The Quirky Tale of Weather-Dependent Wi-Fi: A True Story

Key takeaways:

The Wi-Fi connection only worked when it was raining due to a neighbor's tree obstructing the signal, which was resolved when the tree's branches weighed down by rain, temporarily cleared the line-of-sight.
The problem was identified and solved by upgrading to newer Wi-Fi hardware that was more resistant to signal interference.
This story highlights the importance of considering environmental changes and physical obstacles in networking and the creative problem-solving involved in engineering.

# Introduction

A true story shared as part of the April Cools Club, aiming to publish genuine essays on unexpected topics.

The author returns home to find the Wi-Fi only functional during rain, a situation described by his engineer father.
Initial disbelief and confusion due to the common knowledge that rain usually degrades wireless signal quality.

The author, driven by frustration and determination, decides to investigate the Wi-Fi issue, leveraging his background and the technical setup created by his father's company.
Discovery of the issue involved meticulous hardware checks and the realization that the physical environment had changed significantly over the years.

The obstruction of the Wi-Fi signal by a neighbor's tree that had grown over the years was identified as the cause.
The problem was temporarily solved by rainwater weighing down the tree's branches, clearing the signal's path.

Upgrading the Wi-Fi system to more modern hardware that could better handle signal interference effectively resolved the issue.
The upgrade not only fixed the connectivity problem but also served as a reminder of the importance of adapting to environmental changes.

A quirky and educational experience that underscores the need for creative problem-solving in technology and engineering.
The story also serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our physical and technological environments.

source: The Wi-Fi only works when it's raining