Why Is My Wi-Fi So Slow Just 20 Feet from the Router?
Asked by
TechyGamer99
I've got a 600 Mbps internet plan and when I connect my laptop to the 5GHz Wi-Fi right next to the router, I can get around 400 Mbps. However, just 20 feet away, with a half wall in between, it drops dramatically to 6 Mbps on 5GHz and only 18 Mbps on 2.4GHz. Is this typical? Should I really need to be right next to the router to get decent speeds, or is there something I can do to improve this?
Answers
It’s possible that there are other routers nearby using the same frequency channels which can cause interference. You might want to try a Wi-Fi scanning app to identify the best channel with the least congestion.
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No, that’s definitely not normal. Have you checked if all your devices experience the same issue? Also, it might be worth testing with other wireless networks to see if it’s your setup or something else.
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It’s pretty common for 5GHz to struggle with walls due to its higher frequency. While it offers faster speeds, it's less effective over distances compared to 2.4GHz. If you're going through obstructions, the 2.4GHz might actually deliver better performance sometimes!
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What do you mean by ‘half a wall’? The router is either behind a wall or you have line of sight. Check for any metal objects or thick materials along that wall that could block the signal, like appliances or metal shelves!
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Consider checking for overloaded channels using a channel scanning app. The closer you are to the router, the stronger your signal will be compared to others, but as you move away, other signals can compete with yours. Trying a different channel might help!
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SmartHomeDude: True! But even at 20 feet, you shouldn't see such a drastic drop in speed.