Wireless Technology

Why Does My Wi-Fi Keep Dropping Out Even Though the Signal Is Strong?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again for the people in the back – A strong Wi-Fi signal does not necessarily mean a reliable Wi-Fi connection.

You can have full bars of Wi-Fi signal but still be experiencing:

Dropped Teams/ Zoom calls
Slow or intermittent internet
Applications disconnecting
Devices repeatedly reconnecting
Poor voice quality
High latency
Bluetooth problems occurring at the same time

The reliability of Wi-Fi depends on a lot more than just the strength of the signal. We unfortunately see many clients where they’ve tried to fix the problem by adding another Access Point – But this rarely works. Intermittent Wi-Fi problems require measurement and diagnosis to identify exactly what the problems are and how best to fix them. Throwing in another Access Point can cause more issues than they fix if not done correctly.

Here at Geekabit, we specialise in investigating the RF environment of your wider network, rather than just assuming that every reported Wi-Fi problem is caused by weak coverage. News Flash: It’s often not.

Does this sound like one of your employees?

An employee comes to the IT Manager and complains that their Wi-Fi keeps dropping out, despite their laptop showing 3 or 4 bars of signal.

Surely then, the Wi-Fi can’t be the problem? Wrong! We can see the logic, but hopefully your IT Manager gets a little more curious than either wrongly assuming that the Wi-Fi can’t be the problem, or just installing another Access Point in the vicinity of the employee experiencing problems.

But signal strength is only one measurement of wireless performance.

A reliable Wi-Fi connection depends on:

Interference
Noise
Channel utilisation
Access Point placement
Network design
Client behaviour
The infrastructure behind the Wi-Fi

What do the Wi-Fi bars actually tell you?

The strength of a wireless signal when a device receives it is measured in Received Signal Strength Indicator, or RSSI.

The signal bars you see on your device show how strongly it can ‘hear’ the Access Point.

What these signal bars don’t tell you, is:

How busy the channel is
Whether another transmitter is interfering
Whether packets are repeatedly being retransmitted
Whether the access point is overloaded
Whether the device has chosen the best AP
Whether DHCP or DNS is working properly
Whether the internet connection itself is stable.

Think of it as being a bit like someone talking loudly in a crowded room – You might be able to hear their voice, but struggle to understand what they are actually saying.

What people sometimes forget or don’t realise, is that Wi-Fi is two-way communication. Hearing the AP doesn’t automatically mean that the

Also mention that Wi-Fi is two-way communication. A device hearing the AP strongly doesn’t automatically mean the AP can hear the client device equally well.

Interference can cause problems despite excellent signal

RF or Radio Frequency is what powers wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile phones, radio/ TV broadcasting, and radar.

Wi-Fi operates in this shared radio spectrum, meaning that interference can occur – Both through the competition for airtime and physical blocks to the waves.

This means that the frequencies used by Wi-Fi can be interfered with by other Wi-Fi devices as well as non-Wi-Fi devices. Things that can cause interference are:

Bluetooth devices (although it’s important to point out that not every Bluetooth device destroys Wi-Fi – Modern systems are designed to co-exist. But in congested or unusual RF environments, interference can be relevant)
Wireless audio/ video equipment
Some IoT equipment
Microwaves
Cordless/ wireless equipment
Specialist industrial or building equipment
The buildings themselves

Remember that interference can be intermittent – An employee might complain to the IT Manager at 10am that there’s a problem, but by the time they have a chance to investigate it at 2pm, it’s apparently disappeared.

Wi-Fi Scanner vs Spectrum Analyser

It’s important to note the distinction between these 2 Wi-Fi tools.

A conventional Wi-Fi Scanner can see Wi-Fi networks and Access Points. It cannot necessarily tell you what non-Wi-Fi radio activity is occupying the spectrum.

Spectrum Analysis examines RF energy itself. This can reveal interference that wouldn’t appear as another SSID.

Professional troubleshooting of Wi-Fi problems would likely therefore combine Wi-Fi Analysis with Spectrum Analysis.

Your device may be connected to the wrong access point

Did you know that a device doesn’t necessarily connect to the AP that’s physically nearest? You do now.

Your device ultimately makes many roaming decisions by itself. A laptop can remain attached to an AP further away, when there is a better one available.

It’s also worth noting that the way a building is constructed can make physical distance misleading. For example, an AP that appears close by on a floor plan, might actually be:

Upstairs
Through a reinforced floor
Behind several walls
Around a corridor
Serving users from an unintended location

Remember that a strong enough signal for connectivity, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sufficient for a consistently good user experience.

Proper AP placement really matters.

Too many access points can also cause problems

If you’re experiencing Wi-Fi problems, adding more AP’s isn’t necessarily the solution. You can read more about that here.

The problem may actually be with the network design. Poorly designed networks can have:

Excessive transmit power
Overlapping coverage
Too many AP’s sharing channels
Poor channel allocation

Badly configured APs can actually increase contention.

Wi-Fi networks should be designed around coverage and capacity, rather than simply filling a building with radios. .

Channel width matters — particularly on 2.4 GHz

A Wi-Fi channel width of 20 MHz provides a narrower, more stable connection with less interference, while 40 MHz bonds two channels together to double your theoretical speed, but at the cost of higher susceptibility to interference.

The 2.4 GHz band has very limited usable spectrum. Using unnecessarily wide channels consumes more of it.

