Why Does Wi-Fi Have Dead Zones?

Wi-Fi, which stands for “Wireless Fidelity,” uses radio waves to send signals, and just as with regular radio waves, it can be disrupted or impeded — mainly by thick walls and metal barriers. It also degrades over distance.

While AM and FM radio broadcasts cover the ranges of kilohertz and megahertz, respectively, Wi-Fi transmits in gigahertz (or a billion cycles per second). That allows Wi-Fi signals to carry an immense amount of information, while severely limiting its range. Many Wi-Fi routers come with two network frequencies — 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The first frequency carries a lower bandwidth (aka speed) but can reach farther distances, whereas 5 GHz is faster but can’t travel as far. If you’re experiencing Wi-Fi dead zones, try switching to the farther-reaching 2.4 GHz frequency (if available), or investing in a Wi-Fi extender that can boost these data-heavy signals.

Interestingly, microwave ovens operate on a frequency very similar to Wi-Fi networks, at around 2.412 GHz to 2.472 GHz, so sometimes Wi-Fi can be disrupted when you’re warming up your dinner. Speaking of which …