RF Troubleshooting

Why WiFi Range Is Poor

Find common reasons for poor WiFi range in ESP32, routers and embedded devices.

Most common causes

  • Antenna is blocked by metal, battery or enclosure.
  • Device is operating near noisy power electronics.
  • 2.4 GHz channel is crowded.
  • PCB antenna clearance is not respected.
  • Transmit power, orientation or placement is poor.

How to test

Start with antenna placement, cable loss, power supply noise and final enclosure testing. Then compare RSSI, SNR, packet loss or return loss before and after each change.

What to verify

Check antenna frequency, matching network, connector type, ground plane, cable routing, supply ripple and nearby sources of interference.

People also ask

Can antenna placement reduce range?

Yes. Placement near metal, batteries, displays or cables can reduce range significantly.

Should I test RF in the final product?

Yes. RF behavior often changes after the PCB is installed in the enclosure.