Does weather affect WiFi reception?

[gateley]

Okay, my only access to the internets is a WiFi connection. It'll be fine, then poof! Gone. Then bam! All okay again. There seems to be good and bad days.

I'd ask 'keith' but he doesn't know we're sharing. :7

Thanks for any enlightenment -- or tips!

[madokie]

1. We have a wireless laptop that we use and yes weather does have an effect

such as you describe. I have no idea what to do about it though. :-)

[goose4739]

4. I'm in an airplane at 40,000 feet

and am getting consistent wifi.

[Gman]

7. That's cool

checking out DU at 40K ft.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Humidity Will Cut The Signal Somewhat

But I don't think it would change all that much.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. We had a problem with comcast which was their underground transponder for our units

Every time we had high moisture or rain it became intermittent. They kept blaming our modems or routers
for months until they finally did a test and found they had to replace their $1000 unit.

[gateley]

14. When I typed this last night, before my connection totally tanked, it was raining

steadily, so it may be something similar. Maybe 'keith' will contact his provider.

[nichomachus]

5. Does "keith" have a cat?

Could be the cat sitting between the router and you.

[kestrel91316]

6. I pick up SOMEBODY'S wifi signal at home, lol, and have noticed that

high winds and really hot weather both seem to cause the signal to cut in and out a lot.

[madokie]

8. Another thing I've noticed is that during a heavy rain the signal goes away

at about the same time that the hdtv over the air signal does.

[kestrel91316]

10. Well, that's not a problem. We only get 3-5 rainstorms a year, and never heavy

for more than a day at a time.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Weather shouldn't affect WiFi

If rain or snow affects your signal, you're too far removed from the other end. Period.

WiFi is meant to be a short distance (ie, a few hundred feet) link.

You might want to consider a router with an externally mounted high-gain antenna if you have such difficulties.

[madokie]

11. I know it shouldn't but it does

I built a parabolic antenna that helps some but it still loses the signals from time to time in inclement weather, high winds, rainy or foggy. not every time it rains or the wind blows but sometimes.

[Canuckistanian]

12. The "coffee can" antenna is not as good as the commercial ones

I'm just assuming you used one of the many online plans for building one.

They're tricky to build properly and more difficult to aim for really weak signals.

As I said earlier, if weather is causing loss of signal, your signal is way too weak.

You could try raising the antenna. The higher, the better.

[SoCalDem]

13. One of the fires affected mine somehow.. or so Time Warner told me

:shrug:

[gateley]

15. Hmmmm. Interesting.