Unsteady WiFi connections in Laie are reportedly a consistent problem. The New York Times reported that often the problem lies in networking devices known as routers.
Routers are used to distribute WiFi connectivity, and can often be difficult to configure due to the use of technical terms such as “dual-band” or “802.11.”
Rodger Jin, a freshman studying biology from Korea, said, “The WiFi here in Laie is very inconsistent. It is constantly dropping. Sometimes I have to leave my house and go to the library to do my homework because the WiFi will just stop working for me.”
According to the New York Times, router makers like Netgear, Linksys and Cisco focused on making WiFi technology transmit data at higher speeds and over longer distances. In buildings crowded with smartphones, computers, smart TVs and tablets, the devices’ signals are now fighting for room on the same radio channels, causing lag in internet speeds.
Marcos Fontes, an undeclared freshman from Cape Verde, said, “Sometimes the WiFi is so strong and everything is just flowing great but then other times the WiFi is so slow and nothing will load. It can be so frustrating when doing homework to have it all of the sudden just stop working.”
This problem is slowly being fixed inside newer routers, with technology attempting to fix signal interference. According to the New York Times, new routers can transmit data over two different frequencies, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and even give you the option to split the frequencies into separate WiFi networks. 2.4 GHz typically can reach farther, but is more congested by household appliances also operating on that frequency, while 5 GHz is typically faster, but does not transmit as far of a distance.
Another problem is how new your router may be compared to how new your devices are. People typically wait several years before replacing a router, according to the New York Times, while they update phones and computers more frequently.
This difference in age of technology can create a bottleneck between the older router, which is slower, and the newer, faster devices.
Not only can a newer router improve the speed and range for users, the routers typically have upgraded internal components and strong external antennas. Many also support the latest WiFi standard — 802.11ac — which has top speeds that are nearly three times faster than the previous standard, 802.11n, for the fastest wireless devices you can buy today, the New York Times reported.
Ami Alvord, a junior studying marine biology from California, said, “WiFi is always a problem around campus, but I have found a way to get around it. In Hale 2 they have the old Ethernet boxes that I can just plug right into. For the most part when WiFi problems come up, plugging into the Ethernet box solves the problem.”