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What Does a Professional Wi-Fi Site Survey Actually Include?

What did you drop into Google to get here? ‘My Teams calls keep dropping!’ – ‘Why are there dead spots around the office?’ – ‘Why are my warehouse scanners so slow?’ 

Or maybe you’re an IT Manager and you’ve arrived here in desperation because you’ve got colleagues, staff members and guests constantly moaning at you about the poor Wi-Fi. 

It’s common for businesses to only think about a Wi-Fi survey after they’re experiencing problems. Wi-Fi issues you might be facing in your office could sound like:

  • Teams and Zoom calls dropping
  • Dead spots around the office
  • Slow warehouse handheld scanners
  • Guests complaining about Wi-Fi

However, you could also get ahead and pre-empt any potential problems by getting a Wi-Fi Site Survey before your business does any of these: 

  • New office moves
  • Warehouse expansion
  • Increasing staff numbers

However you found us, if you’re looking for an easy-to-understand guide, telling you exactly what a professional Wi-Fi Site Survey involves then you’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide will explain what a Wi-Fi Site Survey is, who needs one and how it’s carried out – Without complex technology jargon. 

You might also be interested to know why investing in a Wi-Fi Site Survey can save your business significant time and money.  Most people have no idea what actually happens during a professional Wi-Fi survey. We don’t just wander around your office with a laptop you know! A Wi-Fi Site Survey is a structured engineering exercise. So let’s talk about it – Starting from the preparation through to the final report. 

What is a Professional Wi-Fi Site Survey?

A Wi-Fi Site Survey is far more than checking signal strength. The purpose is to understand how wireless devices will actually perform within a specific environment.

Every office (and building in general) will behave differently when it comes to Wi-Fi performance, due to construction materials, layout and occupancy. The objective is to understand various factors for your specific premises and requirements, including:

  • Reliable coverage – Mapping real world radio frequency propagation to ensure reliable coverage throughout 
  • Capacity planning – Ensuring your network can handle the concurrent load of users, devices, and bandwidth-heavy applications
  • Roaming performance – Evaluating and mapping out exactly how client devices transition between Access Points (APs) without dropping the connection
  • Voice and video quality – Measuring and validating network metrics required for real-time, delay-sensitive applications and preventing choppy audio, frozen video and dropped calls
  • Device density – Defining how many concurrent active users are connected in specific areas, and how many devices specific APs are supporting
  • Future scalability – Establishing a baseline that accommodates increased device density and seamless hardware upgrades (so your network grows with your business)

Why Do Businesses Need a Wi-Fi Site Survey?

There are lots of scenarios where a Wi-Fi Site Survey would be a useful investment for a business. The standard solution to poor Wi-Fi in the workplace seems to be ‘throw another AP at it.’ Whilst this is well-intended (we hope), it can actually do more harm than good to a business network. Which is why it’s always a good idea to carry out a Wi-Fi Site Survey to actually see how your network is functioning in real time and where improvements can be made. 

Wi-Fi Site Survey for the Office Refurbishment

If you’re about to refurbish the office, then it’s a great time for a Wi-Fi Site Survey. It’s best to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to Wi-Fi problems. It’s often overlooked, but new walls and furniture can dramatically change wireless coverage so either arrange a software model-led Site Survey before the refurb goes ahead, or an on site Survey as soon as the walls are up and the furniture is in. This way, you can nip any coverage problems in the bud before employees have the chance to complain! 

Wi-Fi Site Surveys for Warehousing

Racking, stock levels and moving forklifts all affect radio signals.A Wi-Fi Site Survey in warehousing can prevent connectivity issues by mapping out how radio frequencies interact with metal racking, high ceilings, and moving inventory. It determines the optimal number and placement of Access Points to eliminate dead zones and prevent dropped connections for handheld scanners, autonomous robots, and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).

Wi-Fi Site Surveys for Schools

A Wi-Fi site survey can detect interference and plan optimal Access Point placements across a school, college or university campus. This ensures that construction elements like thick walls are accounted for coverage wise, as well as outdoor learning areas in the grounds. A big issue for schools is device density and being able to handle a high load of devices at any one time. Speed is also a vital requirement to keep buffering low and learning high. A Wi-Fi Site Survey can show exactly what’s needed and where, across the whole campus.

Wi-Fi Site Surveys for Hotels

A Wi-Fi Site Survey helps hotels eliminate dead zones, prevent bandwidth bottlenecks, and optimise hardware placement. Improve guest satisfaction, protect online reviews, and reliably support internal operations by mapping radio frequency across room layout and high density areas. 

Wi-Fi Site Surveys for Healthcare

A Wi-Fi Site Survey is critical in healthcare because it eliminates signal “guesswork” in complex physical environments. By identifying coverage gaps and interference, it ensures uninterrupted connectivity for life-critical medical devices, seamless roaming for mobile staff, and reliable telehealth access for patients. 

Wi-Fi Site Surveys for Manufacturing

A Wi-Fi Site Survey ensures reliable connectivity in harsh industrial environments. It maps signal-blocking obstacles (like heavy machinery and metal structures), mitigates radio frequency (RF) interference, and supports seamless roaming for AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), IoT devices, and barcode scanners. 

What We Need to Know Before We Even Visit Your Site for a Wi-Fi Survey

Before we set foot on site at your business for your Wi-Fi Site Survey, there are a few things we like to know about. We’ll ask your IT Manager or Infrastructure Manager to send us some information so we can start building a picture of your business and requirements – It’s as important for us to know what your business needs Wi-Fi for as the building itself. 

We’ll ask you for some information on: 

  • Floor plans – So we can get a feel for the space
  • Existing Wi-Fi equipment – What do you already have and where? 
  • Internet connection – What type (fibre, broadband etc) 
  • Existing switches
  • Building construction 
  • User numbers – How many members of staff? Do you use contractors? Do you have many visitors?
  • Types of devices – What devices do your users use? 
  • Business-critical applications – What would be catastrophic to lose if your Wi-Fi went down?
  • Areas requiring guaranteed coverage – Similar to the above
  • Future expansion plans – Will your business be growing? Physically in terms of structure and/ or staffing

What to Expect on Wi-Fi Survey Day

Let’s take it step by step for what to expect on the day we visit to conduct your Wi-Fi Site Survey. 

Initial Walkthrough

We’ll start with an initial walkthrough of your office / business premises so our Wi-Fi engineer can understand the layout and identify any unusual challenges.

Existing Network Review

Our Wi-Fi engineer will check current Access Point locations, switch cabinets and cabling.

Measuring Signal

Next we’ll begin measuring signal, collecting thousands of measurements throughout the building.

Measuring Interference

Next we’ll be looking at Interference and identifying neighbouring Wi-Fi networks and non-Wi-Fi interference to see what could cause problems to the network.

Capacity Testing

This will look at and assess whether the network can cope with the expected device numbers.

Roaming Tests

Our Wi-Fi engineer will take a walk while making calls to verify seamless handover between Access Points.

Throughput Testing

Our Wi-Fi engineer will measure real-world performance rather than just the headline internet speed. Is the speed of your internet transmitting to the rest of your network? If not, why not? 

A Wi-Fi Site Survey can often take a few hours to complete, depending on the size of the building(s) and layout of the premises. 

What is the Technology Behind a Wi-Fi Site Survey?

A Wi-Fi Site Survey from Geekabit utilises professional survey tools, calibrated wireless adapters and spectrum analysis equipment. 

If you’re thinking ‘surely there’s an app for this?’ then you would be right – But consumer phone apps cannot produce anywhere near the same quality of data as a professional Wi-Fi Site Survey. Our surveys are vendor-neutral, meaning you can use them with your internal IT team, a third-party installer, or ourselves here at Geekabit.

Our tools use concepts like the below to build a complete picture of your network:

  • RSSI – Received Signal Strength Indicator. It is a measurement of the power level of a wireless signal (such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) that a device’s antenna is receiving.
  • SNR – Signal to Noise Ratio. A metric used to compare the level of a desired signal to the level of background noise. Expressed in decibels (dB), a higher SNR means a clearer, higher-quality signal.
  • Channel utilisation – The percentage of total capacity or time that a communication channel (such as a Wi-Fi frequency) is actively busy transmitting data, management signals, or dealing with interference.
  • Interference – Identifying the occurrence of when neighboring networks, devices, or non-Wi-Fi gadgets broadcast on the same or overlapping frequencies.
  • Airtime – Looks at the amount of time a specific wireless channel is occupied by devices actively transmitting or receiving data. Because Wi-Fi operates on shared radio frequencies, only one device can transmit at a time, making total airtime a strictly limited, finite resource. 
  • Packet loss – Identifying the occurrence of when data traveling across your wireless network fails to reach its destination. Instead of arriving seamlessly, tiny chunks of data (packets) go missing causing issues like dropped calls. 

Active vs Passive vs Predictive Surveys

There are different types of Wi-Fi Site Survey. Let’s take a look at each one. 

Passive Wi-Fi Site Survey

Essentially, this is just listening to the existing Wi-Fi, creating a birds-eye view. 

A passive Wi-Fi site survey is a non-intrusive method where a surveying device quietly listens to the wireless environment without connecting to a network. It is used to map existing coverage, identify dead zones, and detect interference by measuring broadcast signals (such as beacons) from nearby Access Points (APs). The tool quietly gathers raw radio frequency (RF) data to build visual heatmaps using information on RSSI, SNR, background interference and channel utilisation.

Passive surveys are ideal for a general health check of a building’s wireless landscape.

Active Wi-Fi Site Survey

In an Active Wi-Fi Survey, the surveying device connects to a specific WLAN and actively sends test traffic to measure real-world performance, such as round-trip packet loss, upload/download speeds, and roaming behavior between APs. 

It’s a physical walk through simulating actual user experience by measuring throughput rates, latency, packet loss and roaming performance.  

Active surveys are relied on primarily for post-deployment validation and troubleshooting, used for verifying network upgrades, troubleshooting poor user experience and to test roaming. 

Predictive Survey

A predictive Wi-Fi site survey is a software simulation used to design a wireless network before any physical hardware is installed. By uploading digital floor plans into specialized RF (radio frequency) modeling software, engineers map out the optimal number, placement, and configuration of access points (APs) based on wall materials, building scale, and expected user capacity.

Predictive surveys are highly cost-effective and are typically utilized during the early planning stages or before a building is constructed or renovated. They allow network architects to test different AP mounting scenarios virtually to prevent signal blind spots and avoid costly cabling changes post-installation.

