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Ask Slashdot: Why Does Wireless Gear Degrade Over Time?

Posted by timothy on from the indifference-mostly dept.

acer123 writes "Lately I have replaced several home wireless routers because the signal strength has been found to be degraded. These devices, when new (2+ years ago) would cover an entire house. Over the years, the strength seems to decrease to a point where it might only cover one or two rooms. Of the three that I have replaced for friends, I have not found a common brand, age, etc. It just seems that after time, the signal strength decreases. I know that routers are cheap and easy to replace but I'm curious what actually causes this. I would have assumed that the components would either work or not work; we would either have a full signal or have no signal. I am not an electrical engineer and I can't find the answer online so I'm reaching out to you. Can someone explain how a transmitter can slowly go bad?"

7 of 615 comments (clear)

  1. Magic Smoke by lobiusmoop · · Score: 4, Funny

    Obviously the magic smoke, although not released suddenly, does gradually leech out of the components leading to loss of performance over time.

    --
    "I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
    1. Re:Magic Smoke by game+kid · · Score: 4, Funny

      The real secret: The router is an automated mage machine, and needs mana potions to keep casting Lv. 11 Transmit Packet.

      (What do you mean "the antenna isn't a Rubber-Sheathed Metal Staff of Aethertransmission +1"!?)

      --
      You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  2. Re:The Hamsters get tired by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

    The transmitter range isn't decreasing.

    It's actually due to the expansion of the universe. It's because your house is getting bigger. You just don't notice it because you are expanding at the same rate. Try going on a diet.

    -

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  3. Re:Signal isn't chaning, the noise floor is by bennomatic · · Score: 5, Funny

    And now we all know exactly where you live ;)

    --
    The CB App. What's your 20?
  4. Re:Signal isn't chaning, the noise floor is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The FBI is not conducting surveillance today, which is why you don't see HotWorkoutPants. See you next week.

  5. Re:Signal isn't chaning, the noise floor is by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bit sad to not see HotWorkoutPants on the list today.

    It's a guy don't be deceived.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  6. Re:Familiar with the problem, and here's how I fix by Jhon · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Bingo, I would wager that most households use wireless only now, since wireless only devices are becoming so popular. I just bought a house...not one inch of ethernet in the place. I don't know about you guys...but that would drive me crazy to make all my desktops wireless!"

    Same here. My house was built in the 1950s. Guess they used mostly wifi back then, too.