# How can I determine if a wireless router is defective? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-determine-if-a-wireless-router-is-defective/464734 "2008-09-22T20:08:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-determine-if-a-wireless-router-is-defective/464734/21 "2008-09-25T13:07:13Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > If all else fails… Its gremlins. The little girl gremlins in the broadcaster like to look outside and see their home. The little boy gremlins want to get the girl gremlins. They’d rather walk over there and get the hotter, sexier girls outside your house, rather than settle for the ones that have been mashed through your concrete floor. 😃 Heh, heh. I like Gremlins. Gremlins make more sense to me than “bending” the wireless signal. :dubious: (Thank you **Knead ToKnow, NineToTheSky,** and **Half Man Half Wit** for supporting my skepticism.) > [@beowulff](#): > > [The reports that Linksys routers don’t work well with Macs] is untrue. I’m happy for you that it has worked out fine. Clearly it is no fun when it doesn’t. I got my impression of the problem from the Internet (I know, don’t believe everything you read) and from the salespeople (I know, don’t believe everything a salesperson says). > [@Noelq](#): > > [quoting Microsoft] “[Cordless phones]devices can cause interference between your computer and the network.” Hmmm. I _do_ have a cordless phone which is in the general area of being in between my router and my laptop. Would switching channels help with this issue? ---
**Author:** ![Anthony\_N](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Anthony\_N](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anthony_N)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-determine-if-a-wireless-router-is-defective/464734/22 "2008-09-25T15:45:50Z")
Radio signals, especially at higher frequencies, can be reflected quite effectively. Many of the newer wireless routers take advantage of a phenomenon known as ‘multipath’ where multiple reflections are recombined at the reciever to increase transmission rate. Line of sight is your best case for radio signal propogation, but you can’t always get this. Trying to receive through multiple interior walls can sometimes be a challenge. You are dealing with fairly low power signals and compromised antenna designs. Placing the router near a window which is very transparent to the signals and sitting near a window may allow a significant improvement in signal quality even if the signal is bouncing off your neighbor’s house across the street. There is no simple way to model the propogation of any particular wireless setup which is why the trial-and-error method of moving things around is probably your easiest method of optimizing your network. If that doesn’t work, you can look at changing the hardware to something more effective. Directional antennas are a good means of focusing the unused energy that is radiated out in all directions toward the location you are most likely to be operating your computer. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-determine-if-a-wireless-router-is-defective/464734/23 "2008-09-25T18:23:57Z")
> [@Anthony\_N](#): > > Placing the router near a window which is very transparent to the signals and sitting near a window may allow a significant improvement in signal quality even if the signal is bouncing off your neighbor’s house across the street. OK, that makes sense. “Bouncing” I’ll buy into. “Bending” I won’t. Alas, the room that contains the router has one window that looks out onto nothing that would reliably bounce a signal. Some trees and a lot of open space. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-determine-if-a-wireless-router-is-defective/464734/24 "2008-09-25T23:29:39Z")
> [@Algernon](#): > > OK, that makes sense. “Bouncing” I’ll buy into. “Bending” I won’t. > > Alas, the room that contains the router has one window that looks out onto nothing that would reliably bounce a signal. Some trees and a lot of open space. 1. Anthony N - I have saved your explanation on my hard drive, because you’ve said it better than I ever could. I’ll be using that sucker for years to come. 2. Its easier to change your wireless broadcaster than your phone signal, usually. A lot of cordless phones automatically adjust their signals when you re-charge them, so its possible that they could interfere with each other. 3. Good luck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-determine-if-a-wireless-router-is-defective/464734.md?page=1)