wi-Fi 6
The good news is that with the launch of Wi-Fi 6, reckoned as the nextgen wireless networking significant improvement is promised over Wi-Fi 5 which is still in vogue in many regions. You can subscribe to Wi-Fi 6 in most of the major Australian cities, while users away from metropolitan areas may need to wait for a while. Reduced bandwidth congestion, enhanced throughput speeds, and enhanced battery life are among the promises of Wi-Fi 6. But, there are some important considerations before you decide to invest in this upgrade.
Significantly higher speed
With Wi-Fi 6 you can expect your internet speed to improve by 40% or more. In turn, the streaming and download will be significantly faster. Lesser congestion will also mean that you can connect a number of devices without the fear of the speed and service slowing down for all users accessing the network. This can be particularly beneficial in establishments like large offices and hotels. Similarly, public Wi-Fi services are also expected to improve dramatically with lesser congestion.
Multiple-use cases
According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, there are many use cases that will significantly benefit from Wi-Fi 6. These include:-
IoT hardware because of enhanced battery performance, improved range and better operation outdoors.
Home WI-Fi will become more reliable and faster because of superior coverage and enhanced throughput.
Improved experience in Wi-Fi experience in vehicles because of reduced latency brought by OFDMA
Public venues like stadiums will experience increased performance on account of OFDMA’s transmission control and MU-MIMO down/up capabilities
Conclusion
In the days to come Wi-Fi connection providers are expected to move to Wi-Fi 6 in a big way although it is significantly expensive presently. Users may also need to have a minimum of 1GB connection to experience the full benefit of Wi-Fi 6. More importantly, relative to Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi comes with a smaller range and the signal interruption is expected to be more frequent when obstructions between the device and the router occur.