A Wi-Fi Survey to Provide a Complete Picture for your Business

For a complete picture, our Wi-Fi engineers at Geekabit often perform both a Passive and Active survey: Passive surveys to find physical coverage limits and interference, followed by Active surveys to test performance and roaming capabilities.

For scenarios where being physically on site isn’t possible, we can use a Predictive Survey to plan a network deployment. 

What Will You Receive After Your Wi-Fi Site Survey

Once the Wi-Fi Site Survey has been completed, we can provide your business with a detailed report with clear, practical recommendations to improve your Wi-Fi performance, reliability, and user experience.

This report is based on key deliverables such as:

  • Executive summary
  • Coverage heatmaps
  • Signal strength maps
  • Capacity maps
  • Interference analysis
  • Access point placement recommendations
  • Channel planning
  • Power level recommendations
  • Cabling recommendations
  • Hardware recommendations
  • Prioritised improvement plan

A detailed report of this nature takes all the guesswork out of the deployment of a wireless network as well as solving any troubleshooting issues. This means your business can make an informed decision about how to get your network performing at its best.

What Are The Most Common Problems We Discover from a Wi-Fi Site Survey?

There are quite a few things that can show up on a Wi-Fi Site Survey. The most common things we see are:

  • Access points hidden above suspended ceilings
  • Too many access points competing
  • Consumer Wi-Fi equipment in commercial buildings
  • Poor channel planning
  • Faulty Ethernet cabling
  • Network loops
  • Incorrect transmit power
  • Devices clinging to distant access points
  • Poor mounting locations
  • Metal shelving blocking signals

Any of these issues sound familiar? 

How Long Does a Wi-Fi Site Survey Take?

The length of time a Wi-Fi Site Survey takes depends on a few influencing factors, including: 

  • Building size
  • Number of floors
  • Required detail
  • Existing infrastructure
  • Whether trading continues during the survey

Once we know a bit more about your business, we can give an educated estimate of how long it could take. 

Section 10 – Frequently Asked Questions

  • FAQ: Will a Wi-Fi site survey disrupt our business?
    In most cases, no. A professional Wi-Fi site survey is designed to be as non-disruptive as possible. Survey engineers typically walk around your premises collecting wireless measurements while your staff continue working as normal. If active testing is required, such as roaming or throughput tests, these are usually carried out without affecting other users. For businesses that operate around the clock or have sensitive environments, surveys can often be scheduled outside normal working hours.

    FAQ: Do staff need to stop working during the survey?
    No. Employees can usually continue using the network throughout the survey. In fact, carrying out the survey while the office is occupied can provide a more realistic picture of how the wireless network performs under normal day-to-day conditions. In some cases, your survey engineer may ask for access to specific rooms or equipment, but disruption is generally minimal.

    FAQ: Can a Wi-Fi survey be carried out outside business hours?
    Yes. Many organisations prefer surveys to be completed during evenings or weekends to minimise disruption. However, it’s worth remembering that an empty building behaves differently from one full of people and connected devices. Depending on your objectives, your survey provider may recommend carrying out some measurements during normal operating hours to capture real-world performance.

    FAQ: What is the difference between a predictive and an active Wi-Fi survey?
    A predictive survey uses digital floor plans and specialist software to model how Wi-Fi signals are expected to behave before any equipment is installed. An active survey is carried out on-site using a live wireless network, measuring real-world performance such as signal strength, roaming behaviour, throughput and latency. Predictive surveys are ideal for new buildings or refurbishments, while active surveys are best for troubleshooting existing Wi-Fi issues.

    FAQ: How long does a professional Wi-Fi site survey take?
    The time required depends on the size and complexity of your premises. A small office may take a few hours, while larger offices, warehouses, schools or hospitals may require a full day or more. Additional time is also needed to analyse the data and produce a detailed report with recommendations. The survey itself is only one part of the overall process.

    FAQ: How often should a Wi-Fi site survey be repeated?
    There is no fixed schedule, but it’s sensible to consider a new survey whenever your environment changes significantly. Examples include office refurbishments, building extensions, increased staff numbers, new warehouse racking, or upgrades to your wireless infrastructure. Many organisations also commission a survey every few years to ensure their network continues to meet changing business requirements.

    FAQ: Is a Wi-Fi survey worthwhile before moving into a new office?
    Yes. A predictive Wi-Fi survey can help identify the best locations for access points before cabling and equipment are installed. Planning the network early can reduce installation costs, avoid unnecessary hardware purchases and help ensure reliable wireless coverage from day one. It’s often far easier and more cost-effective to design a network correctly than to fix problems after staff have moved in.

    FAQ: Can you carry out Wi-Fi surveys in warehouses?
    Absolutely. Warehouses present unique wireless challenges due to high shelving, metal racking, changing stock levels and large open spaces. A professional survey takes these factors into account to ensure reliable connectivity for handheld scanners, tablets, voice devices and industrial equipment throughout the building.

    FAQ: Do schools benefit from Wi-Fi site surveys?
    Yes. Schools place heavy demands on wireless networks, with hundreds or even thousands of devices connecting simultaneously. A survey can help ensure classrooms, halls, libraries and communal spaces all receive reliable coverage, while also assessing whether the network has sufficient capacity for modern teaching methods and online assessments.

    FAQ: Will a Wi-Fi site survey tell me if I need new equipment?
    Not necessarily. One of the main benefits of a professional survey is that it provides evidence rather than assumptions. Sometimes the existing equipment simply needs repositioning, reconfigured or optimised. In other cases, additional access points or newer hardware may be recommended. The goal is to identify the most effective solution rather than automatically recommending replacement equipment.

    FAQ: Can a Wi-Fi site survey improve Microsoft Teams and Zoom calls?
    Yes, if poor Wi-Fi is contributing to the problem. Video conferencing applications rely on low latency, stable roaming and minimal packet loss rather than simply high download speeds. A survey can identify issues such as interference, overloaded access points, poor signal quality or incorrect channel planning that may be affecting call quality. Once these issues are addressed, users often experience more reliable voice and video performance.

    FAQ: Can I perform a Wi-Fi site survey myself?
    Basic smartphone apps can give you a rough indication of signal strength, but they don’t provide the level of detail needed to design or troubleshoot a business-grade wireless network. Professional surveys use calibrated hardware and specialist software to measure signal quality, interference, roaming behaviour, channel utilisation and many other factors. For small home networks, DIY tools may be sufficient, but businesses that depend on reliable Wi-Fi will generally benefit from a professional survey.

    FAQ: What will I receive after the survey?
    Most professional Wi-Fi surveys include a detailed report explaining the findings and recommended improvements. This typically includes wireless heatmaps, coverage analysis, interference measurements, access point placement recommendations, channel planning guidance and an executive summary written in plain English. The report provides a clear roadmap for improving your wireless network, whether that involves simple configuration changes or a complete redesign.

Are You Ready to Book Your Wi-Fi Site Survey?

A professional Wi-Fi survey is about understanding how people actually use the network, not just measuring signal bars.

Here at Geekabit, our expert Wi-Fi engineers understand that every organisation is different. A structured Wi-Fi Survey provides the evidence needed to design or optimise a wireless network with confidence.

Get in touch with our friendly team today. 

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Why Does My Office Wi-Fi Keep Disconnecting Randomly? (Even Though the Signal Looks Strong)

We’ve all been there at some point. The signal looks strong, but the Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting. It’s an extremely common business complaint. 

Many companies immediately jump to blame their ISP – Surely it must be the broadband provider! But this isn’t necessarily the case every time a member of staff reports random disconnections. 

Our Wi-Fi engineers often find that the broadband is actually working perfectly – And the problem instead lies with the office wireless network. 

Modern businesses and offices now rely on cloud applications, Microsoft Teams, VoIP phones, VPNs and remote desktops. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately?), this also means that Wi-Fi issues are exposed much quicker than they would if employees were only using the internet for browsing the web. 

Did you know that ‘strong signal’ and ‘good Wi-Fi’ are not the same thing? Well, now you do. 

This article is going to explain the most common causes of disconnecting Wi-Fi in the office and how professional Wi-Fi experts can go about diagnosing the problem.

What “Random Disconnects” Actually Look Like

What does a ‘random disconnect’ look like in real world terms in a modern office or business? Your IT Managers might be getting reports of:

  • Microsoft Teams calls freezing for a few seconds before reconnecting
  • Zoom meetings dropping unexpectedly
  • VPN connections disconnecting while working remotely
  • Cloud software logging users out unexpectedly
  • Remote Desktop sessions disconnecting
  • File uploads stopping midway through
  • Wi-Fi printing intermittently failing
  • Mobile phones switching to 4G because Wi-Fi briefly stopped responding

Of course, IT Managers might also be getting much more vague complaints that are less specific to a current issue but sound a bit like: 

  • “The internet keeps going funny.”
  • “Everything just pauses.”
  • “It’s fine most of the time.”
  • “Only happens in certain meeting rooms.”
  • “It works after I turn Wi-Fi off and back on.”

The problem with intermittent Wi-Fi faults like this is that they are often harder to identify as they don’t leave behind much evidence or any obvious problem other than “the Wi-Fi is hanging.”  

Why Signal Bars Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Your signal bars might be full, but that doesn’t automatically mean that the Wi-Fi your device is receiving is as strong. 

Imagine 5 people in the same room, all shouting. Everyone in the room can hear each other clearly, but actual communication is difficult. 

Signal strength is really only measuring how loudly the Access Point can be heard. What it doesn’t measure or show you is:

  • Congestion – Lots of devices all competing for bandwidth
  • Interference – Building infrastructure (like walls and ceilings) blocking the signal
  • Packet loss – When tiny packets of information get sent from your device but don’t reach their destination
  • Latency – How long it takes data to travel from your device to the router and back again

Wi-Fi airtime is the total amount of time wireless devices spend transmitting data over your network’s radio frequency. Because Wi-Fi is a shared medium where only one device can transmit at a time on a channel, the devices in your office must take turns. Slower devices take longer to transmit the same amount of data, consuming excessive airtime, so one older device can slow down a whole network. 

For all these reasons, a busy office network can have excellent signal, but poor performance. 

The Most Common Causes of Disconnecting Wi-Fi in an Office

Poor Wi-Fi Roaming

Devices can often cling to an Access Point for too long, instead of moving to one with a better location. This is known as a “sticky client.” This could look like a colleague walking around the office with their laptop connected to an AP at the opposite end of the building. 

