Maintaining a connection around -70 to -80 dBm.

[Rob Q]

How can I force my phone to connect to my 2.4 GHz WiFi network that's coming in at -79dBm? It's showing up on the WiFi scanner apps but it's not coming in as an available network to connect to. I don't know, is it even possible to maintain a connection while the signal is that weak before disconnecting? I just want to see how far off property I can go before I loose it completely.

 

[Analog-1]

-80 is about done. Also unlikely your phone could sent any info back.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I just want to see how far off property I can go before I loose it completely.

Connet a client and take it for a walk.

OE

 

[Rob Q]

Connet a client and take it for a walk.

OE

Laptop with an USB dongle with high-gain and long range antennas! haa!
Though, that might look a bit odd walking with the laptop down the road. LOL!

 

[Tech9]

Here some ideas for you:

 

[Crimliar]

Sometimes you just have to do a walk test. Which I've just done, and shocked myself by how far that distance has decreased in the last few years. I now lose signal about 30m away, keeping as clear a path as possible it used to be closer to 50m.

 

[Rob Q]

I find with the new router, I can get a bit further. Maybe it's because of I'm using an WiFi 6 phone with an WiFi 6 router, or maybe it's because this router has more antennas than the old one.

 

[Rob Q]

I suppose I could lower the operating channels so it's running on a lower frequency, that'll give it a small boost but then, it'll be overlapping strong neighboring networks.

 

[Crimliar]

My Direct neighbour (lives on their own) has an EE WiFi 7 router and three mesh units, and my next closest neighbour has Sky Broadband and 3 Sky Q minis (40MHz channel width). So once I'm into the road, I'm getting swamped pretty early on now. But I have full coverage in the house and my own garden & garage!

 

[Tech9]

it'll be overlapping strong neighboring networks

How "strong" the networks around are doesn't matter. What matters is available bandwidth per channel and Wi-Fi Analyzer type apps are useless for selecting the best channels. You may want to read about how Wi-Fi works before continuing with settings experiments.

 

[Rob Q]

How "strong" the networks around are doesn't matter. What matters is available bandwidth per channel and Wi-Fi Analyzer type apps are useless for selecting the best channels. You may want to read about how Wi-Fi works before continuing with settings experiments.

Yeah, I agree with you about the apps. They want me to pick the fullest channel, of course I don't do that and just grab the emptiest.

 

[Rob Q]

Also, when you go to "System Log - Wireless Log" and scroll down, what does all this stuff mean, more so... the "RADAR Sensitive" listings under the 5 GHz section?

DFS status: state In-Service Monitoring(ISM) time elapsed 86759250ms radar channel cleared by DFS channel 100/80 (0xE06A)

Channel Information                    
----------------------------------------
Channel 36    A Band
Channel 40    A Band
Channel 44    A Band
Channel 48    A Band
Channel 52    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 56    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 60    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 64    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 100    A Band, RADAR Sensitive
Channel 104    A Band, RADAR Sensitive
Channel 108    A Band, RADAR Sensitive
Channel 112    A Band, RADAR Sensitive
Channel 116    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 132    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 136    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 140    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 144    A Band, RADAR Sensitive, Passive
Channel 149    A Band
Channel 153    A Band
Channel 157    A Band
Channel 161    A Band
Channel 165    A Band

 

[Tech9]

of course I don't do that and just grab the emptiest

There is a big chance you are hurting yourself by doing this. Your router though, you're free to do whatever you like with it. Your next question will be "why" and my next answer will be "use search" because we have discussed Analyzer App usefulness many times. I'm out.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Also, when you go to "System Log - Wireless Log" and scroll down, what does all this stuff mean, more so... the "RADAR Sensitive" listings under the 5 GHz section?

Google and read about DFS.

[Wireless Router] What is DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) and how does it work on ASUS router? | Official Support | ASUS USA

OE

 

[sfx2000]

How can I force my phone to connect to my 2.4 GHz WiFi network that's coming in at -79dBm?

-70 dBm is a threshold for many devices to make decisions on when to look for better network AP's on the same ESSID/BSSID...