Question 1

Why is WiFi so bad in double brick homes?

Accepted Answer

A double brick wall is two masonry leaves with a cavity between them, so the signal passes through brick, air and brick again, losing strength at each stage. Many older homes also have solid brick internal walls, tiled wet areas and masonry chimneys. Stack a few of those between the router and your device and very little signal arrives. It is one of the most common WiFi problems in older housing and it has nothing to do with your internet plan.

Question 2

Will a stronger router fix WiFi in a brick house?

Accepted Answer

Not really. Transmit power for consumer routers is regulated, so there is a hard ceiling on how much signal any of them can push out. A better router will handle a larger number of connected devices more gracefully, which is worth having, but it cannot force a signal through masonry. The reliable answer in a brick home is additional access points positioned on the far side of the walls.

Question 3

Can WiFi cabling be installed in an older home?

Accepted Answer

Almost always. Cable is typically run through roof spaces and dropped into the rooms that need coverage, or run externally in conduit and brought back inside. Older homes need more planning than new builds because of construction and access, but it is rarely impossible. We walk the property first and explain exactly what is realistic before any work begins.

Question 4

Do tiles and mirrors really affect WiFi?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tiled bathrooms combine tile, cement sheet and often masonry, which together block signal very effectively, and bathrooms are frequently in the middle of the floor plan. Large mirrors and foil-backed insulation reflect signal rather than letting it pass. None of these are faults, but they explain why coverage in an older home can be so uneven from room to room.

Question 5

Is it worth renovating around the WiFi?

Accepted Answer

If you are renovating anyway, it is the ideal time to run network cabling, because the walls are already open and the cost of running cable is at its lowest. Deciding where access points and hardwired points should sit before the walls close up saves considerable disruption later. If you are not renovating, cabling can still usually be run through roof and floor spaces with minimal disturbance.

Question 6

Does the age of the home affect what internet plan I should be on?

Accepted Answer

The plan and the coverage are separate issues. A faster plan will not help if the signal cannot reach the far end of the house, so it is worth fixing coverage first and then deciding whether the plan is genuinely the limitation. As an internet plan reseller we can arrange an NBN or internet plan if that turns out to be the constraint, but coverage is usually the thing to sort out first.

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About the Author: Julia U

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About the Author: Julia U