In busy environments, 40 MHz channels on 2.4 GHz can contribute to poor coexistence and increased contention.

For many business deployments, 20 MHz channels on 2.4 GHz are the sensible choice.

Wider isn’t automatically faster in a real-world environment.

It’s important when channel planning that your IT Manager considers neighbouring networks and the actual RF environment.

The problem might not actually be Wi-Fi

Picture this. One of your employees rings the IT Manager and says “The Wi-Fi went down!”

This user can be experiencing a failure anywhere along this chain:

Laptop → Wi-Fi → AP → switch → router/firewall → ISP → internet service

The potential cause of this failure could be:

Failing or incorrectly configured network switches
Ethernet links negotiating at the wrong speed
Damaged cabling
PoE problems
VLAN/configuration errors
DHCP exhaustion or slow DHCP responses
DNS failures
Gateway/router problems
ISP instability
Packet loss upstream
Internet connection congestion

Unfortunately, just replacing APs isn’t going to fix any of these problems.

Why intermittent Wi-Fi problems are difficult to diagnose

Perhaps the only good thing about persistent Wi-Fi faults is that they are relatively easy to diagnose because they’re still present when the Wireless Engineer arrives.

Intermittent faults on the other hand, require evidence.

A short visit from a Wi-Fi Engineer might find a network that appears to be completely healthy. This is why it’s important to engage a wi-Fi specialist who can conduct a useful investigation that includes:

Spectrum analysis
Wi-Fi scanning
Channel utilisation measurements
AP/controller logs
Roaming information
Latency and packet-loss testing
Wired-network testing
Longer-term monitoring

Where appropriate, leaving a monitoring device onsite can help establish exactly when failures occur and whether the LAN, DNS, gateway or internet connection is affected simultaneously.

The aim of our expert Wi-Fi Engineers is to correlate your user’s reported experience with measurable network behaviour. Then we can get to work in providing the fix.

Why Bluetooth dropping out at the same time can be an important clue

Bluetooth also operates in the 2.4 GHz spectrum.

If users report both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth problems in a particular location, that is very useful diagnostic information.

Whilst it doesn’t automatically prove RF interference, it does give an engineer a reason to investigate the local 2.4 GHz spectrum rather than concentrating solely on the Wi-Fi configuration.

This is an excellent example of why asking users exactly what they experience can be as important as looking at the controller dashboard.

How should a business investigate Wi-Fi that keeps disconnecting?

If your business is experiencing intermittent Wi-Fi problems, then it’s time for your IT Manager to get curious and start recording some data. Does the problem affect one user, one room, one AP or the whole building? Start making a log of:

Where the problem happens
When it happens
Which devices are affected
Whether wired devices are affected
Whether Bluetooth is affected
Whether users still show strong Wi-Fi signal;
Whether it happens during particularly busy periods.

Don’t be tempted to try random things before getting curious. The following actions can mask the underlying fault or even make the RF environment worse.

Things to avoid doing:

Rebooting everything repeatedly
Installing additional APs
Turning every AP’s transmit power to maximum
Widening channels in pursuit of higher headline speeds

What does a professional Wi-Fi investigation involve?

We sometimes see clients assuming they know what the Wi-Fi problem is and trying what they think is the obvious solution. But you need to start with the reported symptoms and get curious about what the cause could be.

A professional Wi-Fi investigation starts with the reported symptoms and uses them to lead an examination of the existing Wi-Fi design and configuration.

A specialist Wi-Fi Engineer will measure the RF environment and look for both Wi-Fi and non Wi-Fi interference. They will assess channel utilisation and channel planning.

Access Point placement will be checked, alongside actual client associations.

The wired infrastructure will also be examined as well as the internet path where relevant.

All of the data from these investigations leads to the Geekabit team making evidence-based recommendations. This could be new hardware, or some configuration changes to your existing network. Sometimes it’s as simple as repositioning equipment or fixing something elsewhere in the network.

Our expert Wi-Fi Engineers here at Geekabit will always find the cause of your Wi-Fi problems before recommending the cure. You can contact our friendly team to find out more.

Remember: Strong Wi-Fi signal doesn’t guarantee good Wi-Fi

Reliable wireless networks depend on clean spectrum, sensible RF design, appropriate AP placement, sufficient capacity and a healthy network behind the Access Points.

If your business is experiencing repeated Wi-Fi dropouts, the most useful first step isn’t necessarily buying more equipment. It’s getting curious and establishing what is actually failing.

If you need any help with business Wi-Fi troubleshooting or you are interested in a Network Health Check for your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team here at Geekabit. Our professional Wi-Fi Engineers are experts in their field and ready to help make your Wi-Fi network more reliable so your business operations run smoothly.

FAQs

Why does my Wi-Fi keep disconnecting when I have full signal?

Full Wi-Fi signal generally means your device can receive a strong signal from the access point. It doesn’t tell you whether the radio channel is congested, whether interference is present, whether packets are being lost or whether another part of the network is failing. A device can therefore display full Wi-Fi bars while still experiencing an unreliable connection.

Can Wi-Fi interference cause devices to disconnect?

Yes. Wi-Fi and other radio transmissions can interfere or compete for airtime, particularly in busy environments. This can result in reduced throughput, increased latency and retransmissions and, in more severe cases, unreliable connections. Spectrum analysis can help identify RF activity that a normal Wi-Fi scanner may not detect.