Modern enterprise systems help devices to roam efficiently – But they only work if they are correctly designed and deployed. 

Poor Wi-Fi roaming can cause:

  • Delays
  • Dropped calls
  • Temporary loss of connectivity

Channel Interference

Channel Interference can happen when nearby offices use overlapping channels, or when there are multiple neighbouring Wi-Fi networks. 

Co-channel interference occurs when separate devices or networks use the identical frequency channel simultaneously. Adjacent channel interference happens when devices operate on overlapping or closely neighboring frequencies, causing signal “bleeding”. While co-channel forces devices to share airtime and wait their turn, adjacent channel is usually more disruptive as it corrupts data.

Things like the office microwave can also cause interference with Wi-Fi networks as they run on the same frequency band. 

Bluetooth congestion also causes channel interference issues. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi share the crowded 2.4 GHz unlicensed frequency band. When multiple devices attempt to transmit data on overlapping frequencies simultaneously, packet collisions occur. Devices then drop connection or slow down to retransmit lost data. Bluetooth mitigates this via Frequency Hopping, but heavy congestion in small areas causes interruptions.

Channel planning is a really important step when designing Wi-Fi networks, but is often overlooked.

Too Many Devices on One Access Point

Whilst one AP may technically be able to support many devices, performance does depend on the workload. If employees are heavily using video conferencing then this is going to consume significantly more airtime than, for example, email would. 

You may also find that employees congregating in a meeting room suddenly creates a spike in demand. Guest devices can also increase contention. 

Adding another AP might seem like the simple solution, but in order to work effectively it must be designed correctly. 

Incorrect Power Settings

An Access Point (AP) does not need to run at full transmit power because a loud, high-powered signal can cause client communication imbalances, creates overlapping interference, and ruins wireless roaming.

A lower power setting often yields better Wi-Fi performance because:

  • Two-Way Communication Balance – The receiving device needs to be able to transmit back to the AP, so if the AP is transmitting at full power and reaching a device that’s too far away to return the signal, it can cause dropped packets, high retry rates and lag.  
  • Preventing “Sticky” Clients: Devices like phones tend to latch onto the strongest Wi-Fi signal they can hear. If an AP broadcasts at full power, a client will stay connected to a distant AP even when walking right past a closer one, resulting in terrible performance and inefficient roaming.
  • Minimizing Interference: Powerful signals bleed through walls. In multi-AP environments, high power leads to overlapping coverage and Co-Channel Interference (CCI), effectively clogging up the available airtime.

So whilst IT Managers might respond to “poor Wi-Fi” by turning up the power on AP’s, that might actually cause more problems. Professional tuning helps to provide a better balance and thus, better Wi-Fi performance for the office. 

Consumer Wi-Fi in Business Environments

Many SME’s (and even some bigger companies!) think they can get away with consumer Wi-Fi with ISP-provided routers and domestic mesh systems. But these are designed for homes, not offices. 

Just sticking in a plug-in Wi-Fi extender and powerline adapter is not going to work in an office with dozens or even hundreds of users moving around throughout the day. 

An office needs business Wi-Fi, designed for a business environment. 

Firmware or Controller Issues

9 times out of 10, Wi-Fi problems come down to configuration issues. However, occasionally our Wi-Fi engineers see problems arise from:  

  • Firmware bugs
  • Failed updates
  • Incompatible client devices
  • Controller software problems
  • Hardware faults

It is very important to keep up with updates, but in a controlled manner where firmware updates are monitored and checked rather than just automatically installing every new release straight away. 

How Wi-Fi Professionals Diagnose These Office Internet Problems

How do us Wi-Fi professionals identify the problems in a troublesome office wireless network? We have a lot of tools at our disposal to diagnose Wi-Fi problems and lead network design. 

Here are some of the tools we use as Wi-Fi engineers to help fix your wireless network. 

Wi-Fi Heatmaps

Used to:

  • Measure coverage.
  • Identify dead zones.
  • Detect excessive overlap.
Spectrum Analysis
  • Finding non-Wi-Fi interference.
  • Identifying hidden RF noise.
Client Analysis
  • Looking at roaming behaviour.
  • Retry rates.
  • Disconnect events.
Packet Captures
  • Understanding authentication failures.
  • DHCP problems.
  • DNS delays.
  • Application behaviour.
Channel Planning
  • Selecting optimal channels.
  • Reducing interference.
  • Balancing utilisation.

Whilst your IT department might tell you to turn it off and on, diagnosing Wi-Fi is rarely about guessing. It relies on precise measurement and knowing what to do with that data in order to design and deploy the most efficient network possible for your business or office. 

Why Rebooting Often “Fixes” Things

It’s the age old joke, isn’t it – Just turn it off and on again! Ta-dah! It’s miraculously fixed. But is it, really? Let’s take a look at why rebooting often looks like it’s solved the problem. 

When we reboot something, or turn it off and on again, here’s what’s actually happening:

  • Temporary memory is cleared
  • Clients are disconnected and then reconnected
  • Radio utilisation is reset
  • Congestion is temporarily reduced
  • Stuck processes are cleared

In the short term, great, it seems to get things back on track. But underneath the surface…

  • Poor coverage remains
  • Interference remains
  • Incorrect design remains
  • Roaming problems remain

And that’s exactly why the problem usually returns a few days later, if not sooner!

Can You Troubleshoot It Yourself?

Sometimes your IT team will be able to fix it. Sometimes even a well-versed-in-Wi-Fi colleague will manage to get things working better. Things that members of your team can very much keep on top of are:

  • Occasionally rebooting your networking equipment
  • Carefully updating firmware
  • Considering careful placement of hardware (e.g. not putting AP’s in cupboards or above metal ceilings)
  • Separating guest traffic from the main network
  • Using a wired connection wherever it’s practical to do so
  • Not relying solely on signal bars or internet speed tests

If problems remain, then it may be time to dig a little deeper. 

  • Exactly where are issues occurring? 
  • Are particular issues happening at certain times of day?

When things don’t improve with the obvious fixes and troubleshooting ideas, then it may be time to call in the professionals to help you get to the bottom of your office Wi-Fi problem.

When It’s Time for a Professional Wi-Fi Survey

Signs that you should call the Wi-Fi experts and arrange a Wi-Fi Survey are:

  • Staff that complain every week about the Wi-Fi
  • Video meetings regularly failing
  • Phones disconnecting when moving around the office
  • Warehouse scanners losing connection
  • Barcode scanners pausing
  • VoIP calls breaking up
  • Worsening Wi-Fi as the business has grown
  • Multiple DIY fixes not helping
  • You’re moving office
  • You’re refurbishing existing premises

A Wi-Fi Survey might be viewed as an unnecessary expense, however, the price of a Wi-Fi Survey is significantly less than the hidden productivity losses caused by unreliable Wi-Fi. 

Conclusion

Reliable Wi-Fi is rarely about simply buying expensive hardware, but more about intelligent network design. 

A strong signal does not guarantee reliable performance, and there are many factors to consider when designing and deploying a wireless network for an office or business. 

Employees shouldn’t need to even think about the Wi-Fi – They should be able to simply get on with their jobs with a wireless network that supports their productivity. 

Investing in the right Wi-Fi design from the outset can save significant time and frustration in the future. 

If your office is experiencing persistent wireless issues, then please do contact our expert Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit to arrange an independent assessment of your network. 

FAQ Answers

Why does my Wi-Fi disconnect even when I have full signal?

Signal strength only indicates how well your device can hear the access point. It doesn’t reflect interference, congestion, packet loss or roaming issues. It’s entirely possible to have full signal while experiencing unreliable connectivity.

Can too many devices cause Wi-Fi to disconnect?

Yes. Every device shares the available wireless airtime. As more devices compete for access—particularly those using video conferencing or large file transfers—performance can suffer, leading to delays or temporary disconnections.

Why do Microsoft Teams calls keep dropping on Wi-Fi?

Video calls are sensitive to even brief interruptions. Roaming issues, interference, congestion or packet loss that go unnoticed during web browsing can quickly disrupt Teams calls, causing freezing, poor audio or dropped meetings.

Should I buy more wireless access points?

Not necessarily. More access points can improve coverage, but if they’re positioned or configured incorrectly they can actually increase interference and make performance worse. Network design is just as important as the number of access points.

Can my broadband be fine but my Wi-Fi still be the problem?

Absolutely. Many businesses have fast broadband connections but experience poor wireless performance because of interference, poor coverage, outdated equipment or incorrect configuration inside the office.

Does rebooting my Wi-Fi actually solve the issue?

Rebooting can temporarily improve performance by reconnecting devices and clearing temporary faults, but it rarely addresses the underlying cause. If problems return regularly, further investigation is usually needed.

How do professionals diagnose Wi-Fi problems?

Professional engineers use specialist tools to create coverage heatmaps, analyse radio frequency interference, review client behaviour, capture network traffic and assess channel usage. This allows them to identify the root cause rather than relying on guesswork.

What’s the difference between interference and weak signal?

Weak signal means your device struggles to hear the access point. Interference occurs when other devices or nearby networks compete for the same radio frequencies, disrupting communication even if the signal itself appears strong.

How long does a business Wi-Fi survey take?

The duration depends on the size and complexity of the premises. Small offices may take a couple of hours, while larger buildings or warehouses can require a full day or more. The survey includes detailed measurements and recommendations.

Can older laptops or phones cause Wi-Fi problems?

Older devices can struggle with modern wireless standards or remain connected to distant access points for longer than they should. While they’re not always the root cause, a mixture of old and new devices can highlight weaknesses in a poorly designed network.

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Why Your Microsoft Teams Calls Keep Breaking Up Despite Having ‘Good Wi-Fi’

The lights are green, the dashboard is clear and all signal data points to ‘Good Wi-Fi’ – Yet your IT Manager is still tearing their hair out from colleague complaints about Teams calls freezing and dropping out. 

This is frustrating from both sides – The employees and end users experiencing Wi-Fi issues and a drop in productivity, and the operations teams dealing with their complaints. 

If you’re sat in your modern London office, frustrated with: 

  • Teams calls freezing
  • Audio breaking up
  • Video lagging

But the Wi-Fi ‘looks fine,’ then it’s time to dig a little deeper. Wi-Fi performance is about so much more than signal bars. 

So what is the actual problem? Why can the quality of Teams calls be so poor when the Wi-Fi signal strength appears strong?

