If every microwave and every baby monitor caused the problems then we would see it a lot more, alas not every device is created equal and some will have more of an effect than others.

As for Christmas lights and WiFi that would be pretty amazing for them to interfere with WiFi

Superhub in modem only mode with an asus dual band router. Somebody else on here can recommend the best particular model as I've forgotten which one gets all the votes around here.

Most common one is Asus RT-N66U

Supports various versions of firmware too, so has an active developer community and given a little extra storage can even operate as a Linux webserver.

So why, during the Xmas period, are there so many enquiries about having lights on?

Unless someone or group does a thorough test, and publishes the results, on wireless interference then it seems like we have no definitive answer.

Edited by broadband66 (Fri 04-Apr-14 14:02:37)

I don't think Christmas lights affect the wifi signal

I think they can overlap the broadband lines outside and emit interference down the telephone lines if close by. This causes the lines to drop on broadband side even using ethernet. So it's not affecting the wifi it's just making the whole connection drop out.

I can positively date foil-backed plasterboard to 1967, as that was when my house was built; and foil-backed plasterboard used in its primary construction, as well as in a later 1985 addition.

And, of course, it could be earlier, although I suspect not (generally) before WW2, although plasterboard, gyproc etc have got origins around 1900.

So foil-backed plasterboard and its screening effects, could be present in quite a large proportion of post-WW2 houses.

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In my house, it almost certainly screened out early mobile phone signals, where the mobile would work outside without problems, whilst inside the signal was virtually non-existent.

Yes its AM range interference on ADSL/ADSL2+/VDSL services.

Should have zero effect on cable or Ethernet, unless so bad that you are hearing beeps and whistles on other devices in the home.

Yep, I'm heading towards that conclusion. Been hearing good things about the asus and I think I can get it for sub £100 so I may as well take a punt!

So I took the plunge and shelled £90 for a brand new Asus RT-N66U router which (so far) has completely eliminated the WiFi issues I'd been having

It's like night and day.. all the devices I have that are capable of using the 5GHz band just scream along, no disconnects, no having to mess around channel hopping.. and the 2.4GHz capable devices are also behaving themselves!

Why my SH1s started playing up when they were working ok, will no doubt bug me but onwards ever onwards!

We had exactly the same problems several months ago with the internet connection dropping and becoming really slow (due to Virgin overselling) but at the same time the wireless signal strength dropped considerably, so that all of our devices were having problems connection to the Super Hub.

We have had the same router for over a year, and no matter what 5ghz channels or other options we chose, the wireless signal strength woudl not improve.

We live in a 1950's house with solid brick walls, the router being upstairs and most use being from the living room downstairs, so our typical wireless strength was 3 bars.

I considered a new router, but given that they were on sale decided to buy a pair of Powerline Adaptors and to use a spare access point in the living room. This works perfectly, we now get 5 bars all the time.