Can Bluetooth interfere with Wi-Fi?

Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi share the same general frequency band and are designed with coexistence mechanisms. Usually they operate alongside each other successfully. However, heavy or unusual 2.4 GHz RF activity can affect wireless performance. If Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices experience problems simultaneously in the same location, it can be a useful reason to investigate the local RF environment.

Why does my Wi-Fi only drop out in one room?

A location-specific problem can be caused by AP placement, building materials, interference, channel conditions or the device connecting to an AP that isn’t ideally positioned to serve that room. Measuring the network from the affected location is often more useful than relying solely on an AP controller or floor plan.

Will adding another Wi-Fi access point stop dropouts?

Not necessarily. Another AP can improve coverage where signal is genuinely inadequate, but it won’t solve problems caused by interference, DHCP, DNS, cabling, switching, broadband or poor configuration. Adding APs without considering channel planning can sometimes make wireless performance worse.

Should businesses use 20 MHz or 40 MHz channels on 2.4 GHz?

In many business environments, 20 MHz channels are preferable on 2.4 GHz because the band has limited spectrum available. Using 40 MHz channels consumes considerably more of that spectrum and can make effective channel planning and coexistence with nearby networks more difficult.

What’s the difference between Wi-Fi analysis and spectrum analysis?

Wi-Fi analysis examines Wi-Fi networks, access points, channels and related protocol information. Spectrum analysis looks at radio-frequency energy across the band, which can expose interference that isn’t generated by Wi-Fi equipment. Professional troubleshooting may use both because a Wi-Fi scanner alone cannot identify every source of RF activity.

How can I tell whether the problem is Wi-Fi or my internet connection?

Testing connectivity at several points can help isolate the problem. An engineer might test communication to the local gateway alongside DNS, external internet connectivity, packet loss and latency. Comparing wired and wireless devices can also help establish whether the fault is within the Wi-Fi network or further upstream.

Why does office Wi-Fi work perfectly sometimes and badly at other times?

Changing numbers of users, channel utilisation, neighbouring networks, intermittent RF interference and internet utilisation can all cause performance to vary throughout the day. Longer-term monitoring and spectrum analysis can be particularly useful when the fault isn’t present during an engineer’s visit.

What information should I record before reporting an intermittent Wi-Fi problem?

Record when and where the problem occurs, which devices are affected, whether the device still shows Wi-Fi signal, what application was being used and whether wired or Bluetooth devices experience problems at the same time. Patterns in this information can substantially narrow down the potential causes.

by admin28th September 2026

Business Network Business Wi-Fi Ethernet Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Advice Wi-Fi Help Wi-Fi Site Survey Wi-Fi Standards Wireless Network Wireless Technology

Wi-Fi 7 for Business: Is It Worth Upgrading Yet?

Wi-Fi 7 hardware and equipment is now becoming more prevalent, and increasingly available for business Wi-Fi networks.

Marketing for Wi-Fi 7 tends to focus heavily on headline multi-gigabit speeds. But when you’re making a decision on your business Wi-Fi, you need to be thinking about your specific requirements, not just specification numbers.

Will Wi-Fi 7 solve a real problem for your organisation? Maybe, yes. For other businesses, optimising existing Wi-Fi 6/6E infrastructure could provide better return on investment.

What Is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be, is the successor to Wi-Fi 6/ 6E and is the latest standard in Wi-Fi.

It has been specifically designed for:

Higher throughput
Lower latency
Greater efficiency
Improved performance in demanding wireless environments

Despite maximum advertised speeds being widely reported, it’s important to remember that these represent theoretical capabilities and are not what every device will experience.

What’s Different About Wi-Fi 7?

The latest Wi-Fi standard has a number of improvements to offer wireless networking, in the right environments.

320 MHz channels

Up to twice Wi-Fi 6E’s maximum channel width.
Potentially significantly higher throughput.
Requires appropriate spectrum and compatible clients.
Wide channels aren’t automatically the best choice in every business environment.

Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

Important development for Wi-Fi 7.
Compatible devices can make use of multiple wireless links/ bands.
Potential improvements to throughput, latency and resilience.
Benefits depend upon client/ AP support and implementation.

4K QAM

More data can potentially be encoded within transmissions. (Higher throughput speeds up heavy tasks)
Highest gains require very good RF conditions.
A limitation of this would be that it requires a short range for peak speed. 4K QAM requires a very clean, high-signal environment (high Signal-to-Noise Ratio) meaning that devices generally need to be close to the router to achieve the maximum 12-bit rate..

6 GHz

Wi-Fi 7 can make use of 6 GHz alongside traditional Wi-Fi bands where regulations/ equipment permit.
A cleaner spectrum can be extremely useful.
Higher frequencies also behave differently through walls/ structures.
UK spectrum availability should be considered when designing

How Much Faster Is Wi-Fi 7?

It’s likely to be faster, but it’s not possible to promise a single set speed. The theoretical specifications of a Wi-Fi 7 compatible AP doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll get that actual throughput on your device.

Real-world Wi-Fi speed depends on multiple factors, including:

Client capability
Number of spatial streams
Channel width
Distance
Interference
Spectrum availability
Wired uplink
Internet connection

A Wi-Fi 7 AP connected to a constrained Ethernet network cannot magically provide multi-gigabit end-to-end performance.

Do My Devices Need to Support Wi-Fi 7?