Why Wi-Fi Signal Strength Doesn’t Tell The Whole Story

Most people judge Wi-Fi by the bars on their device. Hey, we’re not judging, it’s a logical place to start. However, a strong Wi-Fi signal does not necessarily guarantee good performance. 

There are a few things that can impact Wi-Fi performance that wouldn’t show up on how strong the signal bars are. These include:

Latency 

Wi-Fi latency is the delay (measured in milliseconds or “ms”) it takes for data to travel from your device (e.g. smartphone or laptop) over the wireless network to a router, reach its destination on the internet, and return. 

It dictates your connection’s responsiveness, rather than its overall data capacity. This is different to speed or bandwidth which says how much data you can upload or download. 

Latency is the real time reaction, and what causes a lag – For example, a delay in a Teams call. Latency is the time it takes for a ‘packet’ of data to make the round trip from and back to your device. 

Packet Loss

Wi-Fi packet loss occurs when small packets of data traveling over a wireless network fail to reach their destination. 

Data travel over Wi-Fi is vulnerable to disruptions. Packet loss is when instead of arriving smoothly, the missing data drops, causing noticeable issues like lag or glitchy audio on Teams calls.

Interference

The disruptions to a data packet’s journey can be caused by a number of different types of interference. These include:

  • Physical and Structural Obstructions such as walls, metal furniture, and floors. These can degrade wireless signals, making data struggle to reach your device. 
  • Wireless Interference: Other electronics such as microwaves and Bluetooth devices operate on similar radio frequencies which can distort your Wi-Fi signal.
  • Network Congestion: This is when too many devices are attempting to use the Wi-Fi at the same time. This can overload the router, causing it to drop packets in order to try to manage the traffic. 
  • Channel Overlap: Neighbouring networks in busy modern London offices can overlap with your own Wi-Fi channel, which can cause corruption to data packets or lead to them dropping altogether. 
  • Outdated Hardware: Older routers or network drivers can struggle to process large volumes of data, causing Teams calls to lag or drop. 

Congestion

Wi-Fi congestion happens when too many devices try to share the same wireless network, saturating the available bandwidth. This bottleneck causes: 

  • Slow loading times
  • Buffering video
  • Lag 

It is driven by excessive data demand, high device density, or overlapping radio frequencies. These are commonplace in busy environments like modern London offices, hence why Teams calls can freeze or drop even when the Wi-Fi appears to be working. 

Why Teams Calls Are More Demanding Than Other Applications

There are ways of using Wi-Fi that are more taxing than others. Things like browsing websites and checking email are forgiving and allow multiple users to use the Wi-Fi effectively at the same time. 

Teams calls, however, require continuous real time communication and low latency as we mentioned above. Even the smallest interruptions or disruption can cause:

  • Frozen video
  • Poor audio
  • Dropped calls

Now picture modern hybrid working environments that we are seeing more and more of in businesses. These flexible working models where employees can split their time between the office and remote working mean more Teams calls and online meetings between colleagues. 

This has the potential to put a real strain on office wireless networks that were previously only used for web browsing and checking emails, and is a real problem for IT Managers and Operations Teams to have to deal with. 

So what are the root causes of Teams call problems in terms of Wi-Fi specifics. 

Common Causes Of Teams Call Problems In London Offices

For IT Managers and Operations Teams it can be really tricky to identify the root cause of Teams calls dropping out, when on the surface the Wi-Fi looks okay. Here are some common causes that would be a good place to start. 

Wireless Congestion

Wi-Fi congestion happens when too many devices try to share the same wireless network, saturating the available bandwidth. It also happens when numerous neighbouring Wi-Fi networks compete for airtime.

This is a particularly common problem in multi-tenant office buildings which are frequently found in London City and Canary Wharf as well as other busy city centres. 

Poor Access Point Placement

When our Wi-Fi engineers are called out, we unfortunately see a lot of cases where Access Points have been installed in convenient locations instead of where they are actually needed.

This includes certain locations being frequently overlooked, such as meeting rooms for example. 

They key is to get a good balance between Coverage and Capacity. Coverage is the reach of your Wi-Fi signal (how far it goes), whereas Capacity is how well the network handles multiple connected devices and heavy data usage simultaneously without slowing down.

The goal with Coverage is to eliminate any dead zones and prevent dropping out, whilst with Capacity you want to support the amount of devices trying to connect and the data throughput. 

Roaming Issues

In an ideal world, your colleague would sit at their desk and connect to a Teams call through their laptop for the duration of the online meeting. 

In the real world, your colleague connects to the Teams call on their phone and then wanders down to the staff kitchen to make a coffee, then pops to another colleagues office to pick up that file they need for the call, and then makes their way back to their desk. 

Whilst on the move like this, their device is constantly switching between Access Points, leaving scope for call interruptions. Poor roaming capabilities will lead to Teams calls lagging or dropping out. And that means frustration for them, and subsequently you as their IT Manager. 

Too Many Connected Devices

Before hybrid working environments, modern offices tended to have computers for each staff member which were connected to the internet via a wired connection like Ethernet cables. Sure, there was the off hot desk, but even these were likely to have an Ethernet cable ready tp plug in instead of Wi-Fi. 

Now, London offices are full of hot desks. Desktop computers are less common, replaced by staff members having a laptop which they can connect via the Wi-Fi wherever they are sat down. 

Now add to this a smartphone for each member of staff, plus a tablet, smartwatch and other devices. 

Our offices now contain far more wireless devices than ever before, from individual user devices to meeting room equipment and IoT devices. 

This skews the capacity vs coverage issue more towards capacity – Office Wi-Fi has to be able to support the necessary concurrent devices while preventing lag, high ping or dropped packets in high density areas (effectively reducing problems with Teams calls). 

Legacy Network Design

Office environments have changed and so have the wireless network requirements. As a network has grown organically over time, the tendency (from our Wi-Fi engineers experience) has been for IT Managers and Operations Teams to add additional Access Points to try and increase coverage. However, without the overall design strategy to match this organic growth, the infrastructure tends to struggle and this is where we see issues with modern collaboration tools like Teams. 

Why Wi-Fi Speed Tests Can Be Misleading

As an IT Manager contending with Teams calls problems in the workplace, you might start by looking at a Wi-Fi speed test. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi speed tests can be rather misleading. You might see that internet speeds are good, so assume all must be well with the Wi-Fi and the Teams calls dropping has to be due to something else. 

Unfortunately, internet speed tests can often mislead people into thinking there isn’t a problem. Wi-Fi speed tests measure throughput, but not user experience. Here are a few reasons why Wi-Fi speed tests don’t show the whole picture. 

Roaming

Wi-Fi speed tests don’t give you an indication of roaming performance. How well are users moving around the office whilst connected? Are the Access Points placed due to need and traffic? Are Teams calls dropping out in a particular place in the office? Do user devices effectively move from AP to AP or do they get stuck? These questions are not answered by a speed test. 

Packet Loss

Are things like building infrastructure (walls, floors) interfering with data packets reaching their destination? Is disruption to data packets journeys causing Teams calls to freeze or drop? What is causing these disruptions? Wi-Fi speed tests aren’t going to answer these questions for you unfortunately. 

Wireless Contention

Are neighbouring networks overlapping with your Wi-Fi channel? Are too many devices attempting to connect at any one time? The speed of your network might look great on the dashboards, but is the capacity there to meet the needs of your users? Can your network handle multiple Teams calls at the same time?

Real Time Application Performance

Teams calls require real time communication – No loss of data packets, no latency, no lag. They need the Wi-Fi speed, yes, but they also need the capacity and lack of interference to be there to avoid freezing, lagging, poor audio and dropping out altogether. 

For all these reasons, it’s very possible for your network to achieve excellent Wi-Fi speeds but still perform poorly on Teams calls. 

How Businesses Should Diagnose The Problem of Bad Teams Calls on ‘Good Wi-Fi’

If IT Managers and Operations Teams want to avoid the headache of poor Teams calls on a Wi-Fi network that appears to be ‘good’ then the first thing they need to do is stop guessing. 

That might look like calling in the Wi-Fi experts, like our team of Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit. The aim is always to understand how people are actually using your network, and then design and deploy the best network to meet those needs. 

Professional Wi-Fi Site Surveys

Wi-Fi Site Surveys  and Network Assessments are a key tool in analysing the performance of your network, helping to diagnose your Wi-Fi problems (even when things look good on a surface level). They also help measure our success when fixing your Wi-Fi issues. 

A Wi-Fi site survey is the most effective way to design, troubleshoot, or optimise a wireless network for homes, offices, warehouses, schools, and commercial environments.

Our expert Wi-Fi engineers work out of London, the city and Canary Wharf (as well as Hampshire and Cardiff). An on-site survey always provides the most accurate results, however for circumstances where this is not possible, we also offer predictive Wi-Fi site surveys using industry-standard modelling software.

You can find out more about our Wi-Fi Site Surveys here. 

Interference Analysis

Interference Analysis is the process of identifying and evaluating unwanted Radio Frequency (RF) signals that degrade wireless network performance. It helps pinpoint sources of slow speeds, high latency or dropped connections that could cause Teams calls to lag or drop, such as:

  • Neighbouring networks
  • Bluetooth devices
  • Microwaves

This knowledge allows for targeted network optimisation resulting in keeping those Teams calls connected and stable. 

Wi-Fi Capacity Planning

Analysing the Wi-Fi Site Survey, spectrum and client behaviour mean that our expert Wi-Fi engineers can effectively plan for your Wi-Fi capacity, making sure your wireless network fits your bespoke office needs. 

Wi-Fi capacity planning is the process of designing a wireless network to support the concurrent demands of users, devices, and applications, rather than just ensuring basic signal reach. It calculates the network’s ability to handle traffic without congestion, ensuring seamless performance even during peak usage. 

A robust capacity plan goes beyond simple coverage and translates real-world traffic demands into specific hardware and configuration requirements. This also means that those Teams calls will stop lagging and dropping out. 

Why Your Microsoft Teams Calls Keep Breaking Up Despite Having ‘Good Wi-Fi’

Remember that having good Wi-Fi signal strength (or speed) does not necessarily mean ‘good Wi-Fi’.

Modern London offices and hybrid working environments mean that modern collaboration tools like Teams have placed new demands on office networks. These new demands require in-depth analysis to ensure your network is supporting your users and thus your business. 

The main focus for IT Managers and Operations Teams needs to be on user experience rather than just Wi-Fi speed and signal strength. There can be a lot more going on beneath the surface of ‘Good Wi-Fi.’

