On the road
Hotel wi-fi: why it is bad and what you can do
A network shared by two hundred people has its limits. What you can fix from the room, and when there is nothing left but your own data.
Claudia Ferrán 5 min Photo by Peter van der Meulen on Unsplash A hotel's wi-fi is shared by hundreds of people at the same time, many of them watching video, and on top of that it has to get through thick walls. That it works so-so is not bad luck: it is arithmetic.
What you can fix
- Change band if the phone lets you choose: 5 GHz works better close to the access point.
- Move: by the room door or in the corridor there is usually more signal than in bed.
- Forget the network and reconnect, which solves more than you would think with sign-in portals.
- Try another time: between nine and eleven at night is the worst in any hotel in the world.
- And ask at reception for the conference or corporate network if there is one: sometimes it exists and is empty.
What cannot be fixed
A line that is congested at source, a router far away and with walls in between, or an internet contract designed for reading email. In rural houses and on small islands the outgoing link may also be satellite or radio, with limits of its own.
When to fall back on your own data
- For work video calls, whenever you can.
- For banking, more for convenience than out of fear.
- When the network demands registration with personal details you would rather not give.
- And at the evening peak, when half the floor is watching series.
How to build that backup is in a backup connection for working.
And before booking
If you intend to work, ask for the real speed and ask for a screenshot. The listings say free wi-fi; they do not say how much.
Frequently asked questions
Why is hotel wi-fi so slow?
Because hundreds of people share it at the same time and it has to get through walls. Between nine and eleven at night is the worst.
What can I do from the room?
Change band, move closer to the door, forget the network and reconnect, or try at another time.
When should I use my own data instead of wi-fi?
For work video calls, for banking and at the evening peak.
How do I check before booking whether the wi-fi will do?
By asking for the real speed and requesting a screenshot of a test taken in a room.