To be able to obtain Wi-Fi 7-specific capabilities, your devices do indeed need to support Wi-Fi 7, yes.

Buying and deploying a new AP will not, unfortunately, turn existing Wi-Fi 5/ 6 devices into Wi-Fi 7 devices.

It often takes a little bit of time to upgrade business client estates – It can be a slow process.

All the equipment that uses the internet needs to be considered – Think laptops, phones, scanners, IoT, printers and specialist equipment.

When you’re looking at upgrading and calculating the value, make sure you assess the expected device refresh needed for that cycle.

Does Wi-Fi 7 Need Faster Ethernet?

If you want your wireless devices to reach their maximum potential speeds, then yes, Wi-Fi 7 needs faster Ethernet ports (such as 2.5Gbps or 10Gbps).

Wi-Fi 7 can theoretically hit multi-gigabit wireless speeds (exceeding 5Gbps to 10Gbps in real-world scenarios), meaning that Ethernet ports can act as a bottleneck. A traditional 1Gbps (Gigabit) Ethernet port can only handle about 940–950 Mbps.

What will happen in real-world terms? If you plug a high-end Wi-Fi 7 router or Access Point into a standard 1Gbps modem or switch, your Wi-Fi speeds will be capped at 1Gbps, wasting the router’s extra power.

Upgrading Ethernet would potentially involve:

2.5 GbE/multi-gigabit switching
Appropriate structured cabling
Higher PoE requirements
Switch replacement
Router/ firewall capacity
Faster WAN where internet speed is the objective

It’s important, therefore, that Wi-Fi 7 isn’t necessarily considered in isolation of Ethernet.

Will Wi-Fi 7 Improve Coverage?

Wi-Fi 7 does not physically extend the raw range of a single wireless signal, but it can improve overall coverage reliability and efficiency through advanced technologies. Wi-Fi 7 should not be purchased simply on the assumption that it will travel further.

Coverage is heavily governed by:

Frequency
Power
Antennas
Building construction
AP location
Client capabilities

Wi-Fi 7 uses the 6 GHz frequency band (along with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). Higher frequencies can offer incredible speeds but have shorter physical range and struggle to penetrate solid walls compared to lower frequencies.

It’s possible that better Wi-Fi design could improve a coverage problem more effectively than upgrading the standard!

Which Businesses Could Benefit from Wi-Fi 7 Now?

There are a number of types of business that could benefit from upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 capabilities. These include:

High-density offices
Creative/ media businesses transferring large local files
Environments with demanding low-latency applications
Organisations already upgrading switching or cabling
A new-build or major refurbishment
Businesses with substantial numbers of new Wi-Fi 7 clients
Networks being designed for a long replacement lifecycle
Specialist and high-performance environments

Who Probably Doesn’t Need to Rush to Replace the Network with Wi-Fi 7?

Not all businesses will benefit from running out and replacing their hardware with Wi-Fi 7 capable devices. Businesses that can afford to wait a little while longer before upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 include:

Small offices primarily using cloud applications/ email
Businesses where WAN connection is the principal bottleneck
Predominantly Wi-Fi 5/ 6 client estate
Networks suffering basic design problems
Sites with poor AP placement
Sites with cabling or switching faults
Businesses who are expecting Wi-Fi 7 alone to fix dead spots

Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 7 for Business

Standard	Key Characteristics
Wi-Fi 6	Mature standard with huge client compatibility; excellent for many businesses.
Wi-Fi 6E	Adds 6 GHz capability; serves as a useful stepping stone in compatible environments.
Wi-Fi 7	Offers the newest capabilities and highest performance potential with increasing client availability, though it may require supporting infrastructure investment.

Remember – The important bit is getting the right technology for your specific business requirements, not automatically upgrading to the newest technology!

Should I Upgrade My Business to Wi-Fi 7?

Before upgrading your business network to Wi-Fi 7, ask yourself these questions:

What problem are we trying to solve?
Are our client devices Wi-Fi 7 compatible?
Can our wired network support Wi-Fi 7?
Is our existing Wi-Fi properly designed?

If your existing network is unreliable, then upgrading it to Wi-Fi 7 isn’t going to magically fix the problem unfortunately. It’s important to diagnose the cause first.

The best time to upgrade your network is when it provides measurable business benefit rather than just specification-sheet benefit.

How Geekabit Can Help

Our expert Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit can help work with your business to identify the best solution for your Wi-Fi network.

We can provide:

Wi-Fi surveys and informed design
Existing infrastructure assessment
Identifying client/ device requirements
Switching and cabling assessment
Wi-Fi 6/ 6E/ 7 recommendations based on your business needs
Specification-led approach independent to your business
Design for your business requirements rather than simply replacing APs

Get in touch with our friendly team today to see how we can help.

FAQs

Is Wi-Fi 7 available for businesses now?

Yes.
Business/enterprise Wi-Fi 7 APs and client devices are increasingly available.
Suitability depends on the rest of the infrastructure.

Is Wi-Fi 7 faster than Wi-Fi 6?

Potentially substantially faster.
Actual improvement depends on compatible clients and RF/network conditions.

Does Wi-Fi 7 have better range than Wi-Fi 6?

Don’t assume so.
Newer standard doesn’t automatically mean greater physical coverage.
AP placement and RF design remain critical.

Do I need 2.5Gb Ethernet for Wi-Fi 7?

