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is fixed wireless internet affected by weather

Nicci Jackson • Jan 06, 2021

Something we get asked a lot is whether our fixed wireless internet is affected by weather.

It’s a logical question but the short answer is no, your fixed wireless internet connection should not be affected by the weather.

As with everything, there is a longer version of this answer so if you’re interested keep on reading...

Let’s start off with why fixed wireless internet should not be affected by weather

Firstly, the masts used to send internet usually sit at around 8-10 meters high. Most storm clouds (thunder and lightening) sit much higher in the atmosphere than this, so any storms are completely out of range of the radio signal being transmitted from the mast to the property.

Secondly, you will always be connected to a mast that is within 8 miles of your property. This means that you are close to the mast and there is only a short distance for the data to be transmitted; so limited options for the weather to interrupt your service (if it were able – which it’s not).

Here the issue is the electromagnetic interference from lightning. This means that the lightning bolts are the issue and not cloud, so unless the lightening bolt hits the mast, your connection wont be affected.

Fixed wireless internet vs the rain (or fog/snow/humidity etc)

So, we have established that the distance and the height of the mast isn’t affected by storm clouds, but what about the rain? This falls all the way to the ground and could disrupt the signal, right?

Well not really, if it’s done right anyway (which it is when we do it).

Some radio frequencies can be affected by weather, but we know where and when this will happen, because of the data we have gathered over time, so it has already been factored into our network design so that our customers can expect and enjoy a reliable and consistent service.

Fixed wireless internet vs wind

If all the equipment is set up correctly then the wind won’t affect your internet connection either. However, this is the one that people feel affects them the most, here’s why:

If the antenna is not firmly connected to the property, or it is attached to a long pole which can flex, then this will mean that the line of sight gets interrupted as the antenna moves and will cause a loss of connection.

Likewise, if there is a tree close to your line of sight and the wind blows in such a direction that means the tree would interrupt the line of sight then again this will cause problems.

The wind itself will not disrupt a service however the by-products of wind – movement – could be a problem.

At Boundless Networks we always work to ensure that we do everything possible to connect your antenna to a solid point of contact to the property so that this is not a problem for our customers.

How our internet works

So in short, weather does not affect a Boundless Networks connection, we have designed our network to be sure of this.

There are always anomalies to this rule but, as long as everything is working correctly, your internet signal should not be affected by whatever mother nature decides to throw your way.

If you are interested in getting your property connected with fixed wireless internet, take a look at our availability checker to see if we cover your area.

Because a Boundless connection is one that you can rely on.

Is Boundless in your area?

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