2.4ghz wireless signal strength

[dubbedout]

I've been reading through the forums and I can't find my specific issue. So I apologize if this has been asked before. I've had my RT-AC66U for about a month and I just can't get the 2.4ghz network to work smoothly. My 5Ghz network strength is outstanding. When I connect to the 2.4ghz my signal strength is good but my ping time (to the router) fluctuates wildly, from <1ms to 500ms on my Windows machine (cheap ASUS laptop) and 1ms to 200ms on my Macbook.
I'm on the newest beta of Merlin and I've tried N-only and Legacy and nothing changes with the signal.

I'm so confused here because I've always been under the impression that the 2.4ghz signal should be so much better than the 5ghz range.

Any ideas?

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
Maybe you are getting neighborhood QRM. Ran something like inSSIDer and did a survey?
As a result have you chosen relatively quiet channel? Around my house there are many
2.4GHx signals but 5GHz band is relatively quiet where I connect most of stuffs. My wireless printer is on 2.4GHz band but we don't print that much so no problem there.

 

[dubbedout]

I ran InSSIDer on the Windows laptop and it shows I have a good signal as well. On my Mac im running iStumbler and it shows by 2.4ghz network stronger than the 5ghz but when I connect it will go from barely usable to just not working. When holding Option and clicking on the wireless icon on my Mac it shows the Transmit rate bouncing all over the place...I've seen it as high at 17 but normally at 5. When I switch over to the 5Ghz network it shows between 162-300. I've tried every combination I can think of when it comes to the 2.4ghz settings, with no real success.

 

[nubyOz]

I ran InSSIDer on the Windows laptop and it shows I have a good signal as well. On my Mac im running iStumbler and it shows by 2.4ghz network stronger than the 5ghz but when I connect it will go from barely usable to just not working. When holding Option and clicking on the wireless icon on my Mac it shows the Transmit rate bouncing all over the place...I've seen it as high at 17 but normally at 5. When I switch over to the 5Ghz network it shows between 162-300. I've tried every combination I can think of when it comes to the 2.4ghz settings, with no real success.

Hi,

Could be another device interferring. You said INSSIDer gave you a strong signal. What about other signals.
Also 3.4GHz is an uncontrolled band. Baby monitors, cordless phones, doorbells.. all kinds of things operate there, they might not show up oin INSSIDer.
Might try turning Interference Management on or off (try both).
Also could try alternative channels (1,6 and 11) to try to get out of the way of other unannounced transmitters.
Also make sure you set it it 20MHz channel only.

Cheers

 

[dubbedout]

Yes, inSSIDer showed I would have a good signal but it fluctuates like crazy. I just downloaded NetSpot for my Mac and am able to see a real time graph of the signal and noise. Something is definitely going on here...the noise is up and down continuously, unlike the 5ghz its a steady line. We just bought this house last June...and I just remembered that some of the outlets in the Kitchen look like they may be X10 outlets.

Just checked it and they do indeed seem to be X10 (http://www.x10.com/promotions/sr227_cat_hm.html). That exactly what my outlets look like.

I'm not familiar with X10, do these use 2.4Ghz? I know some X10 devices are wireless but I figured these outlets were controlled through the power line cabling.

I can swap them out for regular outlets if these are the culprit.

Thanks!

 

[dubbedout]

I replaced the X10 outlets in the kitchen with standard outlets and no change. Here's a shot of NetSpot showing the pretty consistant signal but the out of control noise:

List of networks from NetSpot:

 

[Pericynthion]

So this reads exactly the same as my other thread, when I was about to RMA the AC66U. It turns out I had a specific 2.4GHz device stamping on the network, effectively killing all the other device connections - the signal strength appeared to be all over the place and affecting all other connections. 5Ghz was solid as a rock and even had a greater reach than the 2.4ghz

I've been doing some other testing and it seems that the device itself is fine when I'm close by to the router, but when I move it far away it drags everything down to its lower speed connection (all n radios, all connected fine - its as if the trasmit rate for all clients drops to the lowest common denominator).

I'm not sure if its the latest beta wireless drivers, but just for your own sanity I would change the 2.4GHz SSID to something new (so nothing connects), connect a single device and prove it works. After that add them back, and hopefully you'll find something client related (so it proves I'm not making all this up)

 

[RocketJSquirrel]

It turns out I had a specific 2.4GHz device stamping on the network, effectively killing all the other device connections

What was the device that caused the trouble? Just curious.

 

[dubbedout]

I changed the SSID and no change at all with nothing connected to the 2.4ghz network. I still have my old WNDR3700v1 and in the same room as the AC66U the WNDR3700 gets a better 2.4ghz signal and less noise and more stable signal. I'm at a loss, maybe I have a bad unit.

Thinking about contacting Newegg for an RMA.

 

[Pericynthion]

What was the device that caused the trouble? Just curious.

It was a DropCam HD - I have 4 of them dotted around, and one just seemed to go screwy.
When I put an Apple router in I could see it failing the WPA2 authentication and sending random authentication/key rotation requests (I still cant get similar logging on the ASUS).

 

[jamesAl]

Here are some general tips to help you http://voices.yahoo.com/tips-improving-wireless-router-signal-range-and-7739886.html. Visit that link and you will see helpful information about signal strength and speed, wireless protocols, WiFi channels, drivers, repeaters and access points. Once you go through these you will have identified the real problem. And this post here http://www.techyv.com/questions/where-find-wireless-signal-strength-program will help you too.