Not necessarily for the AP simply to function.
Multi-gigabit networking may be required to exploit higher throughput.
Depends on actual use case.

Should I replace all my Wi-Fi 6 access points with Wi-Fi 7?

Usually not without assessing requirements first.
Well-designed Wi-Fi 6 remains highly capable.

Will older devices connect to a Wi-Fi 7 network?

Generally Wi-Fi standards maintain backwards compatibility.
Older clients won’t gain Wi-Fi 7-specific capabilities simply by connecting to a Wi-Fi 7 AP.

by admin6th September 2026

Access Point Access Points Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice Wi-Fi Design Wi-Fi Help Wi-Fi Interference Wi-Fi Issues Wi-Fi Problems Wi-Fi Site Survey Wireless Network Wireless Technology WLAN

Do I Need More Wi-Fi Access Points – or Better Wi-Fi Design?

It’s a common misconception that poor Wi-Fi is caused by not having enough Access Points.

Unfortunately, businesses often assume that the solution to dead spots or unreliable connections is to buy another AP. Of course, there are occasions where it might work – But there are also times when adding another AP could make an existing Wi-Fi problem worse.

It’s important to remember that Wi-Fi performance is about coverage, capacity and RF design, not just the number of Access Points.

A specially designed network determines:

Where AP’s should be located
How they should be configured
How they interact

The aim isn’t just to have maximum signal everywhere – It’s to have a predictable, reliable wireless network. And that is where professional Wi-Fi engineers like the team here at Geekabit can help get your network working at its optimum for your business.

What Does a Wi-Fi Access Point Actually Do?

What is an Access Point?

An Access Point is a networking hardware device that helps create a wireless local area network, for example in an office or business premises. The wireless local area network (WLAN) is a computer network that connects devices together using radio waves instead of physical cables.

What does an Access Point do?

The Access Point connects wireless devices to a wired local network.

An Access Point bridges networks by plugging into a wired router or switch using an Ethernet cable and translates that wired data into a Wi-Fi signal.

They extend coverage by creating a wireless zone in areas where the main router’s Wi-Fi signal cannot reach.

Access Points act as a central hub, letting phones, laptops, and smart devices connect to the network at the same time without losing speed or stability.

They support high capacity in locations like large offices or schools. Multiple Access Points work together to handle hundreds or even thousands of users depending on the size of the venue and network.

AP’s in Business Networks

Business networks commonly have multiple AP’s working together. Devices move between AP coverage areas and need to be able to roam appropriately.

AP’s share a finite radio spectrum with neighbouring AP’s and other devices. This means that simply installing more AP’s doesn’t automatically provide more usable Wi-Fi.

Business networks commonly have multiple APs working together.
Devices move between AP coverage areas and need to roam appropriately.
AP’s share a finite radio spectrum with neighbouring APs and other devices.
Therefore, simply installing more APs doesn’t automatically provide more usable Wi-Fi.

How Many Wi-Fi Access Points Does a Business Need?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if there was a reliable formula based purely on square metres? Unfortunately there isn’t, it doesn’t work like that.

The number of Access Points that a business needs depends on:

Building size.
Building materials.
Floor layout.
Number of floors.
Number of users/devices.
Types of devices.
Applications being used.
Required speeds.
Voice/video requirements.
Existing neighbouring Wi-Fi networks.
Available wired network infrastructure.

It makes sense that different businesses in different industries with different Wi-Fi needs – Think warehouse, hotel, office, school – would need different Wi-Fi designs, despite having identical floor area on paper.

You also need to bear in mind that capacity can require additional AP’s even where signal coverage is already excellent.

What Are the Signs That I Might Need Another Access Point?

There will of course be scenarios where another Access Point would be a legitimate Wi-Fi fix. So how do you as a business recognise when you might need another Access Point?

Identifying an area with genuinely inadequate usable coverage.
Getting poor signal in rooms separated by substantial walls
Requiring coverage across additional floors
Realising some outdoor areas need Wi-Fi
Having high numbers of devices concentrated in particular locations (high density areas)
Noticing users experiencing poor performance only in particular physical areas
Having an existing AP physically incapable of providing appropriate coverage

Whilst these scenarios may well benefit from another strategically placed AP, it’s worth saying that these symptoms justify investigation. Investing in a well designed Wi-Fi network could mean you don’t waste money on unnecessary APs.

Can You Have Too Many Wi-Fi Access Points?

Simply – Yes! It is possible that having too many Access Points can cause more problems and make your WI-Fi worse rather than better.

APs share available radio spectrum. This means it’s possible that there could be co-channel interference or contention between APs. This is when more than one AP uses the exact same frequency channel at the same time, in an overlapping area.

Having too many Access Points can also cause Adjacent-channel interference where a transmission on one frequency leaks into a neighboring, overlapping frequency channel causing signal distortion.

Too many APs in one area causes excessive overlapping coverage.

Strategic channel selection helps your APs work to their most effective. Poor channel selection causes signal interference, slower speeds, and dropped connections.

Transmit power is also a strategic choice. You might think you should just set the AP to maximum power to get the best performance, however excessive transmit power can mean that APs are connecting to wireless devices inappropriately, when devices should roam and connect to a better placed AP that will provide a more reliable connection. Just because an AP is ‘shouting louder’ doesn’t mean it can provide the best connection.

