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Wi-Fi interference is the disruption in Wi-Fi signals caused by other electronic devices or networks. Common causes of Wi-Fi inference include devices like microwaves and cordless phones, as well as other Wi-Fi networks.
In an enterprise setting, addressing interference involves selecting the right Wi-Fi channels (especially in the 2.4 GHz band where interference is common), utilizing the 5 GHz and 6 GHz frequencies when possible, and conducting regular site surveys to identify and mitigate sources of interference.
In this article, we take a close look at Wi-Fi interference. Here’s what we cover:
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What Is Wi-Fi Interference?
Wi-Fi interference refers to the disruption or degradation of a wireless signal in a Wi-Fi network due to the presence of other devices or radio frequency signals operating in the same frequency band.
The vast majority of Wi-Fi connections are made using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, with the 6 GHz frequency band playing an increasingly important role in the Wi-Fi landscape. These bands are leveraged by numerous device types and standards — ranging from cordless phones to baby monitors, microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and other Wi-Fi networks — that compete with one another for access to wireless spectrum.
If the above elements are mis-managed, it could lead to debilitating Wi-Fi interference, impacting the performance and reliability of a Wi-Fi network via slower data transfer rates, increased latency, and dropped connections.
How Does Wi-Fi Interference Work?
Broadly speaking, there are four primary types of Wi-Fi interference:
- Co-Channel Interference: This occurs when multiple Wi-Fi networks in the same vicinity use the same Wi-Fi channel. When multiple networks share the same channel, they can interfere with each other, causing signal degradation and reduced network performance.
- Adjacent Channel Interference: This type of interference happens when two Wi-Fi networks operate on channels that are close to each other. The signals from these networks can bleed into each other's channels, leading to interference and reduced performance.
- Non-Wi-Fi Interference: Devices such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, and Bluetooth devices operate in the same frequency bands as Wi-Fi. When these devices are in close proximity to a Wi-Fi network, they can introduce interference and impact the network's performance.
- Signal Reflection and Absorption: Physical obstacles, walls, and other structures can reflect or absorb Wi-Fi signals, leading to signal degradation. This is not interference in the traditional sense, but it can still impact signal quality and coverage.
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How Enterprises Benefit by Reducing Wi-Fi Interference
While Wi-Fi interference can impact end user connectivity experiences in environments of all types and sizes, it can be an especially pervasive problem for enterprise organizations. Indeed, these businesses tend to have relatively many users accessing relatively few network resources from multiple devices for disparate reasons. That is to say, enterprises tend to have pretty complex environments, which they rely on to build their products, provide critical services, and generally move their businesses forward.
As such, by zeroing in on the particular causes of Wi-Fi interference occurring on their network and taking steps to address them, they can benefit from:
- Improved Network Performance
- Enhanced User Experience
- Optimized Throughput and Capacity
- Increased Reliability for Mission-Critical Applications
- Better Coverage and Connectivity
- Support for IoT and Emerging Technologies
- Reduced IT Support and Maintenance Costs
- Adaptation to Evolving Network Requirements
Let’s go over these benefits one at a time!
1. Improved Network Performance
Minimizing Wi-Fi interference leads to a more stable and reliable wireless network. By reducing signal collisions and disruptions, enterprises can achieve better overall network performance, with faster data transfer rates and lower latency. This is crucial for supporting bandwidth-intensive applications and services.
2. Enhanced User Experience
A less congested and interference-free Wi-Fi environment translates to a better user experience. Employees, clients, and guests will experience more reliable and consistent connectivity, resulting in improved productivity and satisfaction.
3. Optimized Throughput and Capacity
Reduced interference allows Wi-Fi networks to operate more efficiently, optimizing the available throughput and capacity. This is particularly important in enterprise environments where multiple devices and applications compete for network resources. Optimized throughput ensures that critical business applications perform well.
4. Increased Reliability for Mission-Critical Applications
In enterprises, various mission-critical applications, such as video conferencing, VoIP communications, and real-time collaboration tools, depend on a stable and interference-free network. Minimizing interference helps ensure the reliability of these applications, reducing the risk of dropped calls or disrupted video conferences.
5. Better Coverage and Connectivity
Wi-Fi interference can lead to dead zones or areas with poor connectivity. By mitigating interference, enterprises can improve Wi-Fi coverage, ensuring that all areas of their facilities receive a strong and reliable wireless signal. This is particularly important for large or multi-story buildings.
6. Support for IoT and Emerging Technologies
Many enterprises are adopting Internet of Things (IoT) devices and other emerging technologies that rely on wireless connectivity. Minimizing interference ensures a robust and stable network foundation for these devices, promoting seamless integration and communication within the enterprise ecosystem.
7. Reduced IT Support and Maintenance Costs
A more stable and interference-free Wi-Fi environment requires less troubleshooting and maintenance. This can result in cost savings for the IT department, as fewer resources are spent addressing connectivity issues, diagnosing interference-related problems, and responding to user complaints.
8. Adaptation to Evolving Network Requirements
As enterprise networks evolve to meet changing business requirements, reducing interference becomes crucial. This is particularly relevant with the increasing demand for higher bandwidth, low-latency applications, and the adoption of advanced technologies. An interference-free environment allows enterprises to adapt to these changes more effectively.
To learn more about handling Wi-Fi interference in complex enterprise environments, chat with our experts!
How to Reduce Wi-Fi Interference on Your Network
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s address the topic at hand: how you can address interference on your network and provide top notch connectivity experiences for your end users. In this section we’ll focus on the following:
- Key Aspects of Wi-Fi Interference
- How to Measure, Monitor, and Optimize Wi-Fi Interference
Key Aspects of Wi-Fi Interference
When it comes to addressing Wi-Fi interference, there are a number of elements you should commit to memory — a mental checklist for when connectivity experiences over your network begin to decline. Understanding these, including how they work and how to test and optimize them, is crucial to effectively managing and mitigating interference issues in your wireless environment.
Among these elements are:
- Frequency Bands
- Wi-Fi Channels
- Signal Strength and Quality
- Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)
- Interference Sources
- Signal Reflection and Absorption
- Interference Mitigation Techniques
- Network Density
Let’s address each of these one by one!
1. Frequency Bands
As noted above, Wi-Fi operates in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands. These bands are shared with various other devices, and interference can occur when signals from these devices overlap with Wi-Fi signals.
Optimizing frequency band selection is crucial for reducing interference and improving the performance of Wi-Fi networks. To do this, consider investing in multi-band devices, manually or programmatically selecting the best Wi-Fi channels for certain devices and functions, setting up Dynamic Frequency Selection (more on this in a moment!), auditing channel occupancy, etc.
2. Wi-Fi Channels
Along the same lines, frequency bands are composed of Wi-Fi channels, which are used to separate communication between different networks. Overlapping or crowded channels can lead to interference. Wi-Fi networks in the 2.4 GHz band have only three non-overlapping channels, while the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands offer more channel options.
Moreover, the width of the Wi-Fi channels can impact interference. Wider channels provide higher data rates but are more susceptible to interference. Choosing an appropriate channel width based on the network requirements is essential.
You can reduce interference by using non-overlapping channels, leveraging automatic channel selection, analyzing neighboring networks to avoid overlap, taking advantage of 5 and 6 GHz channels, etc.
3. Signal Strength and Quality
Wi-Fi interference can manifest as a decrease in signal strength or an increase in noise. Analyzing signal strength and quality is essential for diagnosing and addressing interference issues. Focus on factors like router and antenna placement, transmit power, the number of access points in your environment, Wi-Fi extenders and mesh systems, equipment age, etc.
4. Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)
DFS is a feature in the 5 GHz band that enables Wi-Fi devices to dynamically switch to another channel when radar signals are detected. This helps mitigate interference from radar systems operating in the same frequency band.
5. Interference Sources
Identifying specific sources of interference, such as electronic devices, neighboring Wi-Fi networks, or other wireless technologies, is crucial for effective interference management.
6. Signal Reflection and Absorption
Physical obstacles, walls, and structures can reflect or absorb Wi-Fi signals, leading to interference. Understanding the environment and optimizing signal paths can minimize these effects.
7. Interference Mitigation Techniques
Employing advanced techniques such as beamforming, MU-MIMO, and automatic channel selection can help mitigate interference and optimize network performance.
8. Network Density
In high-density environments, where multiple Wi-Fi networks and devices coexist, interference becomes more challenging to manage. Proper network design and channel planning are essential to minimize interference in such scenarios.
To address Wi-Fi interference on a technical level, it's important to analyze signal strength, noise levels, and channel occupancy. Wi-Fi routers and access points often have features like automatic channel selection and adaptive frequency hopping to optimize performance in the presence of interference. You can also manually select less crowded channels and deploy advanced Wi-Fi technologies, such as beamforming and MU-MIMO (Multiple-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output), to improve signal quality in challenging environments.
Understanding these key aspects allows network administrators to implement effective strategies for mitigating Wi-Fi interference, optimizing network performance, and providing a reliable wireless experience for users.
How to Measure, Monitor, and Optimize Wi-Fi Interference
This takes us to the 7SIGNAL Wi-Fi monitoring platform. With its unique combination of hardware and software elements, you’ll be able to monitor interference from the outside in.
The 7SIGNAL platform leverages Wi-Fi sensors to gain visibility into WLAN performance. These sensors enable you to measure interference and identify areas in your network where performance is lagging and the potential causes.
In addition, the 7SIGNAL platform leverages a SaaS application, which is installed on end-user devices (Windows, Android, MacOS, Linux, GoogleTV, iGEL) and used to enhance digital experiences from the client perspective. This means you’ll have insight into how various manufacturers, software versions, adapters, drivers, and other specifications perform on your network.
Finally, 7SIGNAL’s performance monitoring dashboards enable you to observe and visualize everything in one place. This will help you catch issues in real time, prioritize how you address them, and reduce MTTR (mean time to resolve).
By providing a comprehensive health overview and allowing deep dives into specific issues, 7SIGNAL ensures that network engineers and IT teams are always a step ahead in ensuring optimal Wi-Fi performance. By complementing WLAN vendors and offering a distinctive outside-in perspective, 7SIGNAL is setting new standards in Wi-Fi network performance and user experience optimization.
To learn more, set up a meeting with our team!
Learn More From the 7SIGNAL Experts
We’re always here to answer your Wi-Fi questions at 7SIGNAL. Our enterprise Wi-Fi optimization platform helps you plan and execute a healthier network. Contact us to learn more.
7SIGNAL® is the leader in enterprise Wi-Fi optimization, providing insight into wireless networks and control over Wi-Fi performance so businesses and organizations can thrive. Our cloud-based platform continually tests and measures Wi-Fi performance at the edges of the network, enabling fast solutions to digital experience issues and stronger connections for mission-critical users, devices, and applications. Learn more at www.7SIGNAL.com.