My wireless-enabled laptop always was able to connect before, but now it can't. Could it be the rain?
2006-09-02 05:57:39 · 7 answers · asked by Stravik 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
Some of the previous answers are not quite correct and some are wrong, and in addition, the answer is "it depends". Indoors the answer is no, if you had a working connection before you will still have the same connection regardless of how hard it's pouring outside. Now, if your laptop and wireless router or access point are separated by an outdoor area, and it's pouring down rain, the answer is still pretty much no, believe it or not.
In this outdoor situation, the phenomonon you are suspecting is called "rain fade" and has to do with the droplets of water absorbing some of the RF energy in your wireless signal. This is a common problem with satellite signals. This becomes more of a problem above 10GHz frequencies because the smaller wavelengths are more readily absorbed by atmospheric water vapor, rain droplets and clouds. The peak absorbtion frequency for RF energy by water is around 22GHz, which is an order of magnitude greater than the 2.4GHz range for WiFi. Still, water droplets do have mass and do absorb some energy from your outdoor WiFi signal, but not enough to make a significant difference, unless long distances are involved, which is typically not the case for WiFi. So it's possible but unlikely that if you're 200 feet across the street from the access point in a downpour, you'll get a weaker signal.
If it was working before with wither good or excellent signal strength and quality, and it's not working at all now, it's not the rain. First make sure you didn't place your router or access point in a bad spot like on top of the microwave oven next to the fridge, or between a pair of metal filing cabinets. Did you recently start using any BlueTooth devices within a few feet of your router or access point? If so, move them farther apart and retest. Check for other sources of interference, such as 2.4GHz cordless telephones, or maybe a next-door neighbor just hooked up their own wireless network on the same channel as yours. Go into your router and try channels 1, 6 and 11 in turn and see which one gives the best results.
2006-09-02 09:41:39 · answer #1 · answered by networkmaster 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible, its like the tv signal gets bad during very bad weather.
Also your wireless hub should not be installed near a digital cordelss phone, or microwaves, or anything else that emmits a signal as this can all interfear with the signal.
2006-09-02 06:23:08 · answer #2 · answered by pringle147963 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It only affects my mood because it affects the people around me. If we could all just accept that it's gunna rain sometimes, we can still go shopping, to the movies, or even the beach if we so please. But now it being cold is a different story. I'm locked inside with a heater and a snuggie.
2016-03-17 06:39:59 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well depends if the signal needs to go outside of the sounds, since the static in the air can cause a problem, but if thats the caase all u need to do is get a stronger arieal on the router.
2006-09-02 06:03:13 · answer #4 · answered by Paultech 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Rain develops static electricity, even if there is no thunder or lightning associated. The static elec can cause disruption.
2006-09-02 06:04:14 · answer #5 · answered by Fuggetaboutit_1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why....but it does mine !
2006-09-02 06:01:08 · answer #6 · answered by R W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it's not possible.
2006-09-02 06:06:47 · answer #7 · answered by ketan patel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think so.
2006-09-02 06:02:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