Unfortunately, excellent-looking signal bars don’t always translate to efficient wireless networks and often exhibit disappointing real world performance. Dense installations should always be properly planned and installed.

Why Full Wi-Fi Signal Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Good Wi-Fi

Signal strength is only one measurement, and can be affected by various factors between the AP and the device.

We can scrutinise wireless signal in a few different ways.

RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is a measurement of how strong a wireless signal is when a device receives it. RSSI is usually shown as a negative number in decibels-milliwatts (dBm) and a value closer to 0 means a stronger signal.

SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) is the ratio comparing the power of a desired useful signal to the power of unwanted background noise, usually measured in decibels (dB). A higher SNR means a clear, crisp signal with very little interference. A low SNR means the signal is hidden or corrupted by static and noise.

Noise and interference are unwanted radio signals or physical blocks that disrupt your wireless connection and slow down your internet.

Channel utilization is the percentage of time that a specific wireless channel is busy transmitting or receiving data, or blocked by interference. In Wi-Fi, only one device can talk on a channel at an exact millisecond, so a busy channel forces other devices to wait. This in turn lowers overall network speed and increases lag.

Regarding wireless connectivity, airtime refers to the actual duration an Access Point or client spends actively communicating data across a specific frequency.

A device can show full bars while experiencing:

Slow downloads.
High latency.
Teams/Zoom problems.
Dropouts.
Poor roaming.

Remember, Wi-Fi is two-way communication. The AP must hear the client as well as the client hearing the AP.

Access Point Placement Matters as Much as Access Point Quantity

An AP shouldn’t simply be installed wherever an Ethernet cable happens to be available.

Here are some of the poor locations our Wi-Fi engineers have discovered APs when investigating a poorly performing Wi-Fi network:

Cupboards.
Behind televisions/screens.
Inside cabinets.
Above inappropriate building materials.
At one end of a building.

Hiding APs away in cupboards aren’t the only things that can cause a wireless network to perform badly. Walls, concrete, metal, glass and building layout all affect RF differently too.

Ensuring the correct placement of Access Points can sometimes reduce the number of APs required.

Professional Wi-Fi network planning considers both coverage and capacity.

What Is Professional Wi-Fi Design?

The best Wi-Fi design starts with requirements rather than equipment.

When we investigate an office or business premises for a new or updated Wi-Fi network, our Wi-Fi engineers always determine:

Where Wi-Fi is required.
Number/ type of clients.
Critical applications.
Performance requirements.
Physical environment.

Our engineers do this by carrying out an appropriate survey which can include:

Predictive modelling.
On-site measurements.
Spectrum/RF analysis.
Validation after installation.

AP locations, channels, channel widths and power settings can then be designed accordingly, meaning your Wi-Fi network actually matches your business needs.

Don’t Forget the Wired Network

Wi-Fi networks aren’t always just about the wireless element – There is also a wired component. The Wi-Fi Access Point ultimately connects to Ethernet. This means that problems with a Wi-Fi network could potentially originate in a wired part of the network, including:

Damaged cabling.
100 Mbps links where Gigabit was expected.
Faulty termination.
Switch problems.
Insufficient PoE.
VLAN/configuration problems.
Router/firewall problems.
Internet connection itself.

Just blindly installing another AP won’t fix an underlying wired-network fault.

Should I Add Another AP or Get a Wi-Fi Survey?

If the cause of your Wi-Fi problems isn’t obvious, then it’s a good idea to diagnose the issue before purchasing more equipment.

A Wi-Fi Site Survey can identify:

Coverage gaps.
Interference.
AP placement problems.
Channel problems.
Capacity issues.
Cabling/ network issues.

Sometimes recommendations may genuinely be another AP!

Other times, your existing equipment ends up being able to perform much better simply through a redesign or reconfiguration.

Our approach here at Geekabit is always to diagnose the Wi-Fi problem first, and then prescribe the solution second.

How Geekabit Can Help

Here at Geekabit, our Wi-Fi engineers have specialist Wi-Fi and networking expertise rather than just generic IT support. Think of it as a GP referring you to a specialist consultant.

We can help with:

Business Wi-Fi troubleshooting.
Wi-Fi health checks.
Wireless surveys.
RF planning and design.
Network testing.
Existing network optimisation.
New installations and upgrades.

It’s always worth discussing and investigating unreliable Wi-Fi before buying more equipment.

Our expert Wi-Fi engineers are based in Hampshire and carry out work for local businesses as well as London and UK projects as appropriate. Get in touch with our team here.

FAQs

Can adding more access points make Wi-Fi worse?

Yes.
Poorly planned APs can increase contention/interference.
Correct channels, power, placement and channel widths matter.
More APs should be deployed as part of a design.

How many Wi-Fi access points do I need per square metre?

No universally reliable ratio.
Depends on construction, layout, users, applications and RF environment.
Capacity can be as important as coverage.

Why is my Wi-Fi slow when I have full signal?

Signal strength isn’t the same as connection quality.
Could be congestion, interference, retries, network problems or internet issues.

Should every room have its own Wi-Fi access point?

Not necessarily.
Some environments benefit from room-level APs.
In others it creates unnecessary density.
Requirements should determine design.

How far apart should Wi-Fi access points be?

No universal distance.
Building construction and RF conditions significantly affect propagation.
Placement should be based on required coverage and capacity.

Will a Wi-Fi survey tell me where to put access points?

