Cannot see wifi access

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Rickles

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#195660 28-Apr-2016 23:02

I recently used a tablet running a wifi analyser to help my daughter get the best wifi signal around her home. Discovered that 2 or 3 neighbours were using the same channel as her router, so we changed the channel for less overlap/interference, and obtained better signal strength.

However, when I ran my analyser app again, I could no longer see her network ... even after a reboot and several minutes her network would not show on my tablet.

The network was still perfectly available on her laptop, and using the smart TV simply required a network search reset to find the amended channel.

Can anyone suggest why I couldn't see the network on my laptop after the channel change?

Dynamic

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#1543691 28-Apr-2016 23:07

Any chance you are using WiFi channel 12 or 13 but your device was made for the US market which only supports channel 1 to 11? I first came across this with a MacBook that would sometimes not see a Wireless Access Point which was set to AUTO channel selection. To resolve I told the AP it was in the US instead of NZ so it made only the US frequencies available which matched what the MacBook was capable of. The MacBook wireless chipset may well have been cable of talking to channels 12 and 13 but I could not find a way to turn that functionality on.

These figures are for 2.4GHz 802.11 N spec WiFi and I expect there is probably a similar issue with 5GHz wireless frequencies.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

michaelmurfy

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#1543692 28-Apr-2016 23:08

Because you're likely using Channel 13 which your tablet can't see?

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Rickles

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#1543699 28-Apr-2016 23:11

Changed router to channel 12, and my tablet is set to view channels 1 through 14.

Dynamic

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#1543700 28-Apr-2016 23:14

You might have to do some quick testing... set the AP to Channel 11 and all devices should see it. Set to 12 and reboot... any devices no longer seeing it may have US spec wireless gear and not be capable of seeing Channels 11 or higher. It's even vaguely possible your software allows for seeing Channels 11-14 but the chips themselves can't.

Would be interested to hear the result.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Rickles

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#1543705 28-Apr-2016 23:36

I'll test it out when I next visit her home ... I'll also check just what country/region the router is set for.

BTW, when using the tablet, neither the analysis app nor the standard Android wifi could detect the amended network.

Rickles

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#1543708 28-Apr-2016 23:44

UPDATE: Changed my own AP to channel 12 and it disappeared from my tablet .

Tried channel 11, and up it came again .... ergo it is probably my tablet's hardware that prevents the top 3 channels (12, 13 and 14) being detected?

Damn Americans