Techie fixed Wi-Fi dead zone with a drill

In a recent edition of The Register's On Call column, we meet Eddy, a lone IT professional for an assisted living facility. Eddy was struggling to create a stable Wi-Fi network, as the space was already filled with numerous routers from residents, causing interference. After extensive troubleshooting, Eddy finally established a stable connection, except for one hallway at the back of the building. He was at a loss as to why the Wi-Fi was spotty in this area.

Desperate for a solution, Eddy decided to take a break from the Wi-Fi issue and address another user's problem. A user reported that their monitors intermittently cut out, particularly if someone slammed the office door. Intrigued by the door's connection to the monitor issue, Eddy examined the desk and noticed a stand holding two monitors.

The power and video cables were coiled down through the same hole in the desk's surface. Upon further inspection, Eddy discovered that moving the stand caused the cables to crimp, leading to the monitors' intermittent loss of signal.

With the monitors restored to working order, Eddy took matters into his own hands and drilled a new hole for the stand, replacing the power cables. To his surprise, this simple action not only fixed the monitors but also restored the Wi-Fi signal around the desk. Eddy was baffled by the discovery, as he believed the power cables were only causing interference due to being crimped together.

Despite successfully addressing his Wi-Fi troubles, Eddy continued to hunt down the second dead zone in the building. He signed off his email to The Register, promising to use a software-defined radio dongle and a Yagi antenna in his quest to find the elusive source of interference. Eddy's story serves as a reminder that seemingly unrelated issues can sometimes be connected, and sometimes the simplest solutions can have the most profound effects.