Can harsh weather conditions knock out your WiFi connection?

Does your WiFi connection slow down, or stops working, during rains or bad weather? This might be the reason behind it.

By: SHAURYA TOMER
| Updated on: Sep 01 2022, 12:57 IST
Have WiFi connection? Know how to protect yourself from hackers
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1/6 Having a WiFI connection is important as almost all professional and personal work as well as entertainment requires internet connection. From official work to buying groceries, everything is done online. If you are a WiFi user you need to secure it from hackers. Hackers can access your WiFi using software bugs, improperly configured interfaces, etc. Here are top 5 security tips and tricks you can use to secure your WiFi. (Pixabay)
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2/6 Change WiFi and admin password: Once the set up of the home router is complete, you are advised to change the WiFi password immediately as the preset WiFi passwords are insecure and can be easily guessed. Also make sure that the password you keep is a bit complex and not that easy to crack. You also need to change the admin password as the password to access the device’s confidential settings menu is often the same for many routers. (Pixabay)
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3/6 Network name can be changed: A new network name that is SSID must be given to your WLAN. This needs to be done as the default name is given by the manufacturer and can be known by anyone. Also make sure that you do not keep your name, location or any basic detail that is known by everyone as your new SSID. (Pixabay)
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4/6 Remote access can be disabled: You should disable remote access. There are routers that allow hard drives to connect to the internet, and it can be a point of attack. You can disable the same in the settings menu. (Pixabay)
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5/6 Update your operating system regularly: The operating system of your router should be up to date. As we all know that updates bring new features and security fixes. Therefore, you should keep on regularly updating your operating system or you can also turn on automatic updates. (Pixabay)
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6/6 Turn off WiFi when not in use: You can turn off the WiFi when it is not required. Like when your work is done you do not need the internet connection or at night while sleeping, or when you go out on a trip. By turning off the WiFi, your device will not be connected and hackers cannot attack devices that are not connected. (Pixabay)
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WiFi uses radio waves which can get affected during heavy rains. Here’s why. (AFP)

Have you ever been binge watching Netflix, when suddenly it starts to rain and the stream stops and starts buffering? It is a quite common phenomenon which happens to most of us. But is there an actual connection between poor WiFi network and rain? Do weather conditions like rain, storms and heat waves really affect your WiFi network? Let's find out.

According to The Conversation, weather can affect your WiFi connection in a number of ways. Storms, rains and heat waves all cause some sort of effect which makes your WiFi connection slow down and stops you from watching your favourite content online.

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How does WiFi work?

Just like mobile phones, WiFi uses radio waves to communicate with devices. According to howstuffworks.com, the computer or mobile phone's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna. Then, a wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. The router sends the information to the internet using a physical, wired ethernet connection.

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Do weather conditions affect WiFi?

Harsh weather conditions can affect your WiFi network. Although WiFi may seem wireless to you, older wireless infrastructure is still connected to the internet through a series of cables which run outside your home. Heavy rains and thunderstorms can physically damage these cables or even the whole WiFi infrastructure, causing your WiFi signal to get scrambled. Freezing temperatures can also cause these cables to get cracked, stopping your binge-watch session.

If you have a satellite box, bad weather conditions can make it difficult for satellite signals to reach your home. Raindrops being dense in nature, interfere with the radio waves which WiFi uses to communicate and affect your WiFi connection.

Although weather conditions affect WiFi to some extent, the primary reason for your WiFi going down even during the rains is mainly equipment failure or human error. If any equipment or WiFi box fails, it hampers your internet connection, making you think the harsh weather is behind it.

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First Published Date: 01 Sep, 12:57 IST
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