Odd wifi issue I don't understand!

[Vidar]

So in order to not piddle all my data allowance up the wall I've moved to the communal area of the physio rehab centre I'm currently stuck at and noticed that I was able to connect to the internet. So brought my laptop out, sat near a power point less that 10 feet away from where I'd been sat previously and despite the network being at full strength again no internet. Moved back to where I'd been so I could watch the tv and noticed that the wifi was connecting to the net again. Brought my laptop over and bingo, access to the internet. Tried moving it around within the same room about 100ft square and unless I'm sat within 5 ft of the sweet spot there is no internet access.

I'm completely stumped, it's the same network I can connect to in my room, only a much stronger signal in here but without disconnecting depending where I sit in this room seems to determine if I can get online or not. There's definitely only the one signal being picked up. Anybody know what the issue is?

 

[Chief Wiggum]

Is it the only signal? You’d only see with a tool that can scan the channels like inssider. If you have multiple APs running the same SSID you’d only see one network. Odds are the AP closest to you is a better signal but it’s back end network isn’t working properly. The sweet spot is just down to signal propagation and for whatever reason your client favours the alternate AP that does work in the sweet spot.
I can see weird signal propagation when I’ve completed surveys in our buildings. One AP down at the other end of the building has good signal round it, nothing down the building and then randomly a small pocket of signal a good distance away.