If you’re having trouble with your internet speed, there may be a simple solution to instantly speed up your Wi-Fi. According to tech experts, one household item can interfere with the signals from your router and slow down your connection.
Maybe your TV constantly buffers while you stream, pages never load, or maybe your video calls keep cutting out. While many people are aware that microwaves can interfere with WiFi router, another electronic device in your household might also be clashing with the router: baby monitors. This is because some of them run at a similar frequency to the router, so the waves clash with each other. The good news is, there are a few simple solutions, and an even easier test to see if it is the root of the problem.
Two types of baby monitors could interfere with your WiFi. Digital baby monitors often run on the 2.4 GHz, which is a very popular frequency, and it is used by some microwaves, Bluetooth gadgets, and most importantly, WiFi routers. This means the signals can interfere with each other.
WiFi-enabled baby monitors could also impact your connection because they rely on the internet.
So if you have a baby monitor at home and your WiFi is giving you trouble, simply turn off the baby monitor as a test to see if the speed improves. You can check the internet upload and download speeds on an online tracker.
If it does improve, then you might have your answer. The simplest solution is repositioning devices; Baby monitor retailer Babysense advised keeping the monitor and WiFi router at least 10 feet apart.
Avoid places like the kitchen, because of the number of appliances and metal surfaces, and you should also steer clear of placing the router near thick walls.
The Babysense blog also suggested changing the WiFi channel to one, six or 11 for 2.4 GHz routers, and using a free WiFi analyser like NetSpot WiFi App UK to find the best channel.
You could also look for low-interference baby monitors. This means looking for FHSS technology, which constantly changes the channel, and DECT 6.0 monitors, which operate at a different frequency to most WiFi routers.