Interference
Updated: 12/26/2023 by Computer Hope
With any electronics, interference is an alteration or disruption of a signal caused by external noises or signals. When interference occurs, it can cause signal corruption, distortion, signal loss, errors, or other problems. For example, a Wi-Fi device encountering interference may have difficulty connecting with all devices or be slower because of the signal disruptions.
Examples of interference
- EMI (electromagnetic interference) - An interference caused by an electromagnetic field disrupts nearby devices.
- RFI (radio-frequency interference) - Interference encountered by signals received over the radio frequency from wireless devices or microwave ovens.
- Wireless networks - As more wireless devices get added to an area, interference can occur if all devices share the same band. For Wi-Fi devices encountering interference problems, try switching the wireless channel.
Note
See our noise page for suggestions on preventing noise and interference.