Testing Wifi Signal/Channel

[bodean]

When testing for the best Wifi signal Channel (I use iMac and a MacBook, and run the wireless diagnostics to show me the recommended channel), should I be in the farthest part of my home, on my laptop, and see what channel it recommends? Or should I be in the living room (about 12-15 ft from router) and run it on the iMac? I ask, because each spot recommends different channel

 

[ColinTaylor]

Test it in the location that is giving you the most unsatisfactory experience, whatever that may be.

For example, you might be able to improve your downloads significantly in the living room. But if you only do light web surfing there you'll be fixing a problem that doesn't exist. On the other hand, if you have a games console in the bedroom with a very week signal, even a small increase in signal strength might well be worth it.

In short, you have to work out your own priorities. Good luck.

 

[pete y testing]

I use iMac and a MacBook, and run the wireless diagnostics

because each spot recommends different channel

thats why its not worth using it

just download a wifi analyzer from the apple store , one that will show you the various transmissions around you in like a bar graph form and measures in rssi db

you can ignore anything below -70db as they are too far away to effect you , anything above -70 ( eg -60 , -50 etc ) needs to be considered

for 2.4 gig

look at the graph and see which out of ch 1 , 6 or 11 has the lowest levels of other wifi and just use it

for 5 gig ( if you have it, and depends on what part of the world you are in )

just choose the highest cleanest channel you can

what is the make and model of your current router as it maybe its just crap and you need a better one

 

[sfx2000]

When testing for the best Wifi signal Channel (I use iMac and a MacBook, and run the wireless diagnostics to show me the recommended channel), should I be in the farthest part of my home, on my laptop, and see what channel it recommends? Or should I be in the living room (about 12-15 ft from router) and run it on the iMac? I ask, because each spot recommends different channel

With Wireless Diagnostics in MacOS - turn off the wifi in the house first - otherwise it will consider that a non-preferred channel...

It's a nice tool - and one can use it in various locations and note the recommendations...

 

[bodean]

Thanks. What I notice is yesterday channel 11 is recommended from 2.4ghz, today its channel 1. So it seems to be constantly changing. Is it better to just pick one and forget it? I sure am not going to be checking daily. Isn't this a case where AUTO channel selection would be ideal?

 

[ilkevinli]

Nope. AUTO doesn't continually check. It only does it at power up.

Thanks. What I notice is yesterday channel 11 is recommended from 2.4ghz, today its channel 1. So it seems to be constantly changing. Is it better to just pick one and forget it? I sure am not going to be checking daily. Isn't this a case where AUTO channel selection would be ideal?

 

[RogerSC]

I would pick channel 1, 6, or 11 based on what you see when you pick it, and then stay with it, unless you see a drop in your throughput. Then you can take a look and pick another channel. A lot of people (other than you) use "Auto", and if you just stay on one channel, those people will eventually take your signal into account *smile*. I usually just pick channel 6, and stay there. That works for me here. Then only worry about it if my throughput drops...but at this point I use 2.4GHz. so little (only my wifi printer uses it, and it isn't on very much) that it isn't a problem for me. All my clients except the wifi printer get put on 5GHz. by the Orbi...I respect it's choice since I was doing the same before I got it *smile*.

 

[sfx2000]

Nope. AUTO doesn't continually check. It only does it at power up.

Some AP's and BHR's do periodic scan and retunes...

Depends on the vendor.

 

[ilkevinli]

What vendors do that ? Haven't seen that. Thanks.

Some AP's and BHR's do periodic scan and retunes...

Depends on the vendor.

 

[sfx2000]

Apple does - so does Cisco, Aruba...

I would suggest that Netgear and some of the other consumer brands - in their business oriented lines, they probably do as well.

I have a Linksys branded DirecTV Wireless Video Bridge as part of my TV package, it's jumps all over the place - so yes, even there in consumer land...

 

[sfx2000]

Nope. AUTO doesn't continually check. It only does it at power up.

So basically, you're repeating a myth - some do... some don't - but don't lump all in one bucket...

 

[ilkevinli]

I have owned many routers in my lifetime. Linksys, Asus, Dlink, Netgear, SMC, Ubiquiti. Not one of those has ever randomly changed it's wireless channel unless it was rebooted.

I was not repeating a myth. I was stating what I believed to be fact. If I was wrong, I stand corrected.

So basically, you're repeating a myth - some do... some don't - but don't lump all in one bucket...

 

[sfx2000]

I have owned many routers in my lifetime. Linksys, Asus, Dlink, Netgear, SMC, Ubiquiti. Not one of those has ever randomly changed it's wireless channel unless it was rebooted.

I was not repeating a myth. I was stating what I believed to be fact. If I was wrong, I stand corrected.

As a home user perhaps - with consumer gear - I get it...

But at the same time - I work with enterprise/carrier grade equipment, and there - yes, they do if you let them in a managed environment.

Be careful of blanket statements - much of this tech has filtered down...

Airports are a good example for consumer gear that demonstrate frequency/channel agility when you set them to auto...

But again, Airports are kind of the red-headed stepchildren of this community... but that's their loss...