2.4ghz Wifi - You just can't win

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#1489813 10-Feb-2016 16:07

We just moved to a new area. The next new area has two builds going on, steel framing. Pity it's all steel and not just the exterior as that would have been a great Faraday Cage. Pop an extender in AP mode under a soffit for outside and done.

Aaroona

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#1489959 10-Feb-2016 21:06

Julz, pls.

I tried turning my AP down a little... not so happy with the end room when I do that though :(

Otherwise, she's pretty congested here.

5Ghz is pretty clean though.

hashbrown

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#1490080 11-Feb-2016 07:24

Tools like InSSIDer give pretty graphs, but they don't tell the whole story. They don't see non wifi 2.4GHz signals for a start. They also don't tell you which of your neighbours are occasional surfers, and which steam video over wifi 24x7.

I find it best to just try running for a few days on 1,6,11 and 13 to see which gives the best experience.

sbiddle

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#1490095 11-Feb-2016 07:55

Yip tools like WiFi anaylser and inSSIDer are great as a basic tool, but don't tell the full story. To look at the bigger picture a spectrum analsyer is necessary. Lots of AP's including UBNT kit now includes such a feature, and if you can afford it, a Wi-Spy is an awesome tool.

At the end of the day the only good solution for 2.4GHz these days (and really WiFi in general) is multiple low powered AP's around a premises. Lack of roaming and band steering is still a problem with low priced gear, but that is quickly changing.

MikeAqua

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#1490124 11-Feb-2016 08:55

reading this discussion with interest. I find that 5Ghz is less reliable than 2.4GHz. With the 5GHz devices frequently dropping then remaking their connection. Has been like that with the last three Wifi routers (one in two different houses), using two different computers and two different phones.

Mike

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#1490259 11-Feb-2016 11:24

MikeAqua:

reading this discussion with interest. I find that 5Ghz is less reliable than 2.4GHz. With the 5GHz devices frequently dropping then remaking their connection. Has been like that with the last three Wifi routers (one in two different houses), using two different computers and two different phones.

5.8Ghz is less able to penetrate through wall, floors etc than 2.4G . So unless your in the same room as the router....

5.8 will soon be just as crowed, with other devices using 5.8 for other things: eg video . At least the neighbors signals will be even more attenuated by the walls (in theory)

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edc

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#1491431 12-Feb-2016 22:10

Is channel 13, 14 legal in NZ?

Jase2985

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#1491435 12-Feb-2016 22:23

13 yes 14 i dont think it is allowed

You can used frequencies from 2400.0000 to 2483.5000 Mhz, but channel 14 is 2484Mhz so thats a no go

https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2016-go446

edc

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#1491437 12-Feb-2016 22:29

Ah ok, I was checking that and just rounding thinking 14 is fine... suppose this is NZ (where the law is actually followed) so that 0.5 matters.

Jase2985

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#1491439 12-Feb-2016 22:33

well given that is the centre frequency of the channel and its 20Mhz wide that puts 10Mhz above and below it if using channel 14 :)

they also have a 2 Mhz buffer top and bottom using channels 1 to 13.

Aredwood

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#1491468 13-Feb-2016 01:09

Problem is that not all devices work on channel 13. As some countries don't allow use of channel 13.

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#1491592 13-Feb-2016 13:47

Aredwood:

Problem is that not all devices work on channel 13. As some countries don't allow use of channel 13.

I used to always use Channel 13 - but just recently my flatmate bought a Nexus 6P - It actually supports Chanell 13, but for some reason on when it wakes up from sleep, it won't automatically connect. End up having to go into the Wifi settings menu to find the AP, then it magically works.

Presumably it has to scan and find the regulatory domain before it unlocks those channels, even from sleep, which seems a little silly.

Aaroona

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#1492148 14-Feb-2016 18:17

Aaroona:

Aredwood:

Problem is that not all devices work on channel 13. As some countries don't allow use of channel 13.

I used to always use Channel 13 - but just recently my flatmate bought a Nexus 6P - It actually supports Chanell 13, but for some reason on when it wakes up from sleep, it won't automatically connect. End up having to go into the Wifi settings menu to find the AP, then it magically works.

Presumably it has to scan and find the regulatory domain before it unlocks those channels, even from sleep, which seems a little silly.

Typically I had been noticing slow wifi speeds on our phones and iPad after posting this, running on CH11.

Changed to Channel 13 and went from 3-6mbps to 90mbps throughout from the net.

Think I might look at investing in a decent Wireless N router and finally move all my devices over, then have a 2.4Ghz one unused in case of guests.

richms

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#1492151 14-Feb-2016 18:21

You may find that it has forced 40MHz off when you went to ch 13, which is why it is working so much better.

Richard rich.ms

Aaroona

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#1492154 14-Feb-2016 18:24

richms:

You may find that it has forced 40MHz off when you went to ch 13, which is why it is working so much better.

I purposely have disabled 40MHz on my 2.4G radio. and I force 40MHz on 5G. So definitely not that. As my picture above shows, being in an apartment is not the best area for 2.4G :(

Damn Android for being poo with Ch 12-13. Searching the net seems to show quite a number of people having issues....
Will just have to wait till the new iphone release and my flatmate will move over again haha.

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