Why Is My WiFi So Slow in Evanston?

If you're working from a home office near Northwestern or trying to watch a movie in one of our historic Victorians, a dropping connection is maddening. After 30 years of helping neighbors around the North Shore, I've seen exactly why local signals struggle.

The "Faraday Cage" of Historic Homes

Many Evanston homes use plaster-and-lathe walls with wire mesh. This combination is effectively a "Faraday Cage"—it blocks wireless signals from moving between rooms. If your router is in the living room, it's probably struggling to reach the second floor.

Lakefront Signal Congestion

In high-density areas near the water, your WiFi is competing with dozens of neighbors. This interference forces your devices to work harder. Switching to the 5GHz or 6GHz band can clear things up instantly.