Search Here

This Christmas don't let lights ruin the party. UK regulator Ofcom has warned that fairy lights can interfere with wireless connectivity at homes.

According to NDTV, lights affect a wireless router's signals in much the same way as microwaves, cordless devices and baby monitors do. It is not the light itself that is to be blamed though; light wiring causes the radio interference. That, however, does not mean less cheer this year.

Ofcom has launched a Wifi checker app that determines performance of wireless connections. The app also offers tips to fix interferences. Most often, changing location of the router can help in reducing interference and improving signal strength. The agency also suggested moving routers away from TVs, halogen lamps, speakers, AC power cords and other electrical devices. If simple fixes fail, Ofcom suggests connecting to the router through an Ethernet cable to avail faster speeds.

The authority also released its 'Connections Nations 2015' report in which it revealed that UK is better connected than last year. Superfast broadband, connections with speeds exceeding 30 Mbps, is present in more than a quarter of UK homes with large improvements seen in broadband connectivity of rural homes.

"However, Ofcom has identified challenges in improving coverage across the UK. Around 8% of UK homes - around 2.4 million - are currently unable to receive broadband speeds of 10 Mbit/s or above. This jumps to around half (48%, or 1.5 million) in rural areas, where speeds are often affected by premises lying further from the network's local street cabinet or local telephone exchange," the agency said in its report.