Many are the statements that circulate on the Wi-Fi.

Some of them are true and others not so much.

In the following paragraphs we try to clarify what is true in all of them.

Turn off the mobile wi-fi saves a lot of battery

FALSE

The advances in the manufacture of our smartphones and the latest versions of the most popular operating systems (fundamentally iOS and Android) The battery consumption of mobiles have drastically reduced. The Wi-Fi consumes very little battery when it is not connected to a router, And in return we will obtain the benefit of improving the precision of the GPS positioning and location services of our mobile.

An old wi-fi device lowers the speed of the entire network

TRUE

There is belief, that a mobile or any other device that has an old Wi-Fi of the 802.11b standard lowers the speed of the other devices connected to the same router with Wi-Fi N or AC standard. This statement is true. So, The ancient Wi-Fi device will slow down the rest of the network devices, And if the old device is on another next network (For example of the neighbor), It will also slow us if it is in channels near ours (example: Our router emits on the channel 5 and that of the neighbor for the 6 or by him 4). The solution is to connect all our devices to a router that emits a 5GHz Wi-Fi network, renewing them by others that are compatible Wi-Fi AC when necessary.

Restart the router improves the wi-fi speed

TRUE

Routers are still a mini computer with operating system: Its circuitry is heated in summer, They update your remote firmware, etc. In general, it is advisable to reset it from time to time, so that in the case of the Wi-Fi the device again assigned another broadcast channel, When there is saturation in the current emission channel. With this gesture, The router will look for a channel “less busy” When restarting, And the bandwidth available for our devices connected wirelessly will increase.

It is easy for them to steal my wi-fi

FALSE

With old security protocols (WEP) It was very simple that any individual with basic knowledge of computer networks had access to our router, and therefore that he would use our Internet connection without our consent. Today, And thanks to the new security protocols such as the WPA2-PSK, It is not easy for us to stole the wi-fi, especially with the possibility of introducing very long keys. We also have the option to match our devices through the WPS button of the router, A safe procedure with key 8 digits, that by brute force (Attack consisting of testing password combinations automatically) It would take more than to break more than 6 años.

The wi-fi works best if I place the router at high

TRUE

Place the router in a strategic place is the first thing we must do to guarantee good performance of the Wi-Fi network. It is basic that you do not have output obstacles and is not placed next to the TV. We will preferably place it in a centered and high place in the hall, because the signal radiates 360 degrees. We will never place the interior of closed furniture or shelves. It is also basic that the router is not near microwave, wireless phones and other devices that interfere with the signal.

The walls are the only obstacle to the Wi-Fi signal

FALSE

The absorption of radiofrequences is a phenomenon that penalizes the benefits of a Wi-Fi network. Some materials do not interfere with the wireless signal, But many others redirect and distort them. A wall will absorb the signal, But in general, It is the metals and dense materials that most affect the quality of the Wi-Fi signal. The water, an element present in the human body in a high percentage, It is another element that blocks the Wi-Fi signal. Therefore, Also the presence of plants and fish tanks in the Router room will affect the benefits of your Wi-Fi network.