Yes, that can be one of the key outcomes.
Can also identify configuration and RF problems with existing deployments.

by admin1st September 2026

Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Design Wireless Network Wireless Technology

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.

by admin18th May 2026

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Advice Wireless Network Wireless Technology WLAN

“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.

by admin13th April 2026

Broadband Business Wi-Fi Connectivity Hampshire Internet Network Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice Wireless Network Wireless Technology WLAN

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.

by admin6th October 2025

Connectivity Hardware Home Network Home Office Mesh Network Technology Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Extender Wi-Fi Help Wi-Fi Speeds Wireless Network Wireless Technology

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.

by admin14th April 2025

Business Wi-Fi Ubiquiti Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice Wi-Fi Help Wireless Network Wireless Technology WLAN

Ubiquiti is Skyrocketing – Here’s Why

It’s no secret that our Wi-Fi experts here at Geekabit are big fans of Ubiquiti and their range of Wi-Fi devices and equipment. We love their kit and it would seem we’re definitely not the only ones.

We’ve been chatting about the benefits of using Ubiquiti Wi-Fi equipment for your network for years. A blog from a few years back was one of our first on the topic and is a good place to start if you’re unfamiliar with the pros of using Ubiquiti for a business network.

Over the past year in particular, Ubiquiti devices have really increased in popularity, with shares in Ubiquiti Inc (UI) surging up by 222.8% in the past year. Why? Their customer base has seen a gradual yet steady increase in growth, supported by a flexible business model. If you’re into stocks, shares and investments then you might like to research UI as an investment option.

But here at Geekabit, investment advice isn’t really our forte – We’re all about the wireless equipment, and this manufacturer has our attention.

What makes Ubiquiti so popular?

There are many wireless internet device manufacturers on the market – Why are UI doing so well?

In our fast moving world, the demand for the internet is constant. There is a continuous stream of data traffic with the need for round-the-clock access to video, audio, online gaming and social networking (not to mention work emails, online conference calls and file transfers).

This means that we require fast, seamless connectivity that can support these bandwidth-intensive apps whilst simultaneously moving away from wired network connections.

Our need for strong, wireless networks is met perfectly with Ubiquiti’s comprehensive range of products and solutions. From Ubiquiti you can find:

A range of networking devices
Network infrastructure for fixed wireless broadband
Wireless backhaul systems
Routing
Wireless LAN infrastructure
Video surveillance products
Machine-to-machine communication components
And much more

Our Wi-Fi experts and engineers here at Geekabit aren’t the only ones that rave about Ubiquitis products – They have a rapidly growing community that are highly engaged with their range, including:

Service providers
Distributors
Value-added resellers
Systems integrators
Corporate IT professionals

This community might be what sets UI apart. They leverage the strength of the Ubiquiti Community by providing rapid product support and dissemination of information, thus reducing operational costs whilst maintaining a proprietary network communication platform. Ubiquiti works from an extremely flexible business model which can therefore adapt to market demands.

Will Ubiquiti continue to grow?

Continued growth is expected for Ubiquiti, with significant opportunities in developed as well as emerging economies. Emerging countries are relentless in their pursuit of staying connected with the world, and adopting wireless networking infrastructure is a big part of that. Developed economies are always looking to increase bandwidth further in order to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

Ubiquiti are committed to research and development, and spend significantly on activities that help them develop innovative new products that use state-of-the-art technology – All helping them to stay on the cutting-edge of networking technology with their market offering.

With products that offer both high performance and best value, they continue to beat their rivals. Ubiquiti product families such as UniFi and AmpliFi have both seen improvements and added features.

Invest in a reliable network

Whether you’re into investments, tech, wireless networking or a combination of all 3 – Ubiquiti has something to offer.

Positive market gains remain diverse across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, energy and of course tech industries.

Ubiquiti just so happens to be listed by quite a few investment analyst outlets as having skyrocketing stock with it reaching an all time high at the start of this year. Offering networking technology to service providers, enterprises and consumers, UI saw their stock surge by nearly 21% towards the end of January. Perhaps they have their supply chain improvements and product availability to thank for this?

If stocks and shares aren’t your thing, but you’re ready to invest in a strong, reliable wireless network for your business, then get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts today.

by admin3rd February 2025

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 7 Wireless Network Wireless Technology

Wi-Fi 7 Is The Future of Wireless Technology – Here’s Why

We see upgrades all the time in the tech world – They’re almost constant! As soon as one upgrade launches, the next is already on the horizon. But Wi-Fi 7 isn’t just going to be the latest in Wi-Fi standards while we wait for the next one – Wi-Fi 7 is a massive leap from Wi-Fi 6 and brings with it huge upgrades for our digital world.

Wi-Fi 7 is a monumental evolution from Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, giving us:

Faster speeds
Lower latency
Significant capacity increases

What we need from wireless technology is ever increasing, and whilst Wi-Fi 7 is very similar to its Wi_Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E predecessors, it will be able to meet the growing data requirements of both home and business users through key significant improvements.

Are you looking to upgrade your hardware to Wi-Fi 7? It’s a very real consideration now that Wi-Fi 7 routers are on the market. So what do you need to know about Wi-Fi 7 to help make up your mind?

What’s Different About The Wi-Fi 7 Standard?

Speed

Perhaps the overriding feature of the new Wi-Fi 7 standard is the speed – Wi-Fi 7 is considerably faster performance wise when compared to Wi-Fi 6.

