Probably Stupid Question

[muninnhuginn]

But, can meteorological conditions affect broadband connectivity?

I only ask because yesterday, the first rainy day we've had in a while, Skype and dropped the call I made -- the first time I've had that happen -- and I kept losing my connection whilst editing spreadsheets on Google. I suppose the test is whether things work better today with the rain dripping down outside.

Of course this could be the same kind of coincidence as the apparent change in feline behaviour on rainy days. After all, why should indoor cats behave worse on wet days than dry ones?

Comments

[timill]

Not per se, but a cabinet full of water doesn't help transmission...

[crazyscot.livejournal.com]

Any wireless links involved? They can be affected by rain.
Otherwise, water in the cable?

[six-old-cars.livejournal.com]

The answer is probably yes, but not for any particularly good reason.

One mechanism I can think of is that broadband connections are "contended", meaning that you get a much better service when you're the only one using it. Since it is well known that meteorological conditions affect people's behaviour, it would not be unreasonable to suppose that a rainy day might cause the connection to become overloaded.

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

Moisture will affect the capacitance of the cables, and will affect the transmaission speed of DSL.

[armb.livejournal.com]

> After all, why should indoor cats behave worse on wet days than dry ones?

Responding to a change in air pressure which is correlated with the rain, and detectable inside?
Because they don't like the look of rain even through windows? (Though certain outdoor cats need to go out the door to see it really is raining. And then to check that it really is raining out the other door....)