City WiFi Efficiency Harmed By Baby Monitors

A report published by Ofcom shows that the performance of wireless broadband networks can be seriously compromised by the use of interfering devices.

According to the study carried out by Mass consultants, these include baby monitors, audio and video senders, security cameras and even microwave ovens, all of which operate around the 2.4GHz band.

The researchers found out that Central London, where the concentration of wireless devices was highest, was the most affected by the issue of wireless congestion. This is also partly because this particular band is unrestricted and therefore understandably caused a wireless mess.

The report also highlighted the fact that up to 15 percent of wireless users could suffer of issues associated with wireless overcrowding.

Robb Topolski from PublicKnowledge is particularly critical of baby monitors and security cameras which broadcast a continuous signal. This means that "no amount of delayed networking transmission can compete with another frequency user that never shuts up".

As for why Central London is the most affected region, well, it might be that there are too many babies and CCTV/security cameras in the area.

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