Faster internet connections are continually offered by ISP’s for both home use and businesses. How does your local network support the increased download speed? Wi-Fi 7, ensuring there is enough capacity.

How are these speed improvements made possible? Wi-Fi 7 has 2 major upgrades that help with speed:

Doubling the channel width from 160Hz to 320Hz
More data density, which increases the amount of data that can be encoded onto a radio signal

Bigger Channel Width

Within each Wi-Fi band are small bands in which they operate – 20/ 40/ 80/ 160MHz. These are used to connect to individual devices.

With Wi-Fi 7, the bandwidth is doubled to 320MHz. This means that the Wi-Fi speeds to individual devices are doubled, whilst also adding more bandwidth so more devices can be supported.

Increased Data Density

So far we’ve seen how Wi-Fi 7 increases both speed and bandwidth. In addition to this, Wi-Fi 7 can also increase the amount of data that can be encoded onto a radio signal.

This is where a standard called QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) comes in. The amount of data that can be encoded onto a radio signal is measured by QAM. The QAM limit for Wi-Fi 6 was 1024, whereas Wi-Fi 7 offers 4096 (also known as 4K or 4K QAM).

Throughput is increased by boosting its peak rates. For each symbol transmitted, 12 bits can now be carried instead of 10 bits – a 20% higher theoretical transmission rate.

The 2.4x improvement in Wi-Fi speeds between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 comes from the greater channel bandwidth (320MHz) and increased data density (4K QAM).

Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

The 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands are supported by the Wi-Fi 6 standard and previous generations. Wi-Fi 6E then brought a major additional feature by supporting the 6GHz band which offered a new way to connect that avoided the congestion of 2.4GHz and 5GHz. This provided a real boost for urban areas where there can be many Wi-Fi networks in range.

Up until now, a client could only connect using one of these bands on Wi-Fi technology. Wi-Fi changes this – Wi-Fi 7 routers can connect to a client device across 2 different bands.

In simple terms, it’s like having two routes on a map to get you to your destination, and the traffic flow can be moved between the two. This flexibility means that traffic can either be split across both routes, or moved from one route to the other if there is congestion.

Mesh systems take this a step further and benefit even more from MLO. It gets the best performance by allowing a router and a satellite the capability to transmit simultaneously across two different bands.

This particular feature will allow a mobile device to not drop a connection by switching from one band to another. For example, imagine you are working from home and hop on a Zoom call. This feature will allow your device to move from 6GHz to 5GHz to 2.4GHz whilst you walk from the middle of your house out to the garden without the call buffering or dropping out. Sounds good, right?

Flexible Channel Utilisation

Let’s talk about interference. One of the main limitations when it comes to i-Fi is how big an impact interference can have on a whole channel. This is where ‘puncturing’ comes in. Puncturing is when an affected portion of the channel can be blocked whilst the rest of the channel can still be used for data transfer. In this way, Wi-Fi can be made more resistant to interference, ensuring critical flow and lower latency.

If we go back to our map analogy – Imagine one of the routes has a pothole making it unusable. Puncturing with Wi-Fi 7 would mean that the pothole could be blocked and the traffic could go round it, keeping use of the route.

What Elements of Wi-Fi 7 Have Stayed The Same As Previous Wi-Fi Standards?

As we’ve just covered, there are some brilliant new specifications with Wi-Fi 7 that make this Wi-Fi standard pretty special.

However, we shouldn’t overlook the features and infrastructure that the previous Wi-Fi standard already offers and how Wi-Fi 7 builds on these.

We mentioned above how Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 both offer the same 3 bands, including the super fast 6GHz band. They both also feature huge bandwidth.

Let’s also remember that these new and enhanced features are only as good as the device we’re accessing them on. Tech providers are still currently catching up with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 – We need these new devices to fully be able to unlock the full potential of both of these standards.

Many mobile devices are still using Wi-Fi 6 or earlier standards. The most up to date devices from Apple now support Wi-Fi 6E, as well as many of the latest Windows laptops and Android phones.

The future of the digital world is Wi-Fi 7, so we would expect a swift adoption of this new standard across wireless devices, especially laptops and phones with announcements of new devices supporting Wi-Fi 7 already appearing.

Wi-Fi 7 for Business Use

Now might be the time to consider making an investment in a new mesh system or Wi-Fi 7 supported router to help future-proof your wireless network and ensure you’ll have the most robust wireless performance for your business.

Whether you’re a small or large business, these environments can massively benefit from the new features that Wi-Fi 7 has to offer. Future proofing the connectivity of your business is critical.

As we’ve laid out above, you can improve performance and productivity through added capacity and bandwidth from Wi-Fi 7, supporting a greater number of wireless devices across your business.

If you’re responsible for the network of your business, then you’ll already know that there are many considerations to make:

Reliability
Security
Ease of deployment

It’s only natural as an IT manager, to be cautious of introducing any type of risk to a working environment. Therefore, the final certification of the Wi-Fi 7 standard earlier this year is important to guarantee a consistent feature set in all devices.

There are many areas of a business that will likely benefit from the enhanced performance that Wi-Fi 7 has to offer, like:

IP cameras
Access points
IoT devices
Business routers
Workers devices

Could Wi-Fi 7 improve efficiency across your entire business? Will you be investing in new Wi-Fi 7 supported devices for your business? Let us know what you think.

by admin9th September 2024