The weirdest things that mess up wi-fi - and how to improve your signal
Wi-fi signals can be disrupted by common household items, including microwave ovens, due to shared radio frequencies. Experts suggest that shielding issues or improper use of appliances can interfere with wireless connectivity.
Why it matters
Understanding these technical interferences helps consumers troubleshoot common connectivity issues in an increasingly connected world.
The world runs on wi-fi, but strange things can stand in its way - including your lunch.
Alex Hills is a pioneer: he was among the first people on Earth to ever battle their wi-fi connection.
In 1993, he led the team that built one of the first large wi-fi networks, as a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the US.
Hills tells the story in his book, wi-fi and the Bad Boys of Radio. But "Bad Boys" isn't a reference to his ragtag bunch of internet cowboys - it's the name he gave to the processes that stand in the way of smooth-running wi-fi.
Your home may be filled with bad boys of its own, doing everything they can to interrupt your memes. Some such disruptors are unsurprising, like thick walls. Others are a little bizarre.
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