For example, most LAN cables (Cat5, Cat6) have a distance limitation of 100 meters. Moving the router to a more central location in the house allowed for better connectivity from everywhere.Ĭable connections also have distance limitations. This is why it is important to check for dead spots/zones when setting up a wireless network so that the routers and access points can be properly positioned for maximum efficiency.įor example, my wireless router was initially positioned in my living room and I could hardly use the Internet when sitting in my bedroom. In wireless connections, the farther you are from the wireless access point/router, the more unstable your network connection is going to be. Connectivity Distanceĭistance also plays a role in network stability. For example, Wi-Fi 802.11n is able to offer theoretical speeds of up to 600Mbps, while 802.11a can only offer up to 54Mbps.įor wired cables, Cat 6 copper cables can offer up to 1Gbps, while Cat 6a can offer up to 10Gbps. As such, it is recommended that critical applications such as servers should be connected to the network using cables.ĭrilling down further, even within the world of network cables, some are more stable than others.įor example, fibre is better than copper cables when it comes to external interference because it uses light to transmit data.įinally, these different connectivity media offer different speeds. This is because the radiation from the microwave affects your Wi-Fi signal. Generally speaking, wired connectivity media are more stable than their wireless counterparts because they are less susceptible to interference.įor example, you may have noticed a call drop/video quality when using your Wi-Fi-connected phone near a microwave. When connecting to the Internet, options include radio, satellite, copper cables, fibre, and so on. On internal networks, this will either be through Wi-Fi or by using LAN cables. Network Connectivity Mechanismĭevices can connect to networks wirelessly or via a wired medium. In this section, let us look at a few of them. Factors Affecting Network Stabilityīefore you conduct a Network Stability test, it is worthwhile to consider the factors that can affect the stability and strength of a network. Performing such a test is useful not only to detect problems in a network but also to prevent issues in the first place. In this article, we will look at some factors to consider for Network Stability and tools that can be helpful to perform a Network Stability Test. servers, databases, applications) and access to external networks such as the Internet.

On the other hand, network stability in business networks should address both access to internal systems (e.g. When on a home network, the focus is usually on the internal home network supporting Internet browsing activities (streaming movies, playing games, video conferencing, and so on). In simple terms, Network Stability is about a computer network being able to reliably support the users’ activities, whether on a home network or in a business environment. However, I have proof and we will be looking at how you can perform such network stability tests on your network so that you don’t feel like you are going crazy.

Whenever a technician from my ISP comes around to check, they don’t find any issues because it’s suddenly working perfectly. I get about 2-3 hours of uninterrupted Internet connection but will randomly get 5-10 minutes of downtime. I have Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and I recently noticed that my network connectivity is intermittent. I have a theory that technology has a mind of its own.

Internet connection stability test