Please Help Me Diagnose my WiFi

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garethbezett

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Topic # 68577 25-Sep-2010 09:13

I've just got Vodafone ADSL at home and it's all working with no problems except I need to have my laptop within about 2 meters for the WiFi to work consistently. I've had WiFi at home previously without issue. Based on some suggestions, I've fiddled with the Channel Settings. I've also used NetStumbler to see if I can identify any contention issues. Here's screen shot from the other end of our apartment:
NetStumbler output

Mine is marked with the red arrow. I'm in a block of 8 apartments between some close neighbours and a school so I expect to be sharing the airwaves but I only need something like 10Mbps to max out my ADSL and I didn't think I was asking much. As I've said, my last wifi router worked fine out of the box.

I've had a good look at the advanced mangement interface of the gateway and I can't find a way to turn of 801.11b and n as my laptop is only g.

Any sugestions welcome.

(Mods: I meant to post this under the LAN forum - please move (sorry))

cyril7

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Reply # 384234 25-Sep-2010 09:20

Hi Gareth, its pretty busy at your place (wifi wise) might I suggest you move the channel, try moving it to channel 3, what model is the modem/router

Cyril

garethbezett

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Reply # 384237 25-Sep-2010 09:24

Thanks Cyril, I've been round the channels a few times but can't specifically recall trying no 3 so I'll give it a go. It's Vodafone's "Complete" freebie. Home Gateway model: HG556a

garethbezett

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Reply # 384240 25-Sep-2010 09:38

OK Channel 3 produces the same result. Works fine up close. Works just down the hall for about 15 seconds. My testing is not very scientific, just refreshing web pages (like this one). XP showing 4/5 for signal strength.

What I don't want to try is disabling WiFi on the VF equipment and using ethernet to connect an older AP that I have lying around but that might be the way this plays out.

cyril7

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Reply # 384251 25-Sep-2010 10:29

What I don't want to try is disabling WiFi on the VF equipment and using ethernet to connect an older AP that I have lying around but that might be the way this plays out.

I presume that should read What I do want to try :). Yes I would give it a go with another AP to see if the Huewai is not doing as well as it should. You show -62dBm in the Netstumbler screen, this is a good signal, but if you are standing right next to the modem (or 5m way) this should be more like -40dBm, where was that reading taken, what do you get down the hall or 5-10m away.

Cyril

garethbezett

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Reply # 384276 25-Sep-2010 12:12

Thanks again for he reply. No, I meant "don't" as in it's a bit of a pain to have two devices doing the job that one is supposed to do, but I'll do it for the purposes of a thorough investigation.

The screen shot I provided was taken at the other end of the apartment. It's -28dBm near the box.

garethbezett

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Reply # 384279 25-Sep-2010 12:20

OK, my old Belkin 54g is working fine. -72dBm down the other end. I'm writing my this reply where I couldn't get anything running on the new VF equipment.

Show's only 2/5 for signal strength in XP but is working well.

cyril7

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Reply # 384280 25-Sep-2010 12:21

OK, -68dBm is enough to easily run full speed on 802.11g, maybe its the return path, either your laptop is low in power or the AP deaf.

Obviously there is still the issue of noise and interference due to a crowded environment,.

Cyril

cyril7

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Reply # 384286 25-Sep-2010 12:26

Sounds like the VF AP is deaf

Cyril

garethbezett

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Reply # 384300 25-Sep-2010 12:48

Hmmm.. hearing aid maybe?