Never heard of this.....

If you are on the same channel as the park wifi you could affect their APs (Access Points) but usually that is not an issue because your router is really not sending out an very strong signal - that is MOST peoples routers do not. The best thing you can do in a situation where you "might" affect their wifi is to change to a different channel that does not conflict with theirs. Then there is no possible issue.

To find their channel (and yours) easily, use a tool like inSSIDer on a PC or on a tablet/phone/Android use either inSSIDer or WiFiAnalyzer. Both are free. With them you can see the access point and what channel it is broadcasting on. It will typically be 1, 6, or 11. Your router will also typically be broadcasting on 1, 6, or 11. Simply make sure you are on a different channel.

The reason those channels are used is that on the limited 2.4 GHz bandwidth those are the only channels that do not overlap with others. I won't go into a more technical explanation.

In the park I am in - where I designed, installed and maintain the wifi system of 7 APs - I can see 28 other devices broadcasting in our airspace as access points/routers. While there is some interference to our radios we have good enough equipment and antennas that it is not affecting performance in any measurable fashion. It can be a problem however, with people running rouge equipment like very high powered radios they buy online to "get better wifi". If not properly set up, these radios can essentially wipe out an access point.

I would suspect that during diagnosis of the campground's WiFi performance, whoever the tech people are tossed out several possible causes - including too many WiFi networks in one area. She probably saw that as one thing she could try to change without it costing the campground money to upgrade the network.

She should also request that no one use their microwave ovens.. as that's also on the 2.4 GHz wavelength, and actually causes more temporary WiFi problems than anyone running a MiFi device or their own router. :D

- Cherie

Along the lines of WiFi - other than getting a data port from someone like Verizon at about $50 a month, is there any other way to get WiFi if the park does not offer it or if you have to go to the office area?