Car Alarm Radar vs WiFi

[b3lha]

We recently bought an ADSL router with built in WiFi. It's a great little unit, but I was having big problems with the wireless networking. It seemed like I could only get a connection when my laptop was in the same room as the router.

First I suspected that the router was faulty, then I started to suspect the solid brick walls and lead paint in my house. I even suspected our cordless phone was interfering with it.

But then yesterday I discovered the cause of the problem: The alarm on our SVX.

It's a Cobra unit with an external radar. It emits a quiet beep if anyone walks within about 18 inches of the car. This is remarkably effective. I've often seen people walk up to have a look at the SVX and then back off rapidly when it beeps at them.

I discovered that when the SVX is parked in the driveway, the radar interferes with the WiFi. When I switch off the alarm, the WiFi works fine.

I experimented by changing the frequency of the WiFi, and discovered that the interference is minimised when the router is on channel 1 (by default it was on channel 11).

Now I have just enough WiFi signal to get a connection from my living room.

[Earthworm]

Interesting find. I'll keep that in mind if/when I put an alarm in my SVX.

[Mr. Pockets]

Weird. Don't you guys have an FCC equivalent to prevent that kind of interference. Not that our FCC is infallible or anything. I wonder if the same model of alarm system is available here.

[Bobb]

Hi Phil, Maybe the Wi-Fi unit is talking to the SVX! Take care, BOBB