Does bad weather affect your WiFi?

Internet, bad weather and power outages

Bad weather can affect your internet connection, but only due to internet infrastructure outside being vulnerable to the elements. Although much of the network is made up of underground cable connections ​​such as FTTC, these can be impacted by bad weather such as extreme rain and floods. Here are some examples of how bad weather can impact your connection: 

• High heat temperatures cause network devices to operate slower.  
• Flooding dislodging cabling and interrupting connections.  
• High winds and debris moving or knocking satellite dishes.  

​​This said, s​evere weather is rarely the cause for your internet connection issues. If you suspect damage to a line or if your connection has been out for more than ten minutes, then notify your provider. 

Can weather affect my home Wi-Fi?

The short answer is no, bad weather doesn't affect your home Wi-Fi. As your router is indoors, it is safe from the external damaging factors of severe rain and wind. More often than not, problems with your home Wi-Fi are due to external weather factors or general problems with your broadband speed.       

Can bad weather affect Fixed Wireless Access?

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is one of the common ways that we get internet to homes in rural areas. We often get asked if this type of connection will be affected by rough weather, which can see more harsh weather than urban areas. The answer is no, FWA isn’t affected by bad weather. Why is this? 

Fixed Wireless Access utilises radio waves to get an internet connection to your home, which are sent between two transmitters. These transmitters are well below the range for storm clouds, and ​     ​due to the close ​proximity​​     ​ of the transmitter to your home, there is limited availability for bad weather to impact ​them​.   

If you’re interested in getting FWA internet to your rural property, check your postcode here or get in touch with us today.  

High traffic could also be to blame  

If your area is experiencing bad weather, it’s likely that most people are going to be indoors using the internet. ​A high volume of ​people entertaining themselves streaming or ​playing ​online games​ could create contention issues, especially at peak times​. 

​​​​​

How to prevent internet problems during bad weather

No one likes a poor internet connection, whether that’s caused by heavy snow or a family member online gaming. So how can you improve your connection during times of difficulty? Here are a few things you can try: 

• Move closer to your router: Often simply just moving closer to your router can improve your connection. 
• Check if other devices are working: If your phone isn’t working, but your laptop is, it could be an issue with your device rather than the Wi-Fi.  
• It could be the room: Particularly in older homes, walls can interfere with your Wi-Fi, so it may not be the internet at all. Find out how to solve this with our Superpods.    
• Minimise the devices connected: Having a lot of devices connected to your Wi-Fi can also impact connectivity, so try removing a few of them to see a change.  

If you’ve tried absolutely everything to improve your connection and still have no results, it may be time to upgrade your broadband package. To find out if Wildanet’s reliable superfast and ultrafast fibre broadband is available in your area, check your availability today.