Faraday cage??

[jimidriver]

Hello,
I have an Internet wi-fi card that came with an eBay computer purchase. I have cable so after checking it and finding lots of local connections I put it aside.
Yesterday I checked it again. It worked perfectly apparently, but no connections. I naturally assumed that it was not properly installed so I reinstalled it.
No change. Still no connections. Then I had a brainwave. It could simply be that I'm getting old ....ha ha.

We have had three tier scaffolding around the building for quite a while whilst they "do things".

I think we are in a Faraday cage. Which is the same thing as being in an aircraft that gets struck by lightning. As long as the mechanics of the aircraft are not endangered neither are the passengers.
The television aerial is outside the scaffolding and so is not affected. But my wi-fi aerial gets its signal from inside and is therefore prevented? By the framework of the scaffolding?
I am told that the scaffolding comes down this week. Think I'm right? Or wrong? Or just a complete bloody idiot anyway.
Bill.

 

[jimidriver]

Hi.
A technician to do with the building update came to check.
I asked him if he knew anything about WiFi. He did. I told him and showed him my
lack of signals.
He took out an Ipod? using WiFi and checked. 3 signals but so low he wouldn't be
able to use them.
I asked him to try again as he got outside the scaffolding. 8 strong and a
couple a bit weaker.

QED?

Bill.

 

[Saga Lout]

Hi.
A technician to do with the building update came to check.
I asked him if he knew anything about WiFi. He did. I told him and showed him my
lack of signals.
He took out an Ipod? using WiFi and checked. 3 signals but so low he wouldn't be
able to use them.
I asked him to try again as he got outside the scaffolding. 8 strong and a
couple a bit weaker.

QED?

Bill.

Ah but, Bill - were any of those signals yours. You have cable but do you have a wireless router? If all you've got is a MODEM handling the signal and shipping it through another cable to your computer, you can't use wireless.[/#000ff]

 

[jimidriver]

Ah but, Bill - were any of those signals yours. You have cable but do you have a wireless router? If all you've got is a MODEM handling the signal and shipping it through another cable to your computer, you can't use wireless.[/#000ff]

Inside the 3 storey building there's nobody using WiFi. We all have cable internet.
The "card" (Linksys wireless G USB network adapter) which I put on my "games computer" , showed 8 to 10 connections normally.
It was at least 2 months since I re-connected it. Working but no signals.
Only when the visiting techi went outside the scaffolding was HIS signals 8 strong, 2 ok but weaker.
So nothing to do with people living in the building.
I am now 100% satisfied that the scaffold IS blocking WiFi.
Bill.

 

[dEAne]

Ok try this you are in a 3 story building put your computer near a window or buy an pci e wifi card with a good antenna.

 

[jimidriver]

Ok try this you are in a 3 story building put your computer near a window or buy an pci e wifi card with a good antenna.

Hi.
There isn't a problem "using" the WiFi since I already have a 10mb cable connection. This is simply highlighting something that is very unusual.
There's 4 buildings in the same situation with scaffolding.
Because those using WiFi are doing so WITHIN their premises to send the signal from the main PC upstairs or wherever, they aren't affected.
I wouldn't have even thought about this except that I have this Liknsys card that I don't "use". It's just messing around "looking" at things. Then I noticed this odd situation.

 

[BlueCat57]

The question here is:

Is the scaffolding around the building blocking WiFi signals?

The answer appears to be: Yes

The secondary question is:

Is the scaffolding acting like a Farraday Cage?

The answer is: I don't know, but I would think that a Farraday Cage had better do a better job of blocking EMP (is that right?) rays if it is going to protect your equipment.