Can't connect to one certain wifi when USB hard-drive/HDMI is plugged in

Hi folks so I've run into a problem over the past few days. I've got two networks set up in my house - network one (main one) and network two (extender). I tend to use network two in my room and have never had a problem before on any device. But recently, when I connected my MacBook Pro to the TV using a USB-C to HDMI Dongle and a HDMI cable, network two would just stop working, it wouldn't disconnect initially, so I'd switch to network one which would work fine, but then I couldn't reconnect to network two until unplugging the HDMI. Similarly, I ran into the same problem today when plugging in a USB hard-drive with a USB-C adapter. Anyone got any idea what's going on? :)

MacBook

Posted on Aug 23, 2020 3:43 PM

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1 reply

Aug 23, 2020 4:02 PM in response to danielfromsunnyengland

Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

• If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.

• If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.

• To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

from:

About USB on Mac computers - Apple Support

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201542


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Can't connect to one certain wifi when USB hard-drive/HDMI is plugged in

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