If you or your colleagues are struggling with Teams calls freezing or dropping out, despite your Wi-Fi dashboard suggesting all is fine then it’s time to call in the experts. Our Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit can help guide you with Wi-Fi troubleshooting, Wi-Fi Surveys and network optimisation. 

Skip the Teams call and get in touch with our friendly team here instead. 

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“Why is my office Wi-Fi slow when internet speed tests are fine?”

As an IT Manager or Director, you’d probably expect a Wi-Fi failure to look catastrophically obvious. Like sirens wailing and offline-related casualties strewn throughout the office. 

But most Wi-Fi failures don’t look like failures. Office Wi-Fi problems in London can really fly under the radar.

  • Access points? Online
  • Internet connection – Fast
  • No major outages on monitoring tools

And yet, your Teams calls drop, Zoom freezes and perhaps most importantly – Staff are complaining about slow Wi-Fi on a daily basis. What is going on? 

It’s at this point most of our clients contact us for help. Persistent Wi-Fi problems when the obvious vital signs look okay are one of the most common reasons organisations in London contact Geekabit for a Wi-Fi survey or investigation into the cause of the problem. 

“What is wrong with my office Wi-Fi? Everything Looks Fine!”

When your colleagues or staff members are constantly complaining about the office Wi-Fi it’s no fun for IT Managers at all. Especially when the IT Team are seeing:

  • Strong signal strength
  • Healthy internet bandwidth
  • No hardware faults
  • No ISP issues

On the surface, everything looks like the Wi-Fi should be performing well. But in reality, you’ve got users experiencing:

  • Poor Microsoft Teams calls
  • Random disconnects
  • Slow Wi-Fi roaming between areas
  • Applications pausing unexpectedly
  • Complaints concentrated in specific locations

So what is actually going on in these woeful Wi-Fi scenarios?

Five Hidden Causes of Poor Office Wi-Fi

1. Too Many Devices Sharing Airtime

Modern London offices tend to have:

  • Users with multiple devices all connected to the office Wi-Fi including Laptops, Smartphones and Tablets
  • Meeting room systems
  • Wireless displays
  • IoT devices

Imagine all of these devices and systems all trying to connect to the office Wi-Fi at the same time. The problem is often contention rather than coverage. Hence why the Wi-Fi monitoring systems and the user experience can differ so much. 

2. Co-Channel Interference

Many busy London offices and modern office buildings accidentally create their own interference.

Typical causes of Wi-Fi interference in office environments include:

  • Too many access points
  • Poor channel planning
  • Legacy configurations
  • Neighbouring office networks

3. Office Roaming

In many office environments, users can be constantly on the move. Replying to emails whilst making a coffee. Checking files on the network from meetings. Roaming from floor to floor meeting with colleagues. Connecting to a Teams meeting on your way back to your desk. 

Wi-Fi problems like Teams calls dropping whilst roaming can be due to:

  • Devices sticking to distant APs instead of moving with the user and connecting to the nearest 
  • Poor handoffs between floors

4. Meeting Room Wi-Fi Congestion

One meeting room can generate more demand than an entire office area. Now imagine multiple meeting rooms all trying to function at the same time.

Common symptoms of meeting room Wi-Fi congestion can be:

  • Teams issues
  • Wireless presentation failures
  • Slow guest access

5. The Building Itself

Many of our clients are London-based. Offices in the capital often have specific challenges to overcome when it comes to identifying hidden causes of Wi-Fi problems at work. 

London offices tend to consist of many potential network disruptors, including:

  • Multi-floor buildings
  • Dense neighbouring Wi-Fi networks
  • Glass partitions
  • Concrete cores
  • Users who hot-desk (and flexible working)
  • High user density in relatively small spaces

The signal bars on your monitoring systems aren’t telling IT Managers the whole story. 

Why Speed Tests Often Mislead

As an IT Manager, you might look at a speed test and see that internet speeds are good, so assume all must be well with the Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, internet speed tests can often mislead people into thinking there isn’t a problem. Here are a few reasons why Wi-Fi speed tests don’t show the whole picture. 

Internet speed ≠ Wi-Fi Performance

You might also be asking why is my internet speed, but my Wi-Fi still slow? It’s because the internet speed shown in a speed test is only the capacity of the wired connection – That is the speed of the internet coming into your office via fibre or cable. The Wi-Fi performance depends on what happens to the internet after it enters your office and goes through your router – How the Wi-Fi performs depends on the local, wireless distribution of that initial speed. 

So the speed might look fine, but how the wireless signal is distributed could be affected by:

  • Physical interference (e.g. building materials)
  • The distance the signal is travelling (are there enough AP’s and are they deployed in the right places?)
  • Hardware limitations (is the hardware up to date and still in good working order?)
  • Having to share with lots of other devices (which might be older and slower)

These things can all degrade the speed that is delivered to your devices. Your network is only as fast as your slowest link, regardless of the speed coming into your building. 

“Why am I not getting the 1Gb connection I pay for?”

You may be paying for 1Gb internet, but that may not be translating into user experience. 

This goes back to what we said above – Your network is only as fast as your slowest link. So you might well be getting 1Gb internet speeds into your building, but what is happening after the wireless signal is distributed by your router? 

There is little point in paying for 1Gb internet speeds if you don’t have the hardware capabilities to match it. It’s important that your router and AP’s have the capabilities to effectively transmit that Wi-Fi signal and speed. Older phones, laptops, tablets and other devices that use older wireless standards are also going to cap your maximum speed lower than what you’re paying for. 

What matters more than raw bandwidth when it comes to internet speeds? 

Whilst bandwidth is important, there are other factors at play when it comes to how fast an internet connection feels. 

Bandwidth is the capacity to move a high volume of data. How fast and responsively that data is delivered is influenced by:

  • Latency
  • Airtime
  • Roaming

There are many interactive applications that only need a little bandwidth, but demand instant, unhindered transmission in order to feel fast.

How Can Wi-Fi Speed Problems Be Investigated? 

Here at Geekabit, our expert  Wi-Fi engineers have a number of tools at their disposal in order to help investigate Wi-Fi problems and identify solutions.

Spectrum Analysis for Wi-Fi 

Wi-Fi spectrum analysis is the process of scanning and visualizing the invisible radio frequencies (RF) used by your wireless network. It helps network administrators, IT Managers and our expert Wi-Fi engineers to identify, locate, and mitigate interference from both Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi devices. This allows us to optimize network channels and improve speeds.

Why might spectrum analysis be necessary? The frequency bands used by Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) are unlicensed, meaning anyone can transmit signals there. While standard network scanners only see other routers, a spectrum analyzer sees all the energy in the air. This can then help inform decisions about Wi-Fi deployment in order to minimise interference. 

Wi-Fi Client Behaviour Analysis

Wi-Fi client behaviour analysis evaluates how connected devices (clients) interact with a wireless network or how people move through a physical space using their devices. 

It can be split into two main categories: Business Analytics (consumer tracking, i.e. seeing how a customer moves through a retail space) and Network Troubleshooting (looking at the technical performance in a workspace). 

Network troubleshooting is going to be most helpful in an office environment, enabling Network Administrators and IT Managers to understand device performance throughout the office, identify problem areas and thus improve network health and performance.

Client Behaviour Analysis in Network Troubleshooting would likely look at:

  • Roaming behaviour – How are devices transitioning between Access Points? Are there any ‘sticky’ clients that refuse to disconnect from weak, distant AP’s? Are there any dead spots?
  • Device capabilities – Are there any legacy devices that are slowing things down? Which clients support modern protocols (which Wi-Fi standard or frequency band are they utilising?)

Professional Wi-Fi Site Surveys

Wi-Fi Site Surveys are a key tool in analysing the performance of your network, helping to diagnose your Wi-Fi problems as well as measure our success fixing your Wi-Fi issues. 

A Wi-Fi site survey is the most effective way to design, troubleshoot, or optimise a wireless network for homes, offices, warehouses, schools, and commercial environments.

Our expert Wi-Fi engineers work out of London, Hampshire and Cardiff. An on-site survey always provides the most accurate results, however for circumstances where this is not possible, we also offer predictive Wi-Fi site surveys using industry-standard modelling software.

You can find out more about our Wi-Fi Site Surveys here. 

Wi-Fi Capacity Planning

Analysing the Wi-Fi Site Survey, spectrum and client behaviour mean that our expert Wi-Fi engineers can effectively plan for your Wi-Fi capacity, making sure your wireless network fits your bespoke office needs. 

Wi-Fi capacity planning is the process of designing a wireless network to support the concurrent demands of users, devices, and applications, rather than just ensuring basic signal reach. It calculates the network’s ability to handle traffic without congestion, ensuring seamless performance even during peak usage. 

A robust capacity plan goes beyond simple coverage and translates real-world traffic demands into specific hardware and configuration requirements. 

“Why does my office Wi-Fi look fine but still feel slow?”

In conclusion, the biggest Wi-Fi problems are often invisible.

If users in your office or workspace  are complaining about slow Wi-Fi despite healthy-looking dashboards, the issue may not be with your internet connection, access points or ISP.

As we’ve outlined above, it may be the way the wireless environment behaves in the real world. And this can be affected by various factors. 

If you have tried everything you can think of to improve your slow office Wi-Fi but things still aren’t improving, then call in the experts. Geekabit helps organisations across Central London, Canary Wharf and the City identify and solve complex Wi-Fi problems through professional site surveys, troubleshooting and wireless network optimisation. Get in touch with our friendly team today.

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How Will Wi-Fi 7 Be Supporting the Next Generation of Connected Spaces

Whether you’re responsible for your Wi-Fi network at home, in your business or in a public venue, Wi-Fi 7 has been designed to improve connectivity in your device-heavy, dense environments.

Regardless of the type of network, wireless networks are supporting more users, devices and applications than they ever have before, including places like:

  • Large stadiums packed with people
  • College campuses with a multitude of connections
  • Offices with lots of devices in a confined space
  • Entertainment venues supporting various media 

Not only are wireless networks now supporting a wide range of venues, they are also providing connections for many different uses within those venues, for example:

  • Paying with their phone
  • Streaming video content during a live event
  • Joining a virtual meeting
  • Accessing cloud applications
  • Sharing content in real time

Whatever the venue, whatever the reason to connect, users expect seamless connectivity that is strong, reliable and secure. 

The role of Wi-Fi 7 in the future of connected spaces is constantly being spoken about in this industry by sector leaders, and was a key focus during a recent Connectivity Expo via the Connect (X) Connected Spaces panel.

Wi-Fi 7 is the latest evolution of Wi-Fi technology, and at its heart is designed to deliver connectivity in increasingly crowded environments that is:

  • Higher capacity
  • Lower latency
  • More reliable 

Wireless environments like homes, businesses, campuses, and venues will all benefit from Wi-Fi 7.

Why is Wi-Fi 7 Different?

As wireless demand has grown, Wi-Fi technology has continued to evolve and match pace. 

With Wi-Fi 6 we saw:

  • Improved network efficiency 
  • Better performance in crowded environments

Wi-Fi 6E then arrived on the scene and offered:

  • Expanded access to the 6 GHz band 
  • Reduced congestion with wider channels

So what will Wi-Fi 7 bring to the table? Wi-Fi 7 further builds on the advancements just mentioned, along with new capabilities specifically designed for high-capacity environments. 

Wi-Fi 7 improvements include:

  • Wider 320 MHz channels that support higher capacity
  • Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows devices to use multiple bands more efficiently
  • 4K QAM modulation, which enables faster speeds for high-bandwidth applications
  • Lower latency and improved reliability

Perhaps the most important improvement is that Wi-Fi 7 is designed to create a more consistent user experience – Even as wireless traffic continues to grow. This is especially true for dense environments with thousands of connected devices, like stadiums and campuses.

How Will Wi-Fi 7 Manage with Real-World Deployments? 

It’s already moving into it. We’re not talking future concepts here – Wi-Fi 7 is already moving rapidly into deployments and has been since 2024. In the US we’ve seen large venues, enterprise environments and college campuses start to reap the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 already. 

Here are some examples of how Wi-Fi 7 is already improving connectivity for large, device-heavy wireless environments. 

Levi’s Stadium: 

The stadium deployed Wi-Fi 7 ahead of the most recent Super Bowl in February 2026 and supported tens of thousands of fans with high-quality wireless connectivity. 

Modern venues rely on wireless networks for almost everything, including:

  • Mobile ticketing 
  • Concessions 
  • Streaming
  • Social sharing
  • Venue operations. 

Wi-Fi 7’s higher capacity and improved efficiency make it well-suited for dense environments like stadiums and arenas.

Georgetown University

Georgetown University along with many other college campuses and universities, are planning their next-generation campus connectivity upgrades with Wi-Fi 7. In campus environments, wireless demand grows for things like:

  • Cloud applications
  • Collaboration tools
  • Connected devices
  • Hybrid learning environments
  • Leisure time e.g. streaming and gaming 

From public spaces, offices, labs, classrooms and libraries, university and college campuses increasingly rely on wireless networks to support high-capacity, always-connected experiences..

It’s important to remember that in college campus wireless environments, there are also cellular and private wireless networks in use so Wi-Fi 7 needs to work reliably alongside those. 

How Can We Utilise Wi-Fi 7’s Full Potential?

As wireless experts and network engineers deploying Wi-Fi 7, we understand that it takes a lot more than simply upgrading some access points to make full use of Wi-Fi 7’s potential. 

We also recognise the bigger picture. The performance of Wi-Fi 7 also depends on the broader connectivity ecosystem, that includes:

  • Devices
  • Broadband infrastructure
  • Spectrum availability 

If you want your business to fully benefit from Wi-Fi 7 you need to embrace:

  • Wi-Fi 7 capable devices entering the market across smartphones, laptops, and connected technologies
  • Broadband infrastructure capable of matching higher wireless capacity, including modern backhaul and network equipment
  • Sufficient unlicensed spectrum availability, particularly in the 6 GHz band
  • Thoughtful network design that supports performance in dense environments.

Is Wi-Fi 7 the Future of Connected Spaces?

The demand for wireless connectivity is accelerating EVERYWHERE – Homes, businesses, campuses, and public venues. Connected devices and data-intensive applications continue to become a larger part of everyday life.

Indeed, future Wi-Fi technologies, including Wi-Fi 8, are already in conversation.

Modern connected spaces are to be unlocked with Wi-Fi 7 by design.  Will it hold long-term success? That really depends on strong broadband infrastructure, continued innovation, and policies that support future wireless growth.

We’re excited to see where this takes us. 

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“Should I upgrade from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7 for my office?”

The 90,000 fans who pack out Wembley Stadium for England matches bring more than just their voices and their optimism. Each fan tends to bring at least one connected device, creating a wireless environment that would cripple most enterprise networks within just a few minutes. 

How do high-density crowded areas handle their Wi-Fi capabilities?

Wembley Stadium is partnered with EE for their wireless infrastructure. During 2025, Wembley Stadium was upgraded to feature advanced connectivity, including 5G standalone (SA) technology and next-generation Wi-Fi capabilities. This means their network can handle high-density crowd demand. 

EE has heavily upgraded the network to support high-speed internet and reliable connectivity during major events. Key Connectivity Upgrades included:

  • 5G Standalone: In February 2025, EE launched a 5G standalone network at Wembley, providing increased capacity and faster speeds independent of 4G infrastructure.
  • Wi-Fi 7 Integration: As part of a 2025 technology upgrade, Wembley integrated Wi-Fi 7 to enhance connectivity.
  • Capacity Enhancements: The network upgrades allow fans to share and experience events with improved performance in busy areas. 

Wembley Stadium is committed to premier level digital infrastructure. They have a multi-year partnership with EE and the upgrades seen during 2025 ensure that stadium visitors can stay connected whilst attending matches and other events. 

What Wi-Fi and connectivity problems affect public venue operators? 

Public venues across the country face the same problems with business-critical wireless infrastructure. 

Football fans are no exception to the connectivity requirements people have come to expect when they are out and about. People want to be able to:

  • Have streaming capabilities
  • Share content to social media platforms including images and video
  • Place online orders
  • Access digital tickets
  • Pay for food, beverages and merchandise

When you have a lot of people all in one place, the network can start to struggle. As device density increases (along with guest expectations), older infrastructure like Wi-Fi 6 can start to buckle under the strain. 

To maintain a seamless guest experience, connectivity cannot fail. Unreliable Wi-Fi can have a massive negative effect on revenue, organic marketing opportunities and engagement. 

Embracing Wi-Fi 7 capabilities is just one solution to the issues facing venues, festivals, apartment complexes and offices throughout the UK.

Choosing to deploy next-generation, Wi-Fi 7 wireless technology instead of waiting for incremental upgrades could be just what your venue or office building needs.

Why does Wi-Fi 7 work well in high-density environments like offices?

We’ve banged on about Wembley Stadium in this article so far, but Wi-Fi 7 as a standard introduces capabilities specifically designed for all kinds of ultra-high-density environments, whether that’s a stadium or your office building. Environments that have historically defeated wireless deployments are now finding connectivity success in high-density settings with Wi-Fi 7.

What are the biggest advancements Wi-Fi 7 offers?

  • Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
  • Double the channel width
  • Increased QAM modulation and increased data rate
  • Speed improvements and low latency
Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

The most significant advancement is Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows devices to transmit and receive data across multiple frequency bands simultaneously. 

Previous Wi-Fi generations forced devices to choose a single band, creating bottlenecks during peak demand. MLO provides a single access point to dynamically distribute traffic across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, dramatically increasing aggregate throughput.

Double the channel width

Wi-Fi 7 doubles the channel width to 320 MHz from Wi-Fi 6E’s 160 MHz. 

Increased QAM modulation and increased data rate

Combined with 4096-QAM modulation (versus 1024-QAM in the previous generation), the theoretical maximum data rate approaches 46 Gbps. What does that mean in real terms? In a large-scale deployment, these advancements mean sustained multi-gigabit performance even when tens of thousands of devices compete for bandwidth.

Speed and low latency

Beyond mere speed improvements, Wi-Fi 7’s lower latency characteristics also enable applications that were previously impractical in high density environments, helping to overcome the issues and expectations outlined above. 

What companies are offering Wi-Fi 7 compatible network hardware? 

The enterprise WLAN market is a highly competitive one, with many companies offering different strengths for varying wireless deployment scenarios. Companies with a Wi-Fi 7 offering include:

  • Cisco
  • HPE
  • Aruba
  • Extreme Networks
  • Ubiquiti
  • Ruckus Networks

What are the operational returns of upgrading to Wi-Fi 7?

There are many operational returns of upgrading to Wi-Fi 7, whether you are providing connectivity for a stadium, event venue, warehouse, retail unit or office building. Returns on Wi-Fi 7 investment for your business could be seen in:

  • User productivity
  • Social media engagement / organic marketing
  • Real time inventory management
  • Mobile point-of-sale transactions
  • Security camera feeds
  • Staff communications 
  • Improved transaction speeds in retail environments
  • Analysis of device density to show user movement patterns and give insights into crowd flow and congestion points
  • Adjusting staffing to meet demand in real time

What organisations can benefit from Wi-Fi 7 deployment? 

Wi-Fi 7 deployment can impact businesses and organisations across all industry sectors where they are managing connectivity in demanding physical environments, including but not limited to:

  • Warehouses
  • Manufacturing floors
  • Hospitals 
  • University and college campuses
  • Convention centres
  • Shopping centres
  • Corporate headquarters
  • Office buildings 

These premises all share characteristics that can make wireless deployment difficult: 

  • Large footprints
  • Physical obstructions
  • Unpredictable user density
  • Business-critical applications competing for bandwidth

Wi-Fi 7 for Enterprise Networks

We began this article looking at stadium Wi-Fi, but the principles that govern that type of space also apply directly to other enterprises. IT leaders in all the environments mentioned above should:

  • Treat connectivity as foundational infrastructure rather than a discretionary amenity; every digital initiative depends on it.
  • Plan for peak demand rather than average utilisation, because network failures occur precisely when the most users need access.
  • Recognise the operational value of a robust network, which often exceeds the guest-facing benefits; the same infrastructure that serves visitors also powers point-of-sale systems, IoT sensors, security cameras, and workforce applications.
  • Prioritise vendors with proven expertise in RF-hostile environments, because access points that perform adequately in open office plans often fail in spaces with concrete, metal, or high human density.
  • View Wi-Fi refresh cycles as strategic investments with multi-year payback horizons rather than routine equipment replacements.

Don’t treat connectivity as an afterthought. Organisations need to deliver the experiences that modern guests, employees, and customers demand. Will you be deploying Wi-Fi 7 in your business? 

Get in touch with our Wi-Fi Experts at Geekabit

If you’re interested in Wi-Fi 7 for your business, then get in touch with us today. Our expert Wi-Fi engineers across London, Cardiff and the South Coast can carry out Site Surveys and provide Wi-Fi Planning and Design so that your deployment offers the best connectivity possible. 

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Could Technical Jargon Be Confusing Consumers When It Comes to Buying Internet Services?

What do you call the network in your household or business? 

Are there shrieks of ‘Muuuum is the Wi-Fi down?’ or perhaps partners asking ‘What’s going on with the broadband babe?’ 

Or if you’re the boss of a SME, maybe you’ve got employees interrupting your meetings asking why the internet is lagging. 

What’s the most popular name for internet connections? 

Broadband Internet Service Provider TalkTalk engaged Axicom to commission a new online survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by OnePoll. The survey claims to find that the most popular name for home internet connections is Wi-Fi. 

A third of respondents said they describe their internet connection using the term Wi-Fi, with ‘broadband’ and ‘internet’ coming in second and third place respectively. 

The survey also quizzed respondents on their understanding of different wireless technology terms, with 76% of those asked saying they ‘confidently understand’ the term Wi-Fi. 

Less confidently understood was ‘fibre’ with only half of the respondents confident with their understanding of its meaning. Interestingly, ‘fibre’ is often a term flung around by telecoms companies to describe their broadband products and services, which begs the question – Do consumers actually understand what they are being sold? 

Do Consumers Understand the Internet Products and Services Being Sold to Them?

The results to this particular survey would suggest the answer is unfortunately no, with 69% of respondents admitting that technology-related jargon is difficult to understand. 

Perhaps then, the aim of this most recent online survey was to gather information on how ISP TalkTalk can market their products and internet services to potential customers – Both business and residential. 

If consumers are not understanding terms like ‘fibre’ then perhaps the focus on the term ‘Wi-Fi’ instead will increase understanding and thus sales. It does seem to be the renewed focus of their recent brand refresh, despite the technical terminology not being entirely correct. 

Does this therefore reinforce a misconception around the understanding of technical internet terminology, rather than provide an accurate explanation? 

What is your understanding of some of the terms used in the survey? You can see a breakdown of the most understood terminology below, given in percentages. 

There seems to be a healthy understanding of the terms Wi-Fi, Wireless, Router and IP Address. Those less understood were concepts like Latency, FTTP/FTTC, Mesh, PSTN and LLU. 

What Do TalkTalk Have to Say?

The Product and Propositions Director for TalkTalk shared the companies thoughts on their recent survey and how the results are influencing how they talk to their customers in order to ensure the best understanding of their services and products. 

“Wi-Fi is a staple in all our homes, yet as an industry we haven’t kept up with the times when we talk to our customers. At TalkTalk, we’re shifting to talk about Wi-Fi more and more, as it’s the connectivity – making sure streaming or browsing is seamless – that matters most for our millions of customers.

Our latest research tells us that people prefer to communicate in the same way that they speak, without jargon, and our industry should reflect that. We know we’re not perfect, and we have much to do, but this is the first step in delivering a Better Way to Wi-Fi for customers who just want transparency and information they can confidently understand. And this builds trust between us and our customers too.”

What Does Wi-Fi Mean to You?

Whilst the term Wi-Fi might still feel like technical jargon to some, most homes and businesses use Wi-Fi to describe a WLAN, or Wireless Local Area Network connection that originates from a router that distributes the broadband internet connection from your Internet Service Provider. 

Wi-Fi and Broadband are not the same thing, but consumers seem to be regularly using the term ‘Wi-Fi’ to loosely apply to their wireless internet connection as a whole. 

When this starts to run into difficulties is when an issue arises. Someone shouts ‘The Wi-Fi’s gone down!’ – What’s the problem? It could be that the router is faulty and not transmitting a signal to user devices. In this instance, the actual broadband connection coming from outside the property could be completely fine – It’s only the transmission of the signal that has the issue. 

Likewise, the router could be transmitting a signal to end users and their devices remain connected, but conference calls aren’t connecting. The problem isn’t the hardware, but the actual broadband connection coming from the ISP. 

2 very different problems but both labelled as a ‘Wi-Fi’ problem.

Do You Get Lost in Technical Internet Jargon? 

If you need reliable Wi-Fi for your business but find it hard to follow all the terminology, then don’t worry. Not everyone can be Wi-Fi Experts! Thankfully the wireless engineers here at Geekabit have all the knowledge and expertise needed to navigate your network and get you the best wireless connection for your premises. 

Get in touch with our Hampshire, Cardiff or London based teams today to see how we can help. 

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Geekabit Deploys Wi-Fi Solution to New Gastropub in Historic Space in Farnham, Surrey

This week on the blog we’re excited to share the completion of a recent Wi-Fi project for a client over in Farnham, Surrey. 

Find out how our Wi-Fi engineering experts helped to transform this remarkable historic space into a well-connected Gastropub.

The Venue

Third Monkey is a new Gastropub, Restaurant and Cocktail Bar providing high-end hospitality and fun family dining in the heart of Farnham. 

The historic building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the late 1800’s and whilst much of his original architecture will remain, the updated premises will boast 2 floors of buzzing atmosphere plus a roof terrace. 

The building has been used as The South Street Social Club in recent years, formerly known as the Liberal Club, but closed back in 2023 due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic as well as other factors. 

Now under new owners, Third Monkey and its Executive Chef are breathing new life into this notable building, bringing with it ‘refined yet relaxed’ vibes through its welcoming Gastropub on the ground floor, and a more elevated dining experience in the Restaurant and Cocktail Bar upstairs. And let’s not forget the Rooftop Terrace complete with weekend DJ’s providing a late-night destination venue for Surrey’s most sought-after town. 

You can find this exciting new venue at 46 South Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7RP.

Expert Wi-Fi Solution for Historic Premises Turned Gastropub

Wi-Fi Site Survey

As with all new Wi-Fi projects, we started with a Wi-Fi Survey. This is Geekabit’s key tool in analysing the performance of your network and helping to diagnose issues. 

As you can imagine, a historic building built in the 1800’s isn’t going to have been designed with Wi-Fi in mind! Unlike modern constructions, this type of building can present unique challenges for signal penetration and Wi-Fi infrastructure installation. Therefore, carrying out a thorough Wi-Fi site survey is vital.

Upon visiting, it was clear that the Third Monkey, was a completely fresh and new fit-out –
and we could get involved at the earliest stages to ensure that the possibilities for Wi-Fi
access point placement could work with the new building materials being used.

In this instance for Third Monkey, we used the information gathered during the Wi-Fi Site Survey to advise on the necessary networking equipment required as well as Fibre WAN providers. 

Wi-Fi Installation

Whilst some may think that installing Wi-Fi isn’t much more than sticking a box on the ceiling and plugging it in, there is actually a great deal more thought and expertise that goes into it if you want a successful Wi-Fi network. 

There’s little point in carrying out a Wi-Fi Site Survey to identify how to equip a historic building such as this with robust internet connectivity, if you’re not going to follow it up with expert installation.

For Third Monkey, Geekabit completed a full Wi-Fi Installation using one of our favoured brands Ubiquiti Wi-Fi and Ubiquiti network equipment. 

This Wi-Fi network deployment included:

  • Full data network installation
  • Network design
  • Data network cabinet installation
  • Termination of Cat 6 ethernet cabling
  • Setting up of network security devices
  • Commissioning of equipment, Wi-Fi configuration and optimisation, and post-installation Wi-Fi Site Survey

A big part of any Wi-Fi Installation also involves effectively co-ordinating with other suppliers and installers to enhance network efficiency and security. 

Of course, we round off any Wi-Fi deployment right back where we started – With a Wi-Fi Site Survey. This ensures we leave our clients with their optimum Wi-Fi network.

Our Wi-Fi engineers are also on hand to provide ongoing Network Support, Wi-Fi Management and Wi-Fi Guest Portal services. Another benefit of bringing in the expertise and knowledge of a Wi-Fi professional. 

Why Robust Wi-Fi is a Must for Hospitality Businesses

Despite the potential complexities that using a historic building for a modern use can have, this project shows that the two can indeed go hand-in-hand. 

We know how vital it is for hospitality businesses to have reliable Wi-Fi. A strong wireless network is not only essential for operational efficiency (ie. supporting POS systems and internal communications) but also in enhancing customer experience through Guest Wi-Fi. 

This particular hospitality venue is striving for a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, offering diverse customer experiences from casual dining to a late-night rooftop terrace. For this venue and others, seamless Wi-Fi connectivity underpins the ability to deliver high-quality service and attract a contemporary clientele, ultimately contributing to its success and reputation.

This Wi-Fi installation for Third Monkey demonstrates perfectly how you can take the charm of a historic building and bring it up to date with the modern amenities we come to expect from a high-end venue. Strong, reliable Wi-Fi is a must. 

Steve Cross, Director at Geekabit, comments: 

“We’ve been impressed by the team at the Third Monkey, who have been passionate advocates for ensuring they work with specialists in each field to create a high quality fit-out and venue that really raises the concept of the gastropub and restaurant. From an initial site survey visit, through to the entire Wi-Fi and network installation, we’ve been able to support the transformation of an historic space into a great addition to the Surrey town of Farnham.”

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Does Summer Heat Affect Your Wi-Fi? Your FAQ’s Answered

We’ve been enjoying much sunshine here in the South of the UK these last few weeks, complete with a mini heatwave back in April. Around that time some delightful media outlets were circulating articles, scaring internet users into thinking that the higher-than-usual temperatures were going to wipe out their Wi-Fi and block their broadband. So is this fact or fiction?

Despite the odd Spring rain shower here and there, we’re set for more warm weather over the next fortnight, so we thought it as good a time as any to set the record straight about Wi-Fi in hot weather and hopefully put your minds at rest by answering your frequently asked questions.  

“Will my broadband stop working in hot weather?”

The simplest answer is no. Hot weather is unlikely to disrupt your internet connection if you are exercising some common sense that you would extend to all electrical devices. In other words, if you keep your router out of direct sunlight then you’re not likely to run into heat-related problems. 

“Has a heatwave ever caused a Wi-Fi outage?”

Technically, the answer is still no. However due to an unprecedented and extreme (albeit brief) heatwave back in July 2022 where UK temperatures soared to 40 degrees for the first time, internet service providers did take measures to protect broadband cabinets. 

Over the course of 4 days, 2 of which recorded extreme temperatures, some ISP’s re-deployed engineers to monitor the cabinets and keep them as cool as possible. Hilariously, this included sheltering them from the sun with umbrellas and leaving the doors open to increase air flow. This novel approach in such unprecedented heat appeared to work, with no reported outages across various network providers.

“Can routers and other internet hardware overheat?” 

As we’re sure you are aware, most electronic devices emit at least a small amount of heat, and that includes your router. This means that theoretically, it is possible that your router could overheat in high temperatures. 

Thankfully, most manufacturers of said hardware take this into consideration when designing their devices, meaning that most are able to operate at temperatures of up to approximately 40 degrees (check with your manufacturer for specifics). 

There is a chance that devices and hardware could continue to function in temperatures exceeding their stated tolerance, but that is of course dependent on individual experience and will vary between manufacturers.

Let’s not forget that our broadband router isn’t the only device or piece of hardware that could struggle in high temperatures. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices could also experience problems if we were to experience a heatwave. 

“What happens if a router overheats?”

If a router becomes close to overheating or does indeed overheat, the first thing to happen will be an attempt to lower the heat output to protect itself from damage. This will likely lead to a degradation in performance instigated by the device’s processor and affect response times on the device’s user interface. This would likely then impact your LAN in terms of connection stability and Wi-Fi speed.

Most electronic devices, including routers, will restart themselves if they get too hot. Despite potentially causing your connection to drop, this should resolve itself quite quickly and cause minimal problems once it’s back online. 

Complete hardware failure due to overheating is rare, and certainly not something we would expect to see in temperatures sitting in the mid-twenties. We’ll check back in in July if we’re approaching 40 degrees again.  

Keep Your Connection Cool This Summer By Following These Warm Weather Wi-Fi Tips

Hopefully you are already in the Common Sense Club where you keep electricals out of direct sunlight and away from other sources of heat. Keep doing what you’re doing! 

Here are a few other tips to keep your Wi-Fi from wilting in the warmer weather.

  • Choose the coolest room possible to place your router. This is usually a room downstairs and with thick external walls. Of course, the coolest place in the house may not be the most conducive to a reliable, strong connection throughout your home so you will have to weigh up the pros and cons.
  • Locate your router on a surface that enables good air flow and the ability for heat to escape. Wall-mounted can be a great option, although do bear in mind whether the wall is south facing and radiating absorbed heat from outside.
  • If we were to experience a heatwave similar to the one in 2022, then purchasing a cooling mat for your router could be a useful option. An similar alternative would be to point a standard fan in the direction of the router to keep the air as cool as possible and improve air flow around the device.
  • Did you know that you can disable non-critical router services? If not then perhaps it’s best you don’t try. If yes and we’ve just reminded you, then you could try lessening the load, thus reducing heat output and hopefully increasing functionality in extreme hot weather.
  • If your router is overheating due to indoor temperatures and you don’t actually need it to be switched on, then consider turning it off for a while to cool down. We do not recommend doing this often (not more than once in a day) and especially not if you are on an DSL/ ADSL/ FTTC connection.
  • In general, older devices are less tolerant to heat and are more likely to overheat. It could be worth considering replacing an old router for a newer model if you encounter persistent connection problems in hotter weather. 

If the temperature outside is pushing 40 degrees like July 2022, then it’s likely you’ll be hanging out by the fridge door and/or dousing yourself in ice water. These might cool you down but are definitely not recommended for your router unfortunately. 

If your house is 40+ degrees and your router is struggling to function then it might be time to step away from the internet and go outside to find a shady spot with as much breeze as possible. 

But for the time being, let’s enjoy these comfortably warm mid-twenty days with a strong, steady Wi-Fi connection in one hand and a cold beer in the other.

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Can Wi-Fi Extenders Just Stop Working?

They can indeed. And it can be handy to know the signs if an extender is about to fail.

Disclaimer: Here at Geekabit, we don’t actually recommend Wi-Fi extenders as a solution to Wi-Fi problems. There are usually other more effective solutions that can be put into place with a little help from Wi-Fi experts like ourselves. However, we also know that people don’t always heed expert advice… So, here are some useful tips to keep in mind if you do go down the Wi-Fi extender route. And if that doesn’t work, you’ll know who to call. 

Just like other electronic devices, Wi-Fi extenders can fail. Whilst they do tend to last a decent amount of time and generally don’t need too much maintenance or repairing, they still won’t last forever. As with anything in the tech world, components will start to wear out and older extender models will become obsolete with the emergence of new technologies. Let’s take a look at some of the main issues that could stop a Wi-Fi extender from working.

Why has my Wi-Fi Extender stopped working? 

There could be a number of reasons why Wi-Fi extenders might stop working earlier than you would expect. The number one reason for a Wi-Fi extender to break down is heat. 

Overheating

Like other electronic devices, Wi-Fi extenders generate heat. However, they don’t have fans or anything else to keep the heta from building up, so rely on passive cooling. This can be a big problem when they are switched on all the time, never getting the chance to cool down. 

To prevent a Wi-Fi extender from failing too soon due to overheating, there are a couple of things you can keep in mind. 

  • Place the Wi-Fi extender in a place where there is plenty of air flow around it e.g. an open book shelf
  • Avoid places where there is less air flow like shelving units, cupboards, cabinets or enclosed spaces

Dust

How often do you clean your Wi-Fi devices and hardware? A simple, regular clean of your Wi-Fi extender can help extend its life. Whilst we wouldn’t recommend taking a Wi-Fi extender apart to clean inside it, it’s definitely worth the effort to check the vents on it and blow away any dust.

New Technologies

As with any kind of Wi-Fi hardware, things do become obsolete over time as new technologies are developed and introduced to the market. 

A popular reason for people to replace their Wi-Fi extenders is to make sure that their extended network is as fast and can handle as many devices as their primary network. 

When should I replace my Wi-Fi extender?

If everything is working to your satisfaction, then there’s no need to replace anything. However, if you’ve been googling ‘do I need to replace my Wi-Fi extender?’ then you’re probably already experiencing problems and looking for the solution! 

Preemptive replacement of Wi-Fi hardware would usually be for crucial network components, for example, your router. Wi-Fi extenders aren’t usually as important, so there’s usually no need to replace them until they break. 

However, if you are relying on your Wi-Fi extender to provide internet access to parts of your home or to devices that must be connected (for example, perhaps a garden office or CCTV cameras) then you may feel it’s more important to stay ahead of problems and replace them before issues arise. 

There isn’t really a set time frame for replacing a Wi-Fi extender – They can last for as long as ten years, maybe more. But there will come a time when internal components will start to fail as they naturally start to degrade. In scenarios like the above where your Wi-Fi extender is fulfilling a vital function, you might want to consider replacing it on a shorter timeframe e.g. every 5 years perhaps or when you notice any reduction in performance.  

Can I tell if my Wi-Fi extender is starting to fail? 

Unfortunately, there’s rarely obvious signs that a Wi-Fi extender is beginning to fail. They tend to work one day, and not work the next. There may be some clues that it’s starting to degrade, which we’ll outline below, but this may not always be the case. 

Possible signs that your Wi-Fi extender is starting to fail:

  • Having to regularly reset the Wi-Fi extender. Whilst doing a factory reset may fix the issue, if you’re having to do this a lot then it’s probably time to consider replacing it. 
  • Difficulty connecting to the Wi-Fi extender. If interference isn’t an issue, but your devices are having trouble connecting or staying connected then it might be time to replace the extender. 
  • Slow internet speeds. If your connection is suddenly slower one day, then there is likely a problem with the extender. Also bear in mind that if your extender is older than your router, then it likely won’t support the latest Wi-Fi technology available to your router, hence causing a slower connection in the extended area. 
  • Dropped connection. If you can connect a device to your primary network, but it drops out when connecting to the extender then there is likely a problem with the Wi-Fi extender. 
  • Error lights. If lights on the extender are the wrong colour, flashing or not on at all then there is likely an issue. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out what the lights mean and how to resolve the problem. 
  • Unable to turn the Wi-Fi extender on. It may have overheated, so let it cool down and then try again to turn it on. You could also try plugging it into an alternative outlet. Pressing the rest button may also help with this issue. If after trying these things it still won’t turn on then it’s probably time to replace it. 

How can I help my Wi-Fi extender last longer?

No hardware can last for ever, so eventually all Wi-Fi extenders are going to fill and need replacing. That being said, there are some things you can do to take good care of it and help it to last as long as possible. As we noted above, the most common problems are caused by heat, so the main solutions lie in keeping the gear cool. 

Help your Wi-Fi extender have a long life using these tips:

  • When you’re setting up, always place your Wi-Fi extender in a well-ventilated area. Never place it in an enclosed space like a closed shelf or cabinet. Not only will an enclosed space block the Wi-Fi signal, but it will also cause the extender to get hotter than necessary, which will shorten its life. 
  • Use a surge protector in the same location as the Wi-Fi extender if possible. This can help stop voltage spikes which can cause severe damage to a Wi-Fi extender. 
  • Regularly give the extender a clean and remove dust by dusting the outside of it and blow dust from the vents. Dust build-up can also contribute to overheating.
  • Sometimes firmware updates from manufacturers can help keep performance at its best. If you notice worsening performance then it’s worth trying to install a firmware update (if there is one) to help speed up an older Wi-Fi extender model. 

Is my Wi-Fi extender causing network issues?

Problems with Wi-Fi connectivity and speed are the first clues when it comes to identifying if a Wi-Fi extender is failing or starting to fail. 

Got a unique SSID for your extender? Then you’ll notice right away that you’re having problems connecting to it compared with your primary network. 

Using a mesh network? If you’re using the same SSID and password for your extended network as your primary network or using a mesh network then you might notice you have connection trouble or slow internet speeds when you’re in the extended network area. 

As you’ll remember from our disclaimer at the start of this article, here at Geekabit we don’t recommend Wi-Fi extenders. One of the reasons why we don’t is that they can cause problems for your network even when they’re working. 

One of the biggest problems with Wi-Fi extenders is that they can actually cause interference on your primary network if they’re running on the same channel. So by trying to extend your network to a further area of your house and garden, you could be jeopardising your main network connection. 

This issue is reduced when using a mesh network as they create one big network where devices are seamlessly passed from one extender to the next. However, your bog-standard Wi-Fi extenders can cause real issues with your main Wi-Fi router if they’re operating on the same or overlapping channels. 

If you’re trying to create a reliable network across a large space and finding a regular router isn’t quite cutting it, then it might be time to call in the experts rather than reaching for the extenders. Give our friendly Wi-Fi engineers a call and we can identify the best Wi-Fi solution for your premises.

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