How to weaken wifi signal

Wifi allows you to build a strong network without having numerous cables running across an entire room. The network, however, depends on signal strength. Though most people try to boost the wifi signal, certain situations may force you to try and weaken it.

You can weaken your wifi signal in different ways. Start by understanding the specific factors that impact the signal strength so that you know what to do. Some of them include distance, a home’s construction, other wifi networks, interference from different devices, and antennas. Focusing on these factors can help you weaken the signal. You can also use a metal lid on top of the device. Read on!

Learn how to weaken the wifi signal

Adjust the distance between the router and internet-enabled devices

If you place the router very far away from your internet-enabled devices, you can easily weaken the signal. This also leads to a poor wifi connection, and the wifi speeds go down. If you want to weaken the wifi signal further, you can try repositioning the router such that it is not within the recommended range. Bringing it closer to your devices can counteract what you want to achieve since it can enhance the signal.

Place the router behind obstacles

Another quick way of weakening the wifi signal involves placing the modem or router behind certain obstacles. Things such as closets or cabinets act as blockers that can prevent wifi signal to pass through normally. If you don’t have such devices in your home, you can still weaken the wifi signal by using walls. When the wifi signal travels through a lot of walls, the signal strength gets weaker with time.

This happens since the materials used to construct walls like lath and plaster also behave as blockers. Electrical lines in such walls can also weaken the wifi signal. Radio waves do not easily pass through wall materials, and thus the wifi signal can remain weak if you place the router in an area with so many walls.

Run numerous equipment at the same time

If you want to weaken the wifi signal in your home, you can run different equipment at once. For instance, turning on items such as wireless speakers and security cameras when trying to access the internet can weaken the wifi signal.  This is because such items run on the same frequencies as your router. They, therefore, interfere with your network affecting the signal strength and dropping the wifi speeds. Running many items at the same time leads to a traffic jam of the frequencies, thus weakening the wifi signal.

Avoid rebooting your wifi system

Since rebooting your wifi system can give your device a fresh start, the lack of rebooting it can weaken the wifi signal. If you don’t reboot the system, you will not solve the connectivity issues your router may be experiencing. Such electronics are not designed to operate for long without a reboot.

Connect numerous internet devices on the network

When the wireless network is saturated with numerous devices, the wifi signal is likely to remain weak. This is because some of the devices tend to hog a lot of bandwidth, thus reducing the signal strength and hindering the speed. If you connect a device that is not working correctly, you can weaken the wifi signal even further. When one of the devices takes up a lot of bandwidth, it will slow down the rest of the electronics.

Remove the antennas

If you buy a router with external antennas and would like to weaken the wifi signal, get rid of these parts. Since the antennas are designed to boost the wifi signal, getting rid of them can weaken it. The problem with some of the antennas is that they are removable. In this case, you could try adjusting them so that they don’t transmit the signal as they should.

Avoid switching to a different channel

Other wireless networks can also weaken your wifi signal. For instance, if most of your neighbors use routers, your wifi signal will continue being weak. You should not switch to a different channel since doing this will strengthen the signal. Many people change basics, such as the password and username of the home network. Maintaining the same name and username of your network makes it easy for a neighbor to access and use your wifi. This can also make the wifi signal continue getting weaker since more devices will be connected to it at a go.

Cover the device

If you are using a small device, you can also weaken the wifi signal by placing a large biscuit tin made from metal on top of it. Doing this ensures that the device will not produce too much heat. You can also make some holes on the tin so that cables pass through effortlessly. Ensure that you lift the lid of the tin partially as you point the opening in particular directions. Doing this can allow you to adjust the signal level according to your preference.

Factors that affect the wifi signal strength and how you can use them to weaken it

Conclusion

People have reasons as to why they try to weaken their wifi signal. The steps above can be of help. In case you no longer want the internet to be detected by some of your devices such as a laptop, phone, or tablet, you can simply turn off the wifi. Most routers come with facilities that give you the option of turning the wifi off.

FAQs

Does blocking electromagnetic waves weaken the wifi signal?

Yes. To achieve this, get a cover that can help you shield the router.

How far should you place a router if you want to weaken the signal?

You can place it anywhere past 100 feet away from your internet-